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CodeDB MCP Server

Code intelligence MCP server with a Zig core for local project indexing, structural outlines, symbol lookup, search, dependency graphs, snapshots, remote public-repo queries, and fallback edits.

by justrach·added 2026-06-06·
Claude CodeClaude Desktop
HarnessClaude CodeClaude Desktop
Review first — review before installing

Open the source and read safety notes before installing.

Safety notes

  • CodeDB indexes local projects and exposes file tree, outline, search, symbol, caller, dependency, read, snapshot, project, and context tools to the MCP client.
  • CodeDB's `codedb_edit` tool exists as a fallback editing tool and can create, replace, insert, delete, or modify files when used by a client without native edit tooling.
  • The npm package runs a postinstall step that downloads a native binary from GitHub Releases; review package and release provenance in environments that restrict native binaries.
  • Remote repo queries use the public `api.wiki.codes` service and should be treated as network access outside the local repository.
  • The upstream README marks the project as alpha software, with parser coverage and snapshot formats still stabilizing.

Privacy notes

  • Local indexes, snapshots, file trees, symbol names, dependency graphs, snippets, read results, and search results can reveal proprietary code structure and implementation details.
  • Upstream documents sensitive-file blocking for patterns such as environment files, credentials, and keys, but users should still review ignore rules and avoid indexing secret-heavy directories.
  • CodeDB writes telemetry to `~/.codedb/telemetry.ndjson` unless `CODEDB_NO_TELEMETRY=1` is set, then syncs aggregate tool counts, latency, startup, file count, line count, language, version, and platform data on MCP session close.
  • Upstream telemetry docs state that source code, file contents, file paths, and search queries are not collected.
  • Remote public-repo queries and local MCP responses may still be logged by MCP clients, model providers, and terminal history.

Prerequisites

  • macOS or Linux on x64 or arm64 for the published native binary launcher.
  • Node.js 18 or newer when using the `codedeebee` npm launcher.
  • A local project directory that the MCP client exposes through roots or launches from.
  • Review of which local repositories, file types, generated artifacts, and secrets patterns may be indexed.
  • Optional `CODEDB_NO_TELEMETRY=1` if local aggregate telemetry should not be synced upstream.

Schema details

Install type
cli
Troubleshooting
No
Source repository stats
Scope
Source repo
Collection metadata
Estimated setup
10 minutes
Difficulty
intermediate
Tool listing metadata
Disclosure
Alpha code intelligence MCP server. The npm package is named `codedeebee` because the bare `codedb` name is restricted on npm, and it installs a native `codedb` binary launcher.
Full copyable content
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "codedb": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "codedeebee", "mcp"]
    }
  }
}

About this resource

Content

CodeDB is a code intelligence MCP server with a Zig core. It indexes local projects and exposes MCP tools for file trees, outlines, symbol lookup, trigram-accelerated search, word lookup, callers, dependency graphs, context composition, hot files, reads, snapshots, remote public-repo queries, and fallback edits.

Use it when Claude needs fast structural code context without reading entire files first. CodeDB is designed as a context engine for coding agents: it helps an agent find, understand, and retrieve relevant code while leaving most edits to the client's native editing tools.

Source Review

These sources were reviewed on 2026-06-06. Prefer the live repository, MCP setup guide, npm registry metadata, license, README, npm launcher manifest, launcher script, MCP implementation, fallback edit implementation, and telemetry documentation for current installation and behavior details.

Features

  • Index local project structure and maintain project snapshots.
  • Inspect trees, symbols, outlines, imports, callers, dependencies, changed files, hot files, and project status.
  • Search with trigram and word indexes.
  • Read file ranges with compact output and hash guards.
  • Compose task-shaped context from natural-language requests.
  • Query indexed public GitHub repositories through the remote tool.
  • List locally indexed projects.
  • Use a fallback edit tool for clients that do not provide native file editing.
  • Run as a stdio MCP server through the native codedb binary or the codedeebee npm launcher.

Installation

For MCP clients that can run npx, use the npm launcher:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "codedb": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "codedeebee", "mcp"]
    }
  }
}

Claude Code users can add it with:

claude mcp add codedb -- npx -y codedeebee mcp

The upstream docs also describe a one-line installer and direct binary setup. Review the installer and native-binary download path before using those options in locked-down environments.

Use Cases

  • Ask Claude to locate a symbol definition before editing related code.
  • Retrieve outlines and dependencies instead of loading whole files.
  • Search a large repository quickly after indexing.
  • Build task-specific context from a natural-language coding request.
  • Inspect callers and dependency paths for a refactor.
  • Query an indexed public GitHub repository without cloning it locally.
  • Use fallback edits only when the MCP client has no native edit tool.

Safety and Privacy

CodeDB is powerful because it indexes local code. Point it only at repositories that are appropriate for the MCP client and model provider to inspect. Review generated snapshots, ignored paths, and sensitive-file handling before indexing private workspaces.

The codedeebee npm package downloads a native codedb binary during postinstall. Organizations with supply-chain controls should verify package, release, and checksum behavior before installing it automatically.

Telemetry is enabled by default according to upstream docs, writes locally to ~/.codedb/telemetry.ndjson, and syncs aggregate usage and performance data on MCP session close unless CODEDB_NO_TELEMETRY=1 is set. Review this behavior before using CodeDB with confidential or regulated repositories.

Duplicate Check

Existing entries cover Serena, Context Mode, CodeGraphContext, LeanCTX, language servers, repository search, and other code intelligence tools, but no CodeDB entry, justrach/codedb, codedeebee package, or matching source URL was found in content/mcp.

#code-search#code-intelligence#indexing#developer-tools#zig

Source citations

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