mcp-neovim-server

Overview

This MCP server enables AI models like Claude to interact with Neovim through a rich set of tools. It provides comprehensive control over buffers, windows, search operations, and Vim commands while maintaining a lightweight connection via socket files. The server offers both basic operations like buffer editing and advanced features such as macro recording, tab management, and project-wide grep searches with quickfix integration.

Try asking AI

After installing, here are 5 things you can ask your AI assistant:

• vim_bufferfilename (string, optional)

  Get buffer contents with line numbers (supports filename parameter)

  Try:Show me the contents of the current bufferTry:Display buffer for file src/main.js
• vim_commandcommand (string)

  Send a command to VIM for navigation, spot editing, and line deletion

  Try:Go to line 42 in the current bufferTry:Delete the current lineTry:Run the shell command !ls
• vim_status

  Get comprehensive Neovim status including cursor position, mode, and more

  Try:What's the current cursor position and mode?Try:Show me visual selection details
• vim_editstartLine (number), mode ("insert" | "replace" | "replaceAll"), lines (string)

  Edit lines using insert, replace, or replaceAll modes

  Try:Insert new lines at line 10Try:Replace lines starting at line 5 with new text
• vim_windowcommand (string: "split", "vsplit", "only", "close", "wincmd h/j/k/l")

  Manipulate Neovim windows (split, vsplit, close, navigate)

  Try:Split the current window verticallyTry:Close the current windowTry:Navigate to the left window
• vim_searchpattern (string), ignoreCase (boolean, optional), wholeWord (boolean, optional)

  Search within current buffer with regex support

  Try:Search for 'function' in the bufferTry:Find 'TODO' case-insensitive
• vim_search_replacepattern (string), replacement (string), global (boolean, optional), ignoreCase (boolean, optional), confirm (boolean, optional)

  Find and replace with advanced options

  Try:Replace all instances of 'var' with 'const'Try:Replace old_function with new_function with confirmation
• vim_greppattern (string), filePattern (string, optional)

  Project-wide search using vimgrep with quickfix list

  Try:Search for 'error' in all JS filesTry:Find all occurrences of 'FIXME'
• vim_macroaction ("record" | "stop" | "play"), register (string, a-z), count (number, optional)

  Record, stop, and play Vim macros

  Try:Start recording macro in register aTry:Play the macro from register aTry:Stop recording macro
• vim_tabaction ("new" | "close" | "next" | "prev" | "first" | "last" | "list"), filename (string, optional)

  Complete tab management

  Try:Create a new tabTry:Switch to the next tabTry:Close current tab
• vim_foldaction ("create" | "open" | "close" | "toggle" | "openall" | "closeall" | "delete"), startLine/endLine (numbers, for create)

  Code folding operations

  Try:Close all folds in the current bufferTry:Create a fold from line 10 to 15Try:Toggle fold at current position
• vim_health

  Check Neovim connection health and socket status

  Try:Check Neovim connection healthTry:Is Neovim socket connected?

Comparable tools

Installation

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "MCP Neovim Server": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "mcp-neovim-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "ALLOW_SHELL_COMMANDS": "true",
        "NVIM_SOCKET_PATH": "/tmp/nvim"
      }
    }
  }
}

FAQ

How do I enable shell command execution?

Set the environment variable ALLOW_SHELL_COMMANDS to 'true' in your configuration. This is disabled by default for security reasons.

What are the system requirements?

You need Neovim installed with socket support, Node.js for the MCP server, and a Model Context Protocol client like Claude Desktop. The server works with socket-based connections, not standard vim.

On Hacker News

Recent discussion from the developer community.

• Show HN: MCP Neovim Server – Tiny AI Text Assistant for Neovim▲ 5💬 1
  Story by bigcodegen · 2025-03-31

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