Serena

Semantic code tools (find symbol, references, edit by symbol) backed by language servers.

🧠 Code understanding★ 30,236Updated 2026-10-13Auth: noneGitHub ↗

SourcesGitHuboraios/serena

Runner-up · best for code understanding

See the pick for the verdict.

Test results

Last passed 2026-10-14

Claude CodePassed2026-10-13 · install, connect, tools, agent task

CursorPassed2026-10-13 · install, connect, tools, agent task

Claude DesktopPassed2026-10-14 · install, connect, tools, agent task

ChatGPT (Codex)Passed2026-10-14 · install, connect, tools, agent task

Protocol: starts, 3 tools listed · 2026-10-13

Install

claude mcp add serena -- uvx --from git+https://github.com/oraios/serena serena start-mcp-server --context ide-assistant

Run in your terminal. This exact command is what our harness runs in Claude Code; see the results above.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "serena": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "--from",
        "git+https://github.com/oraios/serena",
        "serena",
        "start-mcp-server",
        "--context",
        "ide-assistant"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Save as .cursor/mcp.json. This exact config is what our harness runs in Cursor; see the results above.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "serena": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "--from",
        "git+https://github.com/oraios/serena",
        "serena",
        "start-mcp-server",
        "--context",
        "ide-assistant"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Add to claude_desktop_config.json and restart Claude Desktop. Tested on the Linux beta; see the results above.

[mcp_servers.serena]
command = "uvx"
args = ["--from", "git+https://github.com/oraios/serena", "serena", "start-mcp-server", "--context", "ide-assistant"]

Add to ~/.codex/config.toml (shared by the ChatGPT (Codex) CLI and the ChatGPT desktop app; Codex runs inside the ChatGPT desktop app). Tested with the ChatGPT (Codex) CLI bundled in the ChatGPT desktop app; see the results above.

Not connecting? Troubleshooting: Claude Code · Cursor · Claude Desktop · ChatGPT (Codex)

Test history

Date	Check	Result	Version
2026-10-13	Protocol (direct stdio)	Protocol: starts, 3 tools listed	2.0.1.dev0
2026-10-13	Claude Code	Passed install, connect, tools, agent task	2.1.296 (Claude Code)
2026-10-13	Cursor	Passed install, connect, tools, agent task	2026.10.12-d47ca18
2026-10-14	Claude Desktop	Passed install, connect, tools, agent task	Claude Desktop 2.37337.1 (Linu
2026-10-14	ChatGPT (Codex)	Passed install, connect, tools, agent task	codex-cli 0.162.0-alpha.17.2

Tools seen by our harness (3)

activate_projectinitial_instructionsserena_repl