developer-tools

Claude Context

by zilliztech

Claude Context offers semantic code search and indexing with vector embeddings and AST-based code splitting. Natural lan

Provides semantic code search and indexing using vector embeddings and AST-based code splitting, enabling natural language queries across codebases with automatic file filtering and support for multiple embedding providers and vector databases.

github stars

5.6K

Handles millions of lines of codeCost-effective alternative to loading full directoriesMultiple embedding and database providers

best for

  • / Developers working with large codebases
  • / AI coding agents needing codebase context
  • / Teams wanting cost-effective code search
  • / Projects requiring semantic code understanding

capabilities

  • / Search codebases using natural language queries
  • / Index code using vector embeddings and AST parsing
  • / Filter files automatically based on relevance
  • / Connect to multiple embedding providers
  • / Store embeddings in various vector databases

what it does

Adds semantic code search to Claude using vector embeddings, allowing natural language queries to find relevant code across large codebases without loading entire directories into context.

about

Claude Context is a community-built MCP server published by zilliztech that provides AI assistants with tools and capabilities via the Model Context Protocol. Claude Context offers semantic code search and indexing with vector embeddings and AST-based code splitting. Natural lan It is categorized under developer tools.

how to install

You can install Claude Context in your AI client of choice. Use the install panel on this page to get one-click setup for Cursor, Claude Desktop, VS Code, and other MCP-compatible clients. This server runs locally on your machine via the stdio transport.

license

MIT

Claude Context is released under the MIT license. This is a permissive open-source license, meaning you can freely use, modify, and distribute the software.

readme

Your entire codebase as Claude's context

License Node.js Documentation VS Code Marketplace npm - core npm - mcp Twitter DeepWiki <a href="https://discord.gg/mKc3R95yE5"><img height="20" src="https://img.shields.io/badge/Discord-%235865F2.svg?style=for-the-badge&logo=discord&logoColor=white" alt="discord" /></a>

</div>

Claude Context is an MCP plugin that adds semantic code search to Claude Code and other AI coding agents, giving them deep context from your entire codebase.

🧠 Your Entire Codebase as Context: Claude Context uses semantic search to find all relevant code from millions of lines. No multi-round discovery needed. It brings results straight into the Claude's context.

💰 Cost-Effective for Large Codebases: Instead of loading entire directories into Claude for every request, which can be very expensive, Claude Context efficiently stores your codebase in a vector database and only uses related code in context to keep your costs manageable.


🚀 Demo

img

Model Context Protocol (MCP) allows you to integrate Claude Context with your favorite AI coding assistants, e.g. Claude Code.

Quick Start

Prerequisites

<details> <summary>Get a free vector database on Zilliz Cloud 👈</summary>

Claude Context needs a vector database. You can sign up on Zilliz Cloud to get an API key.

Copy your Personal Key to replace your-zilliz-cloud-api-key in the configuration examples.

</details> <details> <summary>Get OpenAI API Key for embedding model</summary>

You need an OpenAI API key for the embedding model. You can get one by signing up at OpenAI.

Your API key will look like this: it always starts with sk-.
Copy your key and use it in the configuration examples below as your-openai-api-key.

</details>

Configure MCP for Claude Code

System Requirements:

  • Node.js >= 20.0.0 and < 24.0.0

Claude Context is not compatible with Node.js 24.0.0, you need downgrade it first if your node version is greater or equal to 24.

Configuration

Use the command line interface to add the Claude Context MCP server:

claude mcp add claude-context \
  -e OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-your-openai-api-key \
  -e MILVUS_TOKEN=your-zilliz-cloud-api-key \
  -- npx @zilliz/claude-context-mcp@latest

See the Claude Code MCP documentation for more details about MCP server management.

Other MCP Client Configurations

<details> <summary><strong>OpenAI Codex CLI</strong></summary>

Codex CLI uses TOML configuration files:

  1. Create or edit the ~/.codex/config.toml file.

  2. Add the following configuration:

# IMPORTANT: the top-level key is `mcp_servers` rather than `mcpServers`.
[mcp_servers.claude-context]
command = "npx"
args = ["@zilliz/claude-context-mcp@latest"]
env = { "OPENAI_API_KEY" = "your-openai-api-key", "MILVUS_TOKEN" = "your-zilliz-cloud-api-key" }
# Optional: override the default 10s startup timeout
startup_timeout_ms = 20000
  1. Save the file and restart Codex CLI to apply the changes.
</details> <details> <summary><strong>Gemini CLI</strong></summary>

Gemini CLI requires manual configuration through a JSON file:

  1. Create or edit the ~/.gemini/settings.json file.
  2. Add the following configuration:
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "claude-context": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["@zilliz/claude-context-mcp@latest"],
      "env": {
        "OPENAI_API_KEY": "your-openai-api-key",
        "MILVUS_TOKEN": "your-zilliz-cloud-api-key"
      }
    }
  }
}
  1. Save the file and restart Gemini CLI to apply the changes.
</details> <details> <summary><strong>Qwen Code</strong></summary>

Create or edit the ~/.qwen/settings.json file and add the following configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "claude-context": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["@zilliz/claude-context-mcp@latest"],
      "env": {
        "OPENAI_API_KEY": "your-openai-api-key",
        "MILVUS_ADDRESS": "your-zilliz-cloud-public-endpoint",
        "MILVUS_TOKEN": "your-zilliz-cloud-api-key"
      }
    }
  }
}
</details> <details> <summary><strong>Cursor</strong></summary>

<a href="https://cursor.com/install-mcp?name=claude-context&config=JTdCJTIyY29tbWFuZCUyMiUzQSUyMm5weCUyMC15JTIwJTQwemlsbGl6JTJGY29kZS1jb250ZXh0LW1jcCU0MGxhdGVzdCUyMiUyQyUyMmVudiUyMiUzQSU3QiUyMk9QRU5BSV9BUElfS0VZJTIyJTNBJTIyeW91ci1vcGVuYWktYXBpLWtleSUyMiUyQyUyMk1JTFZVU19BRERSRVNTJTIyJTNBJTIybG9jYWxob3N0JTNBMTk1MzAlMjIlN0QlN0Q%3D"><img src="https://cursor.com/deeplink/mcp-install-dark.svg" alt="Add claude-context MCP server to Cursor" height="32" /></a>

Go to: Settings -> Cursor Settings -> MCP -> Add new global MCP server

Pasting the following configuration into your Cursor ~/.cursor/mcp.json file is the recommended approach. You may also install in a specific project by creating .cursor/mcp.json in your project folder. See Cursor MCP docs for more info.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "claude-context": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@zilliz/claude-context-mcp@latest"],
      "env": {
        "OPENAI_API_KEY": "your-openai-api-key",
        "MILVUS_ADDRESS": "your-zilliz-cloud-public-endpoint",
        "MILVUS_TOKEN": "your-zilliz-cloud-api-key"
      }
    }
  }
}
</details> <details> <summary><strong>Void</strong></summary>

Go to: Settings -> MCP -> Add MCP Server

Add the following configuration to your Void MCP settings:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "code-context": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@zilliz/claude-context-mcp@latest"],
      "env": {
        "OPENAI_API_KEY": "your-openai-api-key",
        "MILVUS_ADDRESS": "your-zilliz-cloud-public-endpoint",
        "MILVUS_TOKEN": "your-zilliz-cloud-api-key"
      }
    }
  }
}
</details> <details> <summary><strong>Claude Desktop</strong></summary>

Add to your Claude Desktop configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "claude-context": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["@zilliz/claude-context-mcp@latest"],
      "env": {
        "OPENAI_API_KEY": "your-openai-api-key",
        "MILVUS_ADDRESS": "your-zilliz-cloud-public-endpoint",
        "MILVUS_TOKEN": "your-zilliz-cloud-api-key"
      }
    }
  }
}
</details> <details> <summary><strong>Windsurf</strong></summary>

Windsurf supports MCP configuration through a JSON file. Add the following configuration to your Windsurf MCP settings:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "claude-context": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@zilliz/claude-context-mcp@latest"],
      "env": {
        "OPENAI_API_KEY": "your-openai-api-key",
        "MILVUS_ADDRESS": "your-zilliz-cloud-public-endpoint",
        "MILVUS_TOKEN": "your-zilliz-cloud-api-key"
      }
    }
  }
}
</details> <details> <summary><strong>VS Code</strong></summary>

The Claude Context MCP server can be used with VS Code through MCP-compatible extensions. Add the following configuration to your VS Code MCP settings:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "claude-context": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@zilliz/claude-context-mcp@latest"],
      "env": {
        "OPENAI_API_KEY": "your-openai-api-key",
        "MILVUS_ADDRESS": "your-zilliz-cloud-public-endpoint",
        "MILVUS_TOKEN": "your-zilliz-cloud-api-key"
      }
    }
  }
}
</details> <details> <summary><strong>Cherry Studio</strong></summary>

Cherry Studio allows for visual MCP server configuration through its settings interface. While it doesn't directly support manual JSON configuration, you can add a new server via the GUI:

  1. Navigate to Settings → MCP Servers → Add Server.
  2. Fill in the server details:
    • Name: claude-context
    • Type: STDIO
    • Command: npx
    • Arguments: ["@zilliz/claude-context-mcp@latest"]
    • Environment Variables:
      • OPENAI_API_KEY: your-openai-api-key
      • MILVUS_ADDRESS: your-zilliz-cloud-public-endpoint
      • MILVUS_TOKEN: your-zilliz-cloud-api-key
  3. Save the configuration to activate the server.
</details> <details> <summary><strong>Cline</strong></summary>

Cline uses a JSON configuration file to manage MCP servers. To integrate the provided MCP server configuration:

  1. Open Cline and click on the MCP Servers icon in the top navigation bar.

  2. Select the Installed tab, then click Advanced MCP Settings.

  3. In the `cline_mcp_setting