mcpserver.nvim

What is mcpserver.nvim?

mcpserver.nvim is a Neovim plugin that implements an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server, allowing external MCP clients to interact with Neovim through a Unix socket. It provides tools such as get_buffer_content to fetch the contents of the current buffer.

How to use mcpserver.nvim?

Install with lazy.nvim; the server starts automatically on VimEnter. Use :MCPServerStart and :MCPServerStop to control the server manually. External clients can connect to the Unix socket at /tmp/nvim-mcp-server-<PID>.sock or use the standalone stdio server (lua standalone.lua) for JSON‑RPC communication.

Key features of mcpserver.nvim

• Implements a full MCP server inside Neovim
• Provides get_buffer_content tool returning filename, content, and line count
• Creates a unique Unix socket per Neovim process (PID‑based)
• Standalone stdio server for external MCP clients
• Supports JSON‑RPC protocol over socket or stdio
• Simple :MCPServerStart and :MCPServerStop commands

Use cases of mcpserver.nvim

• Connect AI coding assistants to Neovim via MCP protocol
• Extract buffer content from Neovim for external processing
• Automate editor interactions using external MCP clients
• Run multiple Neovim instances with separate isolated MCP servers

FAQ from mcpserver.nvim

Where does the socket file get created?

The Unix socket is created at /tmp/nvim-mcp-server-<PID>.sock, where <PID> is the Neovim process ID.

Can multiple Neovim instances run an MCP server at the same time?

Yes, because each socket is named with the unique process ID, multiple instances can coexist without conflict.

What data does get_buffer_content return?

It returns a JSON object containing filename (file path), content (full text of the buffer), and line_count (number of lines).

How do I use the server with a stdio‑based MCP client?

Run lua standalone.lua to start the stdio server. It automatically finds a running Neovim MCP socket or accepts a path as an argument.

What are the runtime requirements?

Neovim with Lua support is required. The standalone mode additionally needs netcat (nc) installed on the system.