Silica Core — Claude Code MCP server: search and setup
Silica Core retrieves evidence from code, Markdown, PDF, and office files, returning paths, sections, lines, and passages. It fits local project research.
claude mcp add --env SILICA_VAULT=<SILICA_VAULT> --transport stdio silica-core -- uvx silica-coreWhat Silica Core does
Silica Core builds an index for Markdown, source code, PDFs, and office files inside an adopted folder. Its MCP tools list indexed files, search ranked passages, read a line or heading range, create an AST context pack for one source file, and write a structured note with wikilink checks. Search results include the path, section, line information, and match signals.
The default retrieval path uses BM25 and needs no model. A dense option adds numpy and a static model through silica-core[mcp,dense]; it does not require a GPU. Run silica-core init before serving a folder, then use silica-core search or register the MCP server with claude mcp add. You need uvx for the shown setup. No API key is required, and the server does not need a network connection while working.
What it helps with
- locate evidence across source files and documents
- read a file section by heading or line range
- assemble AST context for one source file
- write a checked note with wikilink validation
Example prompts for the agent
- Find the explanation of leveled compaction in the project folder and return its file, page, and lines.
- Read the section that defines class
Storageinsrc/storage.py, then use it to answer my question. - Build a code context pack for
src/indexer.pyand include the related functions.
How to install Silica Core
Platform CLI
claude mcp add --env SILICA_VAULT=<SILICA_VAULT> --transport stdio silica-core -- uvx silica-coreReplace <…> with your own values. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from silica-core <command>
Platform CLI
codex mcp add silica-core --env SILICA_VAULT=<SILICA_VAULT> -- uvx silica-coreReplace <…> with your own values. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from silica-core <command>
Config file
{
"mcpServers": {
"silica-core": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"silica-core"
],
"env": {
"SILICA_VAULT": "<SILICA_VAULT>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from silica-core <command>
Config file
{
"servers": {
"silica-core": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"silica-core"
],
"env": {
"SILICA_VAULT": "<SILICA_VAULT>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from silica-core <command>
Platform CLI
gemini mcp add -e SILICA_VAULT=<SILICA_VAULT> silica-core uvx silica-coreReplace <…> with your own values. uvx runs the command named after the package; if the README names another one, use uvx --from silica-core <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 Silica Core
How do I install Silica Core in Claude Code?
Run claude mcp add silica-core -- uvx silica-core. This registers the Silica Core MCP server in Claude Code.
What does Silica Core do?
It retrieves material from an adopted project folder, including code, Markdown, PDFs, and office files. The tools return file paths, sections, line ranges, and text passages.
Does Silica Core need an API key or GPU?
It does not need an API key. The dense retrieval option uses a static model without a GPU, while the BM25 path works without a model.
