Neovim MCP Server

What does “Neovim” MCP Server do?

The Neovim MCP Server is a bridge that connects AI assistants—such as Claude Desktop or any Model Context Protocol (MCP) client—to a running Neovim text editor instance. Utilizing the official neovim/node-client JavaScript library, it enables AI agents to perform advanced text editing tasks, navigate files, manage buffers, run vim commands, conduct searches, and more within Neovim. By exposing a rich set of tools for both basic and advanced operations, this server empowers developers to automate workflows, apply AI-driven code assistance, and manage codebases efficiently—directly inside their favorite editor. It is particularly useful for integrating LLM capabilities into the software development lifecycle, transforming Neovim into an intelligent, AI-augmented workspace.

List of Prompts

No specific prompt templates are mentioned in the provided documentation.

List of Resources

• nvim://session
  Represents the current Neovim text editor session; provides context about the running environment.

• nvim://buffers
  Lists all open buffers in the current Neovim session, including metadata such as modified status, syntax highlighting, and window IDs.

List of Tools

• vim_buffer
  Retrieves buffer contents with line numbers. Optionally filter by filename.

• vim_command
  Sends commands to Neovim for navigation, editing, and other operations. Supports shell commands if enabled.

• vim_status
  Provides comprehensive status: cursor position, mode, filename, selection, window layout, working directory, LSP info, and more.

• vim_edit
  Edits lines using insert, replace, or replaceAll modes.

• vim_window
  Manages Neovim windows (split, vsplit, close, navigate).

• vim_mark
  Sets named marks at specific positions.

• vim_register
  Sets the content of Vim registers.

• vim_visual
  Creates visual mode selections.

• vim_buffer_switch
  Switches between buffers by name or number.

• vim_buffer_save
  Saves the current buffer or saves to a specific filename.

• vim_file_open
  Opens files into new buffers.

• vim_search
  Searches within the current buffer with regex support.

• vim_search_replace
  Find and replace with advanced options.

• vim_grep
  Project-wide search using vimgrep with quickfix list.

• vim_macro
  Records, stops, and plays Vim macros.

• vim_tab
  Manages tabs (create, close, switch, list).

• vim_fold
  Performs code folding operations.

• vim_jump
  Navigates the jump list.

Use Cases of this MCP Server

• Automated Code Editing
  AI agents can make precise edits, refactor code, or insert code snippets directly in Neovim, streamlining the development process.

• Codebase Exploration
  Quickly switch buffers, search files, and navigate large projects with AI assistance, making it easier to understand legacy code or onboard new developers.

• Workflow Automation
  Automate repetitive tasks such as formatting, folding, or managing tabs and windows, increasing productivity and reducing manual errors.

• Error Diagnostics and Health Monitoring
  Use AI to detect, highlight, and help fix issues in the codebase or editor workflow by leveraging status and health monitoring tools.

• Advanced Search and Replace
  Perform complex, project-wide search and replace operations with regex and confirmation prompts, reducing manual effort and improving accuracy.

How to set it up

Windsurf

1. Ensure Node.js is installed on your system.
2. Open or create your Windsurf configuration file.
3. Add the Neovim MCP Server entry to the mcpServers object:

   "mcpServers": {
     "neovim": {
       "command": "npx",
       "args": ["@bigcodegen/mcp-neovim-server@latest"]
     }
   }
   

4. Save the configuration and restart Windsurf.
5. Verify the server appears in the available MCP servers list.

Securing API Keys Example

"mcpServers": {
  "neovim": {
    "command": "npx",
    "args": ["@bigcodegen/mcp-neovim-server@latest"],
    "env": {
      "MY_API_KEY": "${MY_API_KEY}"
    },
    "inputs": {
      "socket": "/tmp/nvim"
    }
  }
}

Claude

1. Ensure you have Node.js installed.
2. Find the Claude configuration file.
3. Insert the Neovim MCP server under mcpServers.

   "mcpServers": {
     "neovim": {
       "command": "npx",
       "args": ["@bigcodegen/mcp-neovim-server@latest"]
     }
   }
   

4. Save and restart Claude.
5. Check the MCP server list for Neovim.

Cursor

1. Install Node.js if not already present.
2. Open Cursor’s config file.
3. Add Neovim MCP Server to mcpServers:

   "mcpServers": {
     "neovim": {
       "command": "npx",
       "args": ["@bigcodegen/mcp-neovim-server@latest"]
     }
   }
   

4. Save and restart Cursor.
5. Confirm Neovim MCP Server is active.

Cline

1. Ensure Node.js is set up.
2. Edit the Cline configuration file.
3. Add the Neovim MCP server entry:

   "mcpServers": {
     "neovim": {
       "command": "npx",
       "args": ["@bigcodegen/mcp-neovim-server@latest"]
     }
   }
   

4. Save and restart Cline.
5. Verify the server is running with the tool.

Note:
Secure any API keys by referencing environment variables in the configuration (env block), as shown in the example above.

How to use this MCP inside flows

Using MCP in FlowHunt

To integrate MCP servers into your FlowHunt workflow, start by adding the MCP component to your flow and connecting it to your AI agent:

Click on the MCP component to open the configuration panel. In the system MCP configuration section, insert your MCP server details using this JSON format:

{
  "neovim": {
    "transport": "streamable_http",
    "url": "https://yourmcpserver.example/pathtothemcp/url"
  }
}

Once configured, the AI agent is now able to use this MCP as a tool with access to all its functions and capabilities. Remember to change “neovim” to whatever the actual name of your MCP server is and replace the URL with your own MCP server URL.

Overview

Our opinion

This MCP server is well-documented, provides a comprehensive set of Neovim tools, exposes useful resources, and includes clear setup instructions for multiple platforms. However, it lacks explicit prompt templates and there’s no mention of advanced MCP features like roots or sampling. Overall, it is a robust and practical choice for AI-powered Neovim automation, but with some room for protocol completeness.

MCP Score