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Neovim MCP Server

Control Neovim using Model Context Protocol (MCP) and the official neovim/node-client JavaScript library

Installation

Add the following to your MCP client configuration file.

Configuration

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

You connect Claude Desktop to Neovim using the MCP Neovim Server to leverage Neovim’s editing capabilities with AI assistance. This server exposes Neovim features like buffer management, cursor info, and command execution through MCP, enabling smooth, context-aware interactions with your editor.

How to use

You can use the MCP Neovim Server to peek into your Neovim session, switch buffers, inspect cursor state, and perform edits or searches directly from Claude Desktop or any Model Context Protocol client. Typical workflows include opening files, navigating buffers, creating or adjusting selections, running vim commands, and performing project-wide searches. Use the available MCP tools to edit buffers, manage windows and tabs, run macros, and perform sophisticated search and replace operations.

How to install

Prerequisites: you need Node.js and npm or npx available on your system. Ensure Neovim is running with a socket exposed, for example by starting Neovim with --listen /tmp/nvim.

Option 1: DXT Package (Recommended) install steps - Download the latest .dxt file from the available releases - Drag the file to Claude Desktop and follow any prompts to install the MCP Neovim Server package

Option 2: Manual Installation
- Add the following to your claude_desktop_config.json to run the MCP Neovim Server via npx

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

Additional setup notes

Shell commands are disabled by default for security. If you explicitly enable them, you can execute shell commands via the editor commands using the MCP tools that support shell execution when ALLOW_SHELL_COMMANDS is set to true.

Available tools

vim_buffer

Get buffer contents with line numbers and optional filename; returns numbered lines for the current buffer or a specific one by filename.

vim_command

Send a Vim command to Neovim to navigate, edit, or delete lines. Supports shell commands with a leading ! when enabled.

vim_status

Return comprehensive Neovim status including cursor, mode, filename, selections, window layout, registers, marks, and LSP/plugin info.

vim_edit

Edit buffer lines in insert, replace, or replaceAll modes. Specify startLine, mode, and the text content to apply.

vim_window

Manipulate Neovim windows: split, vsplit, close, and navigate between windows.

vim_mark

Set named marks at specific line and column positions for quick navigation.

vim_register

Set the content of a register to store and reuse text or commands.

vim_visual

Create and manipulate visual mode selections by coordinates.

vim_buffer_switch

Switch between buffers by name or number; open specific buffers as needed.

vim_buffer_save

Save current buffer or write to a specified filename.

vim_file_open

Open files into new buffers for editing.

vim_search

Search within the current buffer with regex support, including ignoreCase and wholeWord options.

vim_search_replace

Find and replace with options for global replacement, ignoreCase, and optional confirmation.

vim_grep

Perform a project-wide search with vimgrep and populate the quickfix list.

vim_macro

Record, stop, and play Vim macros to automate repetitive edits.

vim_tab

Manage tabs: create new, close, navigate, and list tabs.

vim_fold

Control code folding to create, open, close, toggle, or delete folds.

vim_jump

Navigate the jump list to move backward or forward through positions.

vim_health

Check Neovim connection health and socket status.