dash-mcp-server — Claude Code MCP server: how to install
Connects macOS Dash docsets to your coding agent. Lets the model search API references and code snippets without web queries.
claude mcp add dash-mcp-server -- uvx dash-mcp-serverWhat dash-mcp-server does
The server links AI clients directly to the Dash documentation browser on macOS. It exposes tools to inspect installed docsets with list_installed_docsets, query symbols and snippets using search_documentation, fetch specific manual pages via load_documentation_page, and toggle full-text indexing with enable_docset_fts.
This integration requires macOS with Dash 8 installed. It also depends on Python 3.12 or newer alongside uv. Without the local Dash 8 app present on the system, search operations will fail.
What it helps with
- query offline API docsets and code snippets
- retrieve full documentation pages by search URL
- list docsets currently installed in Dash
- enable full-text search index for a docset
Example prompts for the agent
- Search Dash documentation for Python asyncio task group syntax
- List all docsets currently installed in my Dash library
- Enable full-text search for the React docset in Dash
How to install dash-mcp-server
Platform CLI
claude mcp add dash-mcp-server -- uvx dash-mcp-serveruvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from dash-mcp-server <command>
Platform CLI
codex mcp add dash-mcp-server -- uvx dash-mcp-serveruvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from dash-mcp-server <command>
Config file
{
"mcpServers": {
"dash-mcp-server": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"dash-mcp-server"
]
}
}
}uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from dash-mcp-server <command>
Config file
{
"servers": {
"dash-mcp-server": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"dash-mcp-server"
]
}
}
}uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from dash-mcp-server <command>
Platform CLI
gemini mcp add dash-mcp-server uvx dash-mcp-serveruvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from dash-mcp-server <command>
Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to add an MCP server to Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, Gemini CLI and more
Questions about dash-mcp-server
How do I install dash-mcp-server in Claude Code?
Run claude mcp add dash-mcp-server -- uvx dash-mcp-server in your terminal.
What does dash-mcp-server do?
It provides MCP tools to search and read local Dash 8 documentation. The assistant can look up API signatures and code snippets offline.
What prerequisites are needed to run dash-mcp-server?
You need macOS, Dash 8 installed, Python 3.12 or higher, and the uv package manager.
