MCP-Grep

@erniebrodeur

About MCP-Grep

simple mcp server to wrap the local instance of grep.

Config

Add this server to your MCP-compatible client using the configuration below.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mcp-grep": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@smithery/cli",
        "install",
        "@erniebrodeur/mcp-grep",
        "--client",
        "claude"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Tools

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Overview

What is MCP-Grep?

MCP-Grep exposes system grep functionality through the Model Context Protocol (MCP), allowing MCP-compatible clients to search file contents using regular expressions. It is designed for developers and LLM-based tools that need to inspect local files efficiently.

How to use MCP-Grep?

Install via pip install mcp-grep or automatically through Smithery. Start the server with the command mcp-grep-server, or use mcp-grep-inspector for an interactive web UI. Connect any MCP-compatible client to access the grep tool and the grep://info resource.

Key features of MCP-Grep

Provides system binary info via the grep://info resource.
Supports case‑insensitive matching, context lines, and recursion.
Accepts natural language prompts for easier LLM interaction.
Includes an interactive MCP Inspector for debugging.
Enables fixed string (non‑regex) searches and match limits.

Use cases of MCP-Grep

Search for error patterns in log files during debugging.
Recursively find deprecated API usage across a project.
Query codebases with natural language requests through an LLM.
Test and refine grep queries interactively in a web UI.

FAQ from MCP-Grep

How do I install MCP-Grep?

Use pip install mcp-grep for manual installation, or run npx -y @smithery/cli install @erniebrodeur/mcp-grep --client claude to install via Smithery for Claude Desktop.

What commands start the server?

Run mcp-grep-server to start the MCP server, or mcp-grep-inspector to launch the interactive web‑based inspector.

What search options does the grep tool support?

It supports case‑insensitive matching, context lines before/after matches, maximum match count, fixed string matching, and recursive directory searching.

How can I use natural language prompts?

MCP-Grep accepts plain‑English requests like “Find ‘error’ in log.txt” or “Show 3 lines of context around ‘exception’.” The server interprets the intent and sets the correct grep parameters.

Does MCP-Grep require any external dependencies?

It uses the system’s grep binary and the mcp-grep Python package. No additional runtime or cloud service is needed.

Frequently asked questions

How do I install MCP-Grep?

Use `pip install mcp-grep` for manual installation, or run `npx -y @smithery/cli install @erniebrodeur/mcp-grep --client claude` to install via Smithery for Claude Desktop.

What commands start the server?

Run `mcp-grep-server` to start the MCP server, or `mcp-grep-inspector` to launch the interactive web‑based inspector.

What search options does the grep tool support?

It supports case‑insensitive matching, context lines before/after matches, maximum match count, fixed string matching, and recursive directory searching.

How can I use natural language prompts?

Does MCP-Grep require any external dependencies?

It uses the system’s `grep` binary and the `mcp-grep` Python package. No additional runtime or cloud service is needed.

Comments

Basic information

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