Serena MCP: the IDE for your agent

Name: Serena MCP: the IDE for your agent
Author: oraios

by oraiosversion 1.5.3i★ –iRuns on your computer

Registry nameio.github.oraios/serena

Install

Overview

Description from the maker (original English)

A powerful toolkit for coding, providing semantic retrieval and editing capabilities.

PopNx MCP’s three pillars

These three are never merged into one score: opinions, measurements and popularity are different things.

User voiceiNo reviews yetReviews open together with accounts in a later step
Our basic checksi1 of 1 passedChecked from public information; code not scanned yet
UsageiNot measured yet★ –

What you can do with it

We have not written a plain-language summary for this one yet. Below are the facts we read from the registry.

Connection: Runs on your computer
Transport: stdio
Category: Other

Install

Pick the AI app you use, then copy the settings.

Before you install

Basic checks: 1 of 1 passed
Runs on your computer with your user’s permissions (files, network, apps).
The registry lists no key to fill in.

You need

PyPIPython’s uv installed (for the uvx command)

Which app do you use?

ClaudeClaude CodeCursorVS CodeChatGPT

Pick your app above. We remember it, so next time the button says “Install in …”.

Open Claude Desktop → Settings → Developer → Edit Config, and paste this into claude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "serena": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "serena-agent"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Run this in your terminal

claude mcp add serena -- uvx serena-agent

Open in Cursor

Or copy the settings yourself

Paste into .cursor/mcp.json in your project, or ~/.cursor/mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "serena": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "serena-agent"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Your browser asks to open the app, then the app shows the settings and asks you to confirm. Key values are left empty for you to fill in.

Open in VS Code

Or copy the settings yourself

Paste into .vscode/mcp.json in your project

{
  "servers": {
    "serena": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "serena-agent"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Your browser asks to open the app, then the app shows the settings and asks you to confirm. Key values are left empty for you to fill in.

This one runs on your computer, and ChatGPT can only connect to servers on the internet. Pick another app.

Your choice stays on this device in a cookie; no account needed.

These settings are generated from the maker’s registry entry. If the README says otherwise, follow the README.

What it can do

Runs on your computer; the tool list appears in your AI app after you install it.

Basic checksi

We check information anyone can see; we have not read the code. Checks that do not apply are left out of the count. · Checked Nov 7, 2026

✓ Pass
Maker matches the repo
The registry name was verified with the GitHub account oraios, which owns the repo
… Not checked yet
Still maintained
We have not read this repo from GitHub yet
… Not checked yet
Has a licence
We have not read this repo from GitHub yet
– Not applicable
Endpoint responds
This one runs on your computer; there is no internet endpoint
– Not applicable
Sign-in with OAuth
Runs on your computer and uses local settings instead
… Not checked yet
No hidden instructions in tool descriptions
Runs on your computer; we can only read tool lists from internet endpoints

Compared with others in Otheri

More stars than 0% of the other 32706 servers in this category
Published to the registry more recently than 10% of the other 32706 servers in this category
Basic checks equal to or better than 100% of the other 32706 servers in this category

Compared with every active server in this category in the registry. Stars count only when the publisher owns the repo.

Common questions

Is Serena MCP: the IDE for your agent safe?

It passed 1 of 1 applicable basic checks. We have not read the code. Before adding a key or token, see what access the server asks for and use a key with only the permissions you need.

What keys or codes does it need?

The registry does not list a required key, though some servers ask you to sign in on first use.

Does it run on my computer or in the cloud?

It runs on your computer. Your AI app starts it when needed, and data does not pass through the maker’s servers (unless it calls an online service itself).

Is it still maintained?

The GitHub repo last changed –, and the latest version (1.5.3) reached the registry 5 months ago.

Which apps can use it?

Apps that support MCP, such as Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor and VS Code. You also need Python (uv) on your computer.

What can I use instead?

In the same category: Spec Driven Development, Remote Desktop Commander, Kanal Varna — drains, leaks & plumbing (Varna, BG)

Alternatives

Servers in the same category from other makers, sorted by stars.

Reading a card:★ GitHub starsiThree pillars: reviews · checks · usageiUpdated = latest version published to the registryi

Spec Driven Development

by formulahendry

MCP Server that facilitates spec-driven development workflows, not just Vibe Coding.

Runs on your computer★ 440MITUpdated 14 months ago

Install

Remote Desktop Commander

by desktop-commander

Remote Desktop Commander: use files, terminal and processes on your own computers from any AI app.

Runs in the cloud★ 211Updated 2 days ago

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Kanal Varna — drains, leaks & plumbing (Varna, BG)

by kanalvarna.com

Drain unblocking, leak detection & plumbing in Varna, Bulgaria: services, prices, areas, contact

Runs in the cloudUpdated today

Install

README from the maker

Open the README

Copied from the maker’s repo as written. PopNx MCP has not reviewed or endorsed it. HTML, images and scripts are removed. Links lead off this site.

The IDE for Your Coding Agent

Serena provides essential semantic code retrieval, editing, refactoring and debugging tools that are akin to an IDE's capabilities, operating at the symbol level and exploiting relational structure.
It integrates with any client/LLM via the model context protocol (MCP).

Serena's agent-first tool design involves robust high-level abstractions, distinguishing it from approaches that rely on low-level concepts like line numbers or primitive search patterns.

Practically, this means that your agent operates faster, more efficiently and more reliably, especially in larger and more complex codebases.

[!TIP]

Serena v2 with the new REPL-based agent interface has been released.

Learn more

about the new interface and how to configure it.

Video

What Our "End Users" Say

While it is humans who download and set up Serena, our end users are essentially AI agents. As the ones actually applying Serena's tools, they are in the best position to evaluate Serena.

We crafted an unbiased evaluation prompt that leads the agent to perform ~20 routine coding tasks, representative of everyday development work, in order to estimate the value added by Serena's tools when used alongside its own built-ins.

Here's a one-sentence summary of what the agents had to say:

Opus 4.6 (high) in Claude Code on a large Python codebase:

"Serena's IDE-backed semantic tools are the single most impactful addition to my toolkit – cross-file renames, moves, and reference lookups that

would cost me 8–12 careful, error-prone steps collapse into one atomic call, and I would absolutely ask any developer I work with to set them up."

GPT 5.4 (high) in Codex CLI on a Java codebase:

"As a coding AI agent, I would ask my owner to add Serena because it gives me the missing IDE-level understanding of symbols, references, and

refactorings, turning fragile text surgery into calmer, faster, more confident code changes where semantics matter."

GPT 5.4 (medium) in Copilot CLI on a large, multi-language monorepo:

"As a coding agent, I’d absolutely ask my owner to add Serena because it makes me noticeably sharper and calmer on

real code – especially symbol-aware navigation, cross-file refactors, and monorepo dependency jumps – while I still lean on built-ins for tiny text edits and non-code work."

Different agents in different settings independently converge on the same verdict.

_Give your agent the tools it has been asking for and add Serena MCP to your client!_

See our documentation for the full methodology and much more detailed evaluation results, or run your own evaluation on a project of your choice.

How Serena Works

Serena provides the necessary tools for coding workflows, but an LLM is required to do the actual work, orchestrating tool use.

Serena can extend the functionality of your existing AI client via the model context protocol (MCP). Most modern AI chat clients directly support MCP, including

terminal-based clients like Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, or Gemini-CLI,
IDEs and IDE assistant plugins for VSCode, Cursor and JetBrains IDEs (Copilot, Junie, JetBrains AI Assistant, etc.),
desktop and web clients like Claude Desktop, Codex App, or OpenWebUI.

To connect the Serena MCP server to your client, you either

provide the client with a launch command that allows it to start the MCP server, or
start the Serena MCP server yourself in HTTP mode and provide the client with the URL.

See the Quick Start section below for information on how to get started.

Programming Language Support & Semantic Analysis Capabilities

Serena provides a set of versatile code querying and editing functionalities based on symbolic understanding of the code. Equipped with these capabilities, your agent discovers and edits code just like a seasoned developer making use of an IDE's capabilities would. Serena can efficiently find the right context and do the right thing even in very large and complex projects!

There are two alternative technologies powering these capabilities:

Language servers implementing the language server protocol (LSP) — the free/open-source alternative which is used by default.
The Serena JetBrains Plugin, which leverages the powerful code analysis and editing capabilities of your JetBrains IDE (paid plugin; free trial available).

You can choose either of these backends depending on your preferences and requirements.

Language Servers

Serena incorporates a powerful abstraction layer for the integration of language servers that implement the language server protocol (LSP). The underlying language servers are typically open-source projects or at least freely available for use.

When using Serena's language server backend, we provide support for over 40 programming languages, including Ada / SPARK, AL, Angular, Ansible, Astro, Bash, BSL, C#, C/C++, Clojure, Crystal, CUE, Dart, Deno, Elixir, Elm, Erlang, Fortran, F#, GDScript, Gleam, GLSL, Go, GraphQL, Groovy, Haskell, Haxe, HLSL, HTML, Java, JavaScript, JSON, Julia, Kotlin, LaTeX, Lean 4, Lua, Luau, Markdown, MATLAB, mSL, Nextflow, Nix, OCaml, Pascal, Perl, PHP, PowerShell, Python, QML, R, Rego, Ruby, Rust, Scala, SCSS / Sass / CSS, Solidity, Svelte, Swift, SystemVerilog, Terraform, TOML, TypeScript, VB.NET, Vue, WGSL, Wolfram Language, YAML, and Zig.

The Serena JetBrains Plugin

The paid Serena JetBrains Plugin (free trial available) leverages the powerful code analysis capabilities of your JetBrains IDE. The plugin naturally supports all programming languages and frameworks that are supported by JetBrains IDEs, including IntelliJ IDEA, PyCharm, Android Studio, WebStorm, PhpStorm, RubyMine, GoLand, and potentially others (Rider and CLion are unsupported though).

See our documentation page for further details and instructions on how to apply the plugin.

Features

Serena provides a wide range of tools for efficient code retrieval, editing and refactoring, as well as a memory system for long-lived agent workflows.

Given its large scope, Serena adapts to your needs by offering a multi-layered configuration system.

Details

Retrieval

Serena's retrieval tools allow agents to explore codebases at the symbol level, understanding structure and relationships without reading entire files.

Capability	Language Servers	JetBrains Plugin
find symbol	yes	yes
symbol overview (file outline)	yes	yes
find referencing symbols	yes	yes
search in project dependencies	--	yes
type hierarchy	--	yes
find declaration	yes*	yes
find implementations	yes**	yes
query external projects	yes	yes
diagnostics/inspections	yes	yes

*: Will generally not work for declarations in external dependencies.

**: Only available for some languages, limited by the language server functionality.

Refactoring

Without precise refactoring tools, agents are forced to resort to unreliable and expensive search and replace operations.

Capability	Language Servers	JetBrains Plugin
rename	yes (only symbols)	yes (symbols, files, directories)
move (symbol, file, directory)	--	yes
inline	--	yes
propagate deletions (remove unused code)	--	yes

Symbolic Editing

Serena's symbolic editing tools are less error-prone and much more token-efficient than typical alternatives.

Capability	Language Servers	JetBrains Plugin
replace symbol body	yes	yes
insert after symbol	yes	yes
insert before symbol	yes	yes
safe delete	yes	yes

Interactive Debugging

Exclusive to the JetBrains plugin, Serena supports a highly general debugging tool, which allows an agent to set breakpoints, inspect variables, evaluate expressions and control execution flow via a persistent REPL-style interface.

Basic Features

Beyond its semantic capabilities, Serena includes a set of basic utilities for completeness. When Serena is used inside an agentic harness such as Claude Code or Codex, these tools are typically disabled by default, since the surrounding harness already provides overlapping file, search, and shell capabilities.

`search_for_pattern` – flexible regex search across the codebase
`replace_content` – agent-optimised regex-based and literal text replacement
`list_dir` / `find_file` – directory listing and file search
`read_file` – read files or file chunks
`execute_shell_command` – run shell commands (e.g. builds, tests, linters)

Memory Management

A memory system is elemental to long-lived agent workflows, especially when knowledge is to be shared across sessions, users and projects. Despite its simplicity, we received positive feedback from many users who tend to combine Serena's memory management system with their agent's internal system (e.g., AGENTS.md files). It can easily be disabled if you prefer to use something else.

Configurability

Active tools, tool descriptions, prompts, language backend details and many other aspects of Serena can be flexibly configured on a per-case basis by simply adjusting a few lines of YAML. To achieve this, Serena offers multiple levels of (composable) configuration:

global configuration
MCP launch command (CLI) configuration
per-project configuration (with local overrides)
execution context-specific configuration (e.

Only the beginning is shown; read the rest in the repo

Serena MCP: the IDE for your agent

Overview

PopNx MCP’s three pillars

What you can do with it

Install

Before you install

What it can do

Basic checksi

Maker matches the repo

Still maintained

Has a licence

Endpoint responds

Sign-in with OAuth

No hidden instructions in tool descriptions

Compared with others in Otheri

Common questions

Alternatives

Spec Driven Development

Remote Desktop Commander

Kanal Varna — drains, leaks & plumbing (Varna, BG)

README from the maker

Video

What Our "End Users" Say

How Serena Works

Programming Language Support & Semantic Analysis Capabilities

Language Servers

The Serena JetBrains Plugin

Features

Retrieval

Refactoring

Symbolic Editing

Interactive Debugging

Basic Features

Memory Management

Configurability