NodeBench MCP Server

A fully local, zero-config MCP server with 46 tools for AI-powered development workflows.

Features:

• Web search (Gemini/OpenAI/Perplexity)
• GitHub repository discovery and analysis
• Job market research
• AGENTS.md self-maintenance
• AI vision for screenshot analysis
• 6-phase verification flywheel
• SQLite-backed learning database

Quick Start (1 minute)

1. Add to Claude Code settings

Add to ~/.claude/settings.json:

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

That's it. Restart Claude Code and you have 46 tools.

Alternative: Build from source

git clone https://github.com/nodebench/nodebench-ai.git
cd nodebench-ai/packages/mcp-local
npm install && npm run build

Then use absolute path in settings:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "nodebench": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/packages/mcp-local/dist/index.js"]
    }
  }
}

3. Add API keys (optional but recommended)

Add to your shell profile (~/.bashrc, ~/.zshrc, or Windows Environment Variables):

# Required for web search (pick one)
export GEMINI_API_KEY="your-key"        # Best: Google Search grounding
export OPENAI_API_KEY="your-key"        # Alternative: GPT-4o web search
export PERPLEXITY_API_KEY="your-key"    # Alternative: Perplexity

# Required for GitHub (higher rate limits)
export GITHUB_TOKEN="your-token"        # github.com/settings/tokens

# Required for vision analysis (pick one)
export GEMINI_API_KEY="your-key"        # Best: Gemini 2.5 Flash
export OPENAI_API_KEY="your-key"        # Alternative: GPT-4o
export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY="your-key"     # Alternative: Claude

4. Restart Claude Code

# Quit and reopen Claude Code, or run:
claude --mcp-debug

5. Test it works

In Claude Code, try these prompts:

# Check your environment
> Use setup_local_env to check my development environment

# Search GitHub
> Use search_github to find TypeScript MCP servers with at least 100 stars

# Fetch documentation
> Use fetch_url to read https://modelcontextprotocol.io/introduction

# Get methodology
> Use getMethodology("overview") to see all available workflows

Tool Categories

Methodology Topics (15 total)

Ask Claude: Use getMethodology("topic_name")

• overview — See all methodologies
• verification — 6-phase development cycle
• eval — Test case management
• flywheel — Continuous improvement loop
• mandatory_flywheel — Required verification for changes
• reconnaissance — Codebase discovery
• quality_gates — Pass/fail checkpoints
• ui_ux_qa — Frontend verification
• agentic_vision — AI-powered visual QA
• closed_loop — Build/test before presenting
• learnings — Knowledge persistence
• project_ideation — Validate ideas before building
• tech_stack_2026 — Dependency management
• telemetry_setup — Observability setup
• agents_md_maintenance — Keep docs in sync

VSCode Extension Setup

If using the Claude Code VSCode extension:

1. Open VSCode Settings (Ctrl/Cmd + ,)
2. Search for "Claude Code MCP"
3. Add server configuration:

{
  "claude-code.mcpServers": {
    "nodebench": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/absolute/path/to/packages/mcp-local/dist/index.js"]
    }
  }
}

Optional Dependencies

Install for additional features:

# Screenshot capture (headless browser)
npm install playwright
npx playwright install chromium

# Image manipulation
npm install sharp

# HTML parsing (already included)
npm install cheerio

# AI providers (pick your preferred)
npm install @google/genai    # Gemini
npm install openai           # OpenAI
npm install @anthropic-ai/sdk # Anthropic

Troubleshooting

"No search provider available"

• Set at least one API key: GEMINI_API_KEY, OPENAI_API_KEY, or PERPLEXITY_API_KEY

"GitHub API error 403"

• Set GITHUB_TOKEN for higher rate limits (60/hour without, 5000/hour with)

"Cannot find module"

• Run npm run build in the mcp-local directory

MCP not connecting

• Check path is absolute in settings.json
• Run claude --mcp-debug to see connection errors
• Ensure Node.js >= 18

Example Workflows

Research a new project idea

1. Use getMethodology("project_ideation") for the 6-step process
2. Use web_search to validate market demand
3. Use search_github to find similar projects
4. Use analyze_repo to study competitor implementations
5. Use research_job_market to understand skill demand

Analyze a GitHub repo before using it

1. Use search_github({ query: "mcp server", language: "typescript", minStars: 100 })
2. Use analyze_repo({ repoUrl: "owner/repo" }) to see tech stack and patterns
3. Use fetch_url to read their documentation

Set up a new development environment

1. Use setup_local_env to scan current environment
2. Follow the recommendations to install missing SDKs
3. Use getMethodology("tech_stack_2026") for ongoing maintenance

Agent Protocol (NODEBENCH_AGENTS.md)

The package includes NODEBENCH_AGENTS.md — a portable agent operating procedure that any AI agent can use to self-configure.

What it provides:

• The 6-step AI Flywheel verification process (mandatory for all changes)
• MCP tool usage patterns and workflows
• Quality gate definitions
• Post-implementation checklists
• Self-update instructions

To use in your project:

1. Copy NODEBENCH_AGENTS.md to your repo root
2. Agents will auto-discover and follow the protocol
3. Use update_agents_md tool to keep it in sync

Or fetch it directly:

curl -o AGENTS.md https://raw.githubusercontent.com/nodebench/nodebench-ai/main/packages/mcp-local/NODEBENCH_AGENTS.md

The file is designed to be:

• Portable — Works in any repo, any language
• Self-updating — Agents can modify it via MCP tools
• Composable — Add your own sections alongside the standard protocol

License

MIT