Serena MCP Server: Setup for Claude Code, Cursor and Other Apps

• Finds a function, class or variable by name across your project

  Looks up code symbols by name, or by a path such as a class and its method, using a language server. It can return the symbol's source and, optionally, its children.

  Try: “Find the class that handles payments in this project and show me its methods.”

  Files · find_symbol

• Lists the classes and functions defined in one file

  Returns the top-level symbols in a file, so the assistant sees a file's shape without reading all of it.

  Try: “Give me an outline of src/billing/invoice.py.”

  Files · get_symbols_overview

• Finds every place a function or class is used

  Lists the code that references a given symbol, with the surrounding lines.

  Try: “Where is calculate_tax called from?”

  Files · find_referencing_symbols

• Finds the classes that implement an interface

  Returns the implementations of a symbol such as an interface or abstract method.

  Try: “Which classes implement PaymentProvider?”

  Files · find_implementations

• Jumps to where something is defined

  Finds the declaration or definition of a symbol that is used at a given spot in a file.

  Try: “Where is the User type defined?”

  Files · find_declaration

• Searches project files for text or a regular expression

  Searches files for a pattern and returns the matching lines, with options to limit paths and include context lines.

  Try: “Search the repo for every TODO that mentions caching.”

  Files · search_for_pattern

• Reads a file from the project, or part of it

  Reads a file inside the project directory, optionally only a range of lines.

  Try: “Show me lines 1 to 80 of config/settings.py.”

  Files · read_file

• Lists the files and folders in a directory

  Lists a directory inside the project, with optional recursion.

  Try: “What is in the tests folder?”

  Files · list_dir

• Finds files by name or pattern

  Finds files matching a name pattern under the paths you give.

  Try: “Find every file named schema.sql.”

  Files · find_file

• Shows errors and warnings the language server found in a file

  Returns language-server diagnostics for a file, grouped by symbol.

  Try: “Are there type errors in src/api/routes.ts?”

  Files · get_diagnostics_for_file

• Shows errors and warnings for one function or class

  Returns diagnostics for one symbol and, optionally, for the symbols that reference it. Off by default.

  Try: “Check whether changing parse_config broke anything that calls it.”

  Files · get_diagnostics_for_symbol

• Rewrites a whole function or class in place

  Replaces the full definition of a symbol with new code, found through the language server rather than line numbers.

  Try: “Rewrite validate_email so it also rejects addresses without a domain.”

  Write · replace_symbol_body

• Adds new code right after a function or class

  Inserts content after the end of a symbol's definition.

  Try: “Add a helper function after format_date.”

  Write · insert_after_symbol

• Adds new code right before a function or class

  Inserts content before the start of a symbol's definition, for example an import or a new method.

  Try: “Add a new import before the first class in this file.”

  Write · insert_before_symbol

• Renames a function or class everywhere it is used

  Renames a symbol across the codebase using the language server's refactoring support.

  Try: “Rename UserRecord to Account across the project.”

  Write · rename_symbol

• Deletes unused code, or lists what still uses it

  Deletes a symbol only if nothing references it. Otherwise it returns the list of references.

  Try: “Delete the old legacy_export function if nothing uses it.”

  Delete · safe_delete_symbol

• Replaces text in a file, with a plain string or a regex

  Replaces matching content in a single file. Use it for edits smaller than a whole function.

  Try: “In settings.py change DEBUG = True to DEBUG = False.”

  Write · replace_content

• Replaces text across many files, with a preview first

  Replaces a pattern across several files. It supports a dry run and choosing which occurrences to change.

  Try: “Preview replacing the old API URL with the new one in all config files.”

  Write · replace_in_files

• Creates a new file, or overwrites an existing one

  Writes a file in the project directory. An existing file at that path is overwritten.

  Try: “Create docs/CONTRIBUTING.md with a short contributor guide.”

  Write · create_text_file

• Deletes a range of lines from a file

  Removes the lines between two line numbers. Off by default.

  Try: “Delete lines 40 to 55 of utils.py.”

  Delete · delete_lines

• Replaces a range of lines in a file

  Swaps a range of lines for new content. Off by default.

  Try: “Replace lines 12 to 20 with the new version of this block.”

  Write · replace_lines

• Inserts new content at a line number

  Inserts content at a given line in a file. Off by default.

  Try: “Insert a license header at line 1 of main.go.”

  Write · insert_at_line

• Runs a shell command in the project

  Runs any shell command on your machine, such as tests or a build, and returns the output.

  Try: “Run the test suite and tell me what failed.”

  Runs code · execute_shell_command

• Picks which project Serena works on

  Activates a project by name or path so the other tools act on it. Needed in clients that do not start in your project folder.

  Try: “Activate the current dir as project using serena.”

  Files · activate_project

• Shows Serena's active projects, tools, contexts and modes

  Prints the current agent configuration, including active and available projects, tools, contexts and modes.

  Try: “Which Serena tools are enabled right now?”

  Read · get_current_config

• Has the assistant learn the project and save notes about it

  Identifies the project structure and key tasks such as testing and building, and stores what it learns as memories.

  Try: “Onboard yourself to this project with Serena.”

  Write · onboarding

• Saves a note about the project for later sessions

  Writes a named markdown memory about the project that the assistant can read in future tasks.

  Try: “Remember that we run tests with make test-fast.”

  Write · write_memory

• Reads a saved project note

  Reads the content of a memory file.

  Try: “Read the memory about the build process.”

  Files · read_memory

• Lists the saved project notes

  Lists available memories, optionally filtered by topic.

  Try: “What memories do you have for this project?”

  Files · list_memories

• Changes part of a saved note

  Replaces text in a memory that matches a regular expression.

  Try: “Update the build memory to say we now use pnpm.”

  Write · edit_memory

• Renames or moves a saved note

  Renames or moves a memory and updates references that use the mem: prefix.

  Try: “Rename the memory 'setup' to 'dev/setup'.”

  Write · rename_memory

• Deletes a saved note

  Deletes a memory file.

  Try: “Delete the outdated memory about the old deploy script.”

  Delete · delete_memory

• Opens Serena's local dashboard in your browser

  Opens the web dashboard, which shows logs, session information and tool usage statistics. Off by default.

  Try: “Open the Serena dashboard.”

  Runs code · open_dashboard

• Removes a project from Serena's list

  Removes a project from Serena's configuration. Off by default.

  Try: “Remove the old-prototype project from Serena.”

  Delete · remove_project

• Lists other projects the assistant may look things up in

  Lists projects that can be queried with the query tool. Off by default.

  Try: “Which other projects can you look at?”

  Read · list_queryable_projects

• Runs a read-only lookup in a different project

  Runs a read-only Serena tool in another project and returns the result. Off by default.

  Try: “In the shared-lib project, find the Logger class.”

  Files · query_project

• Runs Python code against Serena from inside the chat

  Executes Python code that uses Serena's functionality programmatically. Marked beta and off by default.

  Try: “Use the REPL to list all functions that call open_connection.”

  Runs code · serena_repl

• Finds symbols by name through your JetBrains IDE

  Same as the symbol search but using the Serena JetBrains plugin as backend. Off by default.

  Try: “Find the OrderService class with the JetBrains backend.”

  Files · jet_brains_find_symbol

• Finds usages of a symbol through your JetBrains IDE

  Finds symbols that reference the given symbol using the JetBrains backend. Off by default.

  Try: “Where is PaymentGateway used?”

  Files · jet_brains_find_referencing_symbols

• Outlines a file through your JetBrains IDE

  Retrieves the top-level symbols of a file using the JetBrains backend. Off by default.

  Try: “Outline src/main/java/App.java.”

  Files · jet_brains_get_symbols_overview

• Jumps to a definition through your JetBrains IDE

  Finds the declaration of a symbol using the JetBrains backend. Off by default.

  Try: “Go to the definition of Config.load.”

  Files · jet_brains_find_declaration

• Finds implementations through your JetBrains IDE

  Finds the implementations of a symbol using the JetBrains backend. Off by default.

  Try: “Find implementations of the Repository interface.”

  Files · jet_brains_find_implementations

• Shows parent and child types of a class

  Retrieves the supertypes and/or subtypes of a symbol using the JetBrains backend. Off by default.

  Try: “Show the subclasses of BaseController.”

  Files · jet_brains_type_hierarchy

• Runs your IDE's code inspections on a file

  Runs JetBrains IDE inspections on a file and returns the results. Off by default.

  Try: “Run inspections on OrderService.java.”

  Files · jet_brains_run_inspections

• Lists the IDE inspections available

  Lists available JetBrains IDE inspections, optionally filtered by language or group. Off by default.

  Try: “Which Kotlin inspections can you run?”

  Read · jet_brains_list_inspections

• Renames a symbol, file or folder through your IDE

  Renames a symbol, file or directory throughout the codebase using the JetBrains backend. Off by default.

  Try: “Rename the OrderDto class to OrderSummary.”

  Write · jet_brains_rename

• Moves a symbol, file or folder and fixes references

  Moves a symbol, file or directory to a new location and updates all references, using the JetBrains backend. Off by default.

  Try: “Move the Logger class into the util package.”

  Write · jet_brains_move

• Replaces calls to a function with its body

  Inlines a symbol by replacing all call sites with its body, using the JetBrains backend. Off by default.

  Try: “Inline the helper function wrap_response.”

  Write · jet_brains_inline_symbol

• Deletes a symbol after checking nothing uses it

  Safely deletes a symbol using the JetBrains backend, checking for remaining usages first. Off by default.

  Try: “Safely delete the unused LegacyClient class.”

  Delete · jet_brains_safe_delete

• Drives your IDE's debugger

  Provides debugging through a persistent debug REPL connected to the JetBrains IDE: run configurations, breakpoints, stepping, inspection and evaluation. Off by default.

  Try: “Set a breakpoint in checkout() and step through it.”

  Runs code · jet_brains_debug

• Used by the assistant behind the scenes

  Gives the assistant Serena's usage manual

  Returns Serena's instructions manual, for clients that do not pick up the instructions when the server connects.

  Try: “Read Serena's initial instructions.”

  Read · initial_instructions

• Restarts the code-analysis server

  Restarts the language servers. Useful when code was changed outside Serena. Off by default.

  Try: “Restart the language server, I edited files by hand.”

  Runs code · restart_language_server

• Looks up an advanced Serena topic on demand

  Returns information about an advanced topic when asked, to keep the assistant's context small. Off by default.

  Try: “Look up how Serena modes work.”

  Read · serena_info

Watch out for

• It can run any shell command

  The shell tool runs commands on your machine, and the project says the only full protection is a sandbox such as Docker. Use read-only mode or a container for code you do not trust. github.com

• It can edit and delete code and files

  Edit tools overwrite files and one tool deletes symbols that nothing uses. Keep the project under version control so you can undo changes. github.com

• Optional tools add a Python console

  A beta tool, off by default, runs Python code against Serena, and the project says tool limits do not apply to it. Leave it off unless you need it. github.com

• Sends anonymous usage counts by default

  On start it reports the version, operating system, interface, backend and context. Set SERENA_USAGE_REPORTING to false to stop it. github.com

Security advisories