# clirank

Searches, compares and serves docs for 420+ APIs so your agent stops guessing which SDK to use. Points at https://clirank.dev/api, no key needed.

- MCP server · `type=mcp` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf (Devin Desktop), Cline, Zed, Gemini CLI · ★ 6
- Author: alexanderclapp
- License: MIT · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/alexanderclapp/clirank-mcp-server
- Updated: 2026-08-17
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/clirank

## What it does

CLIRank is an MCP server that lets a coding agent look up APIs and pull their documentation. It talks to `https://clirank.dev/api` and needs no CLIRank API key. Call it before the agent installs an SDK or writes integration code — otherwise the choice rests on stale model memory or eats tokens in broad web searches.

Eight tools ship with it. `discover_apis` searches by intent and filters on price model and minimum CLI score; `recommend` returns one pick for a concrete job along with pricing and setup signals; `get_api_docs` hands back a quickstart, auth setup and SDK install steps. `compare_apis` lines up two to five APIs, `browse_categories` lists categories with counts, `get_reviews` reads past integration reports and `submit_review` files a new one after a real attempt rather than a guess.

The server runs as a stdio process through `npx -y clirank-mcp-server@latest`, so Node.js with npx has to be on your `PATH`. A hosted endpoint at `https://clirank-mcp.fly.dev/mcp` exists for clients that speak remote HTTP, though the README still calls stdio the most compatible route. To make the agent reach for CLIRank on its own, drop the activation rule into `AGENTS.md`, `CLAUDE.md` or your Cursor rules.

## Requirements
- Needs: Node.js (commands run via npx)
- Environment variables: `CLIRANK_API_URL` — keys and tokens: ask the human for the values, never commit them or put them in shared files.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

**Platform CLI**
```bash
claude mcp add --env CLIRANK_API_URL=<CLIRANK_API_URL> --transport stdio clirank -- npx -y clirank-mcp-server
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Codex

**Platform CLI**
```bash
codex mcp add clirank --env CLIRANK_API_URL=<CLIRANK_API_URL> -- npx -y clirank-mcp-server
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Cursor

**Config file**
File `.cursor/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "clirank": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "clirank-mcp-server"
            ],
            "env": {
                "CLIRANK_API_URL": "<CLIRANK_API_URL>"
            }
        }
    }
}
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### GitHub Copilot

**Config file**
File `.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "servers": {
        "clirank": {
            "type": "stdio",
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "clirank-mcp-server"
            ],
            "env": {
                "CLIRANK_API_URL": "<CLIRANK_API_URL>"
            }
        }
    }
}
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini mcp add -e CLIRANK_API_URL=<CLIRANK_API_URL> clirank npx -y clirank-mcp-server
```
Replace <…> with your own values

## When to use it
- pick an API for a task instead of trusting model memory
- read quickstart and auth setup before writing integration code
- compare two or three APIs on pricing and setup
- check reviews from earlier integration attempts
- file a structured review after wiring up an SDK

## Example prompts
- Use CLIRank to recommend an API for sending 10,000 transactional emails a month, simplicity first. Then read docs for the top result.
- Use CLIRank to recommend an LLM API with tool calling, structured outputs and streaming, then read docs before choosing.

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NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md