Code Index MCP for Cursor: Setup & Config

What you can do with Code Index in Cursor

Use quick file indexing and opt-in deep syntax analysis to help assistants navigate larger repositories.

• Find code affected by an API migration.
• Explore an unfamiliar repository during a code review.
• Keep file discovery current as the workspace changes.

Before you start: Code Index in Cursor

• Python 3.10+
• uv / uvx
• A project directory to index
• A native search utility for regex mode

Call set_project_path after launch or use the documented --project-path option. File watching refreshes the shallow index; build_deep_index is required for symbol summaries. Windows clients may need the profile-directory environment overrides described in the README.

Code Index Cursor configuration

1. Choose Cursor configuration scope

   For Code Index MCP, open Project: .cursor/mcp.json User: ~/.cursor/mcp.json. Merge into mcpServers at project or user scope.

2. Add Code Index MCP to Cursor

   Use the code-index-mcp entry below in mcpServers. Keep Code Index MCP's documented stdio connection fields and your other Cursor entries.

3. Check Code Index MCP in Cursor

   Code Index MCP: Enable in Cursor’s MCP settings; inspect tools.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "code-index-mcp": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "code-index-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}

Code Index tools available to Cursor

Code Index's stored tool list documents 13 tools; compare it with Cursor's connected tool list, because the stored list is not a live check.

set_project_path

Find set_project_path under Code Index in Cursor's MCP settings; inspect its arguments when the agent requests a call.

Choose a repository directory and initialize its index.

refresh_index

Find refresh_index under Code Index in Cursor's MCP settings; inspect its arguments when the agent requests a call.

build_deep_index

Find build_deep_index under Code Index in Cursor's MCP settings; inspect its arguments when the agent requests a call.

get_settings_info

Find get_settings_info under Code Index in Cursor's MCP settings; inspect its arguments when the agent requests a call.

search_code_advanced

Find search_code_advanced under Code Index in Cursor's MCP settings; inspect its arguments when the agent requests a call.

find_files

Find find_files under Code Index in Cursor's MCP settings; inspect its arguments when the agent requests a call.

get_file_summary

Find get_file_summary under Code Index in Cursor's MCP settings; inspect its arguments when the agent requests a call.

get_file_watcher_status

Find get_file_watcher_status under Code Index in Cursor's MCP settings; inspect its arguments when the agent requests a call.

Inspect whether filesystem monitoring is active.

configure_file_watcher

Find configure_file_watcher under Code Index in Cursor's MCP settings; inspect its arguments when the agent requests a call.

Configure automatic refresh and watcher behavior.

create_temp_directory

Find create_temp_directory under Code Index in Cursor's MCP settings; inspect its arguments when the agent requests a call.

Prepare a storage directory for index data.

check_temp_directory

Find check_temp_directory under Code Index in Cursor's MCP settings; inspect its arguments when the agent requests a call.

Check index storage location and permissions.

clear_settings

Find clear_settings under Code Index in Cursor's MCP settings; inspect its arguments when the agent requests a call.

Reset cached index data and configuration.

refresh_search_tools

Find refresh_search_tools under Code Index in Cursor's MCP settings; inspect its arguments when the agent requests a call.

Detect available native search utilities again.

Code Index: full stored tool descriptions

Troubleshooting Code Index in Cursor

• Cursor must find uvx code-index-mcp (from uv, for Python tools) for Code Index MCP. Enable the project/user entry in MCP settings and inspect its tools.
• Code Index MCP uses stdio here: Cursor must keep the configured process running; protocol output belongs on stdout and diagnostics on stderr.
• Known limitation: Deep summaries require build_deep_index first.
• Known limitation: Languages outside the specialized set get basic fallback indexing.
• Known limitation: Regex search requires an installed native search utility.
• General Cursor troubleshooting lives in the /clients/cursor guide.

Frequently asked questions