---
layout: feature
title: MCP Integration
headline: Tool Access for Desktop and Editor Clients
description: Connect GNO to Claude Desktop, Cursor, Zed, Windsurf, Amp, Raycast, and more via MCP. Search, retrieval, graph exploration, document access, and indexing tools over one local server.
keywords: mcp server, claude desktop mcp, cursor mcp, zed mcp, windsurf mcp, model context protocol, local knowledge mcp, ai assistant memory
icon: mcp-integration
slug: mcp-integration
permalink: /features/mcp-integration/
og_image: /assets/images/og/og-mcp-integration.png
benefits:
  - 21 MCP tools for search, retrieval, graph traversal, and indexing
  - Works with Claude Desktop, Cursor, Zed, Windsurf, Amp
  - Also supports Raycast, LM Studio, LibreChat
  - One-command install for 10+ clients
  - Write tools disabled by default (security-first)
  - Resource URIs for direct document access
commands:
  - "gno mcp install"
  - "gno mcp install --target cursor"
  - "gno mcp install --target zed"
  - "gno mcp status"
---

## What is MCP?

Model Context Protocol (MCP) is a standard that lets AI assistants access external tools and data sources. GNO implements an MCP server that gives your AI access to your local documents.

## Quick Setup

### Claude Desktop

```bash
gno mcp install
```

Restart Claude Desktop. GNO tools will appear in the tool list.

### Claude Code

```bash
# User-level (all projects)
gno mcp install --target claude-code

# Project-level (current project only)
gno mcp install --target claude-code --scope project
```

### Check Status

```bash
gno mcp status
```

Shows which clients have GNO configured.

## Advanced Setup

For manual configuration or unsupported clients, add to the client's MCP config:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "gno": {
      "command": "/path/to/bun",
      "args": ["/path/to/gno", "mcp"]
    }
  }
}
```

**Note**: Use absolute paths. Claude Desktop runs in a sandboxed environment with a limited PATH.

### Config Locations

| Client                 | Path                                                              |
| ---------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Claude Desktop (macOS) | `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json` |
| Claude Code (user)     | `~/.claude.json`                                                  |
| Claude Code (project)  | `./.mcp.json`                                                     |
| Codex (user)           | `~/.codex.json`                                                   |

### Cursor

Configure in Cursor's MCP settings with the command:

```
gno mcp
```

## Available Tools (19 Total)

Once connected, your AI assistant can use:

**Read Tools:**

| Tool                  | Description                    |
| --------------------- | ------------------------------ |
| `gno_search`          | BM25 keyword search            |
| `gno_vsearch`         | Vector similarity search       |
| `gno_query`           | Hybrid search with reranking   |
| `gno_get`             | Retrieve document content      |
| `gno_multi_get`       | Batch document retrieval       |
| `gno_status`          | Check index status             |
| `gno_list_tags`       | List all tags                  |
| `gno_links`           | Get outgoing links             |
| `gno_backlinks`       | Get incoming backlinks         |
| `gno_similar`         | Find semantically similar docs |
| `gno_graph`           | Knowledge graph data           |
| `gno_graph_neighbors` | Nearby graph relationships     |
| `gno_graph_path`      | Shortest path between docs     |

**Write Tools (opt-in with `--enable-write`):**

| Tool                    | Description             |
| ----------------------- | ----------------------- |
| `gno_capture`           | Create new documents    |
| `gno_add_collection`    | Add document sources    |
| `gno_remove_collection` | Remove document sources |
| `gno_sync`              | Update collections      |
| `gno_embed`             | Generate embeddings     |
| `gno_index`             | Full re-index           |

**Job Tools:**

| Tool             | Description           |
| ---------------- | --------------------- |
| `gno_job_status` | Check async job state |
| `gno_list_jobs`  | List all jobs         |

## Example Prompts

Ask your AI assistant:

> "Search my notes for the project roadmap and summarize the Q4 goals."

> "Find all documents about authentication and list the key decisions."

> "What did I write about database migrations last month?"

Your AI will search your local documents and cite sources in its response.
