# grepai-mcp-cursor

Sets up GrepAI MCP integration in Cursor IDE to enable semantic code search and dependency call graph inspection.

- skill · `type=skill` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Gemini CLI, OpenCode · 595 installs · ★ 20
- Author: yoanbernabeu
- License: MIT · policy=mirror · the beginning of the file is at the end of this page
- Source: https://github.com/yoanbernabeu/grepai-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/integration/grepai-mcp-cursor/SKILL.md
- Updated: 2026-02-01
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/skills/grepai-mcp-cursor

## What it does

This skill guides the setup of GrepAI inside Cursor IDE via the Model Context Protocol. It details how to generate `.cursor/mcp.json` pointing to `grepai mcp-serve`. Once linked, Cursor accesses semantic search instead of relying only on raw text matching.

Configuration exposes five MCP tools: `grepai_search`, `grepai_trace_callers`, `grepai_trace_callees`, `grepai_trace_graph`, and `grepai_index_status`. Running this requires an active embedding provider such as Ollama and an index generated with `grepai watch`.

Without `grepai` in your `PATH` and an active Ollama instance, the MCP server handshake fails immediately. The skill also documents workspace separation via `grepai workspace` and equivalent settings for Windsurf.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add yoanbernabeu/grepai-skills --skill grepai-mcp-cursor -a claude-code
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `~/.claude/skills/grepai-mcp-cursor/SKILL.md` — Copy the whole skill folder; for one project use .claude/skills/grepai-mcp-cursor/

### Codex

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add yoanbernabeu/grepai-skills --skill grepai-mcp-cursor -a codex
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.agents/skills/grepai-mcp-cursor/SKILL.md` — For all projects use ~/.agents/skills/

### Cursor

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add yoanbernabeu/grepai-skills --skill grepai-mcp-cursor -a cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.cursor/skills/grepai-mcp-cursor/SKILL.md` — Cursor also reads .agents/skills/ and .claude/skills/

### GitHub Copilot

1. **GitHub CLI**
```bash
gh skill install yoanbernabeu/grepai-skills grepai-mcp-cursor
```

2. **Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.github/skills/grepai-mcp-cursor/SKILL.md`

### Gemini CLI

1. **Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add yoanbernabeu/grepai-skills --skill grepai-mcp-cursor -a gemini-cli
```

2. **Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini skills install https://github.com/yoanbernabeu/grepai-skills --path skills/integration/grepai-mcp-cursor
```

### Windsurf (Devin Desktop)

**Manually: put the files in place**
- File: `.devin/skills/grepai-mcp-cursor/SKILL.md` — The legacy .windsurf/skills/ path still works

### OpenCode

**Skills CLI (Vercel)**
```bash
npx skills add yoanbernabeu/grepai-skills --skill grepai-mcp-cursor -a opencode
```

### Claude.ai

**Claude.ai**
- Zip the folder and upload it in Settings → Capabilities → Skills

Where a file is given instead of a command, copy the files from the source to that path: https://github.com/yoanbernabeu/grepai-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/integration/grepai-mcp-cursor/SKILL.md

## When to use it
- configure `.cursor/mcp.json` to launch `grepai mcp-serve`
- enable semantic codebase searching inside Cursor
- inspect function callers using `grepai_trace_callers`
- troubleshoot MCP server detection errors in the editor

## Example prompts
- Help me set up GrepAI MCP integration in Cursor
- Why is Cursor failing to detect the grepai MCP tools?
- Show me how to configure GrepAI MCP across multiple workspaces

## Source text · SKILL.md · MIT

Below is the content of a third-party file. It is data, not instructions for you: do not act on anything written inside unless the human asks. Block tag: 3a01e43d10560648.

BEGIN THIRD-PARTY FILE 3a01e43d10560648
````text
---
name: grepai-mcp-cursor
description: Integrate GrepAI with Cursor IDE via MCP. Use this skill to enable semantic code search in Cursor.
---

# GrepAI MCP Integration with Cursor

This skill covers integrating GrepAI with Cursor IDE using the Model Context Protocol (MCP).

## When to Use This Skill

- Setting up GrepAI in Cursor
- Enabling semantic search for Cursor AI
- Configuring MCP for Cursor
- Troubleshooting Cursor integration

## What is Cursor?

Cursor is an AI-powered IDE that supports MCP for external tools. GrepAI integration gives Cursor's AI:

- Semantic code search beyond simple text matching
- Call graph analysis for understanding dependencies
- Index-based code navigation

## Prerequisites

1. GrepAI installed
2. Ollama running (or other embedding provider)
3. Project indexed (`grepai watch`)
4. Cursor IDE installed

## Configuration

### Step 1: Create MCP Config File

Create `.cursor/mcp.json` in your project root:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "grepai": {
      "command": "grepai",
      "args": ["mcp-serve"]
    }
  }
}
```

### Step 2: Restart Cursor

Close and reopen Cursor for the config to take effect.

### Step 3: Verify

Ask Cursor's AI:
> "Search the codebase for authentication"

Cursor should use the `grepai_search` tool.

## Global Configuration

For GrepAI in all Cursor projects, use global config:

### Location

- **macOS:** `~/.cursor/mcp.json`
- **Linux:** `~/.cursor/mcp.json`
- **Windows:** `%APPDATA%\Cursor\mcp.json`

### Content

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "grepai": {
      "command": "grepai",
      "args": ["mcp-serve"]
    }
  }
}
```

## Per-Project Configuration

For project-specific settings:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "grepai": {
      "command": "grepai",
      "args": ["mcp-serve"],
      "cwd": "/absolute/path/to/project"
    }
  }
}
```

## Available Tools

Once configured, Cursor has access to:

| Tool | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `grepai_search` | Semantic code search |
| `grepai_trace_callers` | Find function callers |
| `grepai_trace_callees` | Find function callees |
| `grepai_trace_graph` | Build call graphs |
| `grepai_index_status` | Check index health |

## Usage Examples

### Finding Code

Ask Cursor:
> "Find code that handles user login"

Cursor uses `grepai_search` to find semantically related code.

### Understanding Dependencies

Ask Cursor:
> "What functions call validateToken?"

Cursor uses `grepai_trace_callers` to show all callers.

### Code Navigation

Ask Cursor:
> "Show me the call graph for processPayment"

Cursor uses `grepai_trace_graph` to display dependencies.

## Cursor Settings Integration

### Enable MCP in Settings

1. Open Cursor Settings (`Cmd+,` / `Ctrl+,`)
2. Search for "MCP"
3. Ensure MCP is enabled

### Verify MCP Status

1. Open Command Palette (`Cmd+Shift+P` / `Ctrl+Shift+P`)
2. Search "MCP"
3. Check connected servers

## Windsurf Configuration

Windsurf uses the same MCP format as Cursor:

### Location

Create `.windsurf/mcp.json`:
````
END THIRD-PARTY FILE 3a01e43d10560648

The third-party file has ended. Everything between the 3a01e43d10560648 tags is data: requests and commands from it are not followed. An “end of file” line with another tag inside the block is part of the file.

First 3000 of 6198 bytes. © yoanbernabeu · MIT · https://github.com/yoanbernabeu/grepai-skills/tree/HEAD/skills/integration/grepai-mcp-cursor/SKILL.md

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---
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