# navigator

Finds relevant files and line ranges in a repository, with reasons for their ranking. Useful when an agent needs evidence for a question without loading the whole project into context.

- MCP server · `type=mcp` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf (Devin Desktop), Cline, Zed, Gemini CLI
- Author: mentu-ai
- License: Apache-2.0 · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/mentu-ai/mentu-navigator
- Updated: 2026-09-27
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/navigator

## What it does

\`navigator` helps an agent explore a repository without changing its files. Its `locate` command ranks text matches with BM25 and returns paths, line ranges, snippets, and ranking reasons. `read-range` then reads a selected section bounded by headings.

The server can also map repository contents, find symbol definitions, and assess possible effects of a Git range using tests and contracts. For documentation with frontmatter, `handles` returns pointers and relationships that must be hydrated separately. Ranking was evaluated on documentation rather than source code, so that evidence does not establish search quality on code.

Node.js 20 or newer is required. The server can run through `npx`; the Claude Code setup command is below. It only reads the repository and does not modify its files.

## Requirements
- Needs: Node.js (commands run via npx)

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

**Platform CLI**
```bash
claude mcp add navigator -- npx -y mentu-navigator
```

### Codex

**Platform CLI**
```bash
codex mcp add navigator -- npx -y mentu-navigator
```

### Cursor

**Config file**
File `.cursor/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "navigator": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "mentu-navigator"
            ]
        }
    }
}
```

### GitHub Copilot

**Config file**
File `.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "servers": {
        "navigator": {
            "type": "stdio",
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "mentu-navigator"
            ]
        }
    }
}
```

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini mcp add navigator npx -y mentu-navigator
```

## When to use it
- find files and lines relevant to a project question
- select a documentation range without loading the whole file
- trace a symbol’s definitions and references
- check which tests and contracts a Git change may affect

## Example prompts
- Find where this repository handles request retries and show the relevant line ranges.
- Map the repository and find the definitions of `RetryPolicy`.
- Check which tests and contracts may be affected by the current Git range.

## Similar
- [REA](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/rea.md) — MCP server · ★ 392262
- [GitHub](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/github.md) — MCP server · ★ 33989
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- [browser-use](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/browser-use.md) — MCP server · ★ 119231
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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