Ontology Atlas — Claude Code MCP server: what it does and setup
Maintains an architecture map in repository Markdown files. Coding agents read relationships and submit verified documentation updates over MCP.
Open on GitHubWhat Ontology Atlas does
AI assistants change code faster than teams can map it manually. Atlas maintains an architectural graph right beside the code inside an atlas/ folder. Every concept gets its own Markdown file with a permanent uid, an address slug, and a path pointing to the matching files. The agent inspects domain connections and open questions before starting a task.
Agent updates stay proposals until manually reviewed. You inspect and accept modifications through standard Git diffs. The tool avoids optimistic assumptions: missing links show up as unknown rather than safe. Code blocks in comments or quotes cannot supply functional claims.
On macOS, the MCP server comes bundled inside the desktop application. Linux environments require running the CLI and server directly from a source checkout.
What it helps with
- provide system dependency context to coding agents before edits
- store architectural concepts in versioned Markdown files
- review agent documentation changes via Git diffs
- surface system capabilities that lack code evidence
Example prompts for the agent
- Inspect
atlas/to see which modules depend on the authentication flow. - Check the repository ontology for unmapped dependencies before modifying the API.
- Draft an updated concept document for the new payment processing worker.
How to install Ontology Atlas
Install
The MCP registry has no launch command for it: see the repository README
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 Ontology Atlas
How do I install Ontology Atlas in Claude Code?
Download the macOS desktop app or run the server from a source checkout on Linux. In the app settings, open Agents › MCP, select Connect for your tool, and restart Claude Code.
What does Ontology Atlas do?
It exposes the repository atlas/ directory to coding assistants via MCP. Tools read concepts, dependencies, and code paths before editing code, then submit structured updates.
How does Ontology Atlas handle unverified code claims?
It flags missing implementation evidence as unknown rather than assuming things work. Blockquotes and comment examples are excluded from capability assertions.
