# CodeSift MCP server

> Provides token-efficient code intelligence for AI agents using tree-sitter AST parsing, semantic search, and symbol navigation.

- Repository: https://github.com/greglas75/codesift
- Page: https://hostedmcp.org/servers/greglas75/codesift
- Transport: stdio
- Stars: 4

## Install

### Claude Code

```sh
claude mcp add codesift -- npx -y codesift-mcp
```

### Cursor (`~/.cursor/mcp.json`)

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "codesift": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "codesift-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

### VS Code (`.vscode/mcp.json`)

```json
{
  "servers": {
    "codesift": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "codesift-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

### VS Code CLI

```sh
code --add-mcp '{"name":"codesift","type":"stdio","command":"npx","args":["-y","codesift-mcp"]}'
```

### Claude Desktop (`claude_desktop_config.json`)

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "codesift": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "codesift-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

### Codex

```sh
codex mcp add codesift -- npx -y codesift-mcp
```

### Codex config.toml (`~/.codex/config.toml`)

```toml
[mcp_servers.codesift]
command = "npx"
args = ["-y", "codesift-mcp"]
```

### Gemini CLI

```sh
gemini mcp add -s user codesift npx -- -y codesift-mcp
```

### Gemini settings.json (`~/.gemini/settings.json`)

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "codesift": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "codesift-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

## Environment variables

| Name | Required | Secret | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| `CODESIFT_OPENAI_API_KEY` | no | no |  |
| `CODESIFT_TELEMETRY` | no | no |  |

## FAQ

### How much can CodeSift save in tokens?

CodeSift uses 61-95% fewer tokens than raw grep or Read workflows for typical code navigation tasks.

### Which AI clients are compatible with CodeSift?

It works with any MCP client, including Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, Gemini CLI, Zed, Aider, and Continue.

### How do I index a project with CodeSift?

You can index a local folder using the command `codesift index /path/to/project`.

### What should I do on Windows before upgrading?

You must close every MCP client (like Claude Code or Cursor) before upgrading to prevent EBUSY or EPERM errors caused by open native files.