# sverklo

sverklo gives coding agents repository context through symbols, relationships, diffs, and Git decisions. Use it before edits that require more than an exact-string search.

- MCP server · `type=mcp` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf (Devin Desktop), Cline, Zed, Gemini CLI · ★ 81
- Author: sverklo
- License: MIT · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/sverklo/sverklo
- Updated: 2026-08-12
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/sverklo

## What it does

sverklo exposes 37 MCP tools for understanding a repository before code changes. It combines hybrid search with caller and dependency lookup, diff review, blast-radius checks, and access to decisions pinned in Git. The server supports Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf (Devin Desktop), Cline, and Zed.

You can begin with `sverklo prove --no-write --guided --markdown`. It selects central files and a symbol with its callers, explains the selection, and prints a prompt for the agent without changing the project. `sverklo init --dry-run` previews touched files; `sverklo init` writes the MCP setup, adds local guidance to `AGENTS.md` or `CLAUDE.md`, then runs `sverklo doctor`.

The bundled embedding provider keeps indexing and vector generation on the machine running the server. If a remote provider is configured explicitly, code pieces are sent there for embedding. That boundary matters when repository code must stay local.

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

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

**Platform CLI**
```bash
claude mcp add sverklo -- npx -y sverklo
```

### Codex

**Platform CLI**
```bash
codex mcp add sverklo -- npx -y sverklo
```

### Cursor

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

### GitHub Copilot

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

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini mcp add sverklo npx -y sverklo
```

## When to use it
- trace a symbol to its callers
- check change impact before editing
- review a diff against related tests
- recover earlier repository decisions
- preview MCP setup changes

## Example prompts
- Trace the callers and affected files for the function I’m about to edit in `src/auth.ts`.
- Review this diff, show its blast radius, and point to related tests.
- Run the repository proof without writing MCP configuration.

## Similar
- [REA](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/rea.md) — MCP server · ★ 386989
- [GitHub](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/github.md) — MCP server · ★ 33918
- [Netdata](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/netdata.md) — MCP server · ★ 81115
- [browser-use](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/browser-use.md) — MCP server · ★ 119160
- [Codebase Memory](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/codebase-memory.md) — MCP server · ★ 47392
- [mcp-server](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/mcp-server.md) — MCP server · ★ 43872

---
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