mcp-code-intelligence

name	mcp-code-intelligence
description	Compare MCP code-intelligence layers — CLI wrappers, ast-grep, symbol/graph tools, Zoekt, embeddings. Use when choosing search/dispatch vs heavyweight indexes. Backend domain MCP is image-scoring-mcp (is-be-mcp).

MCP code intelligence

Compare approaches for giving coding agents repository awareness.

Purpose

Choose the lightest effective layer: CLI tools first, compact domain MCP second, graph/embedding indexes last.

When to use

• Evaluating whether to add an MCP server vs using rg/fd
• Debugging agent search quality or memory use
• Complementing (not replacing) backend image-scoring-mcp

Required tools

Depends on tier — baseline CLI from agent-cli-hub.

Recommended tiers

Minimal MCP setup

rg + fd + read_file + git diff + patch_file

Lowest memory, transparent, deterministic. Best default for most tasks.

Better setup

fff-be MCP (grep, find_files, multi_grep) + rg + fd + ast-grep + is-be-mcp search/dispatch + WSL pytest/doctor

Adds indexed file search for long agent sessions and compact pipeline triage via is-be-mcp. Keep rg/fd for one-off shell probes.

Advanced setup

Graphify (graphify query/path/explain or optional graphify-be MCP) + optional Serena / Zoekt / embeddings

Higher setup cost. Prefer Graphify for local AST knowledge graphs (no vector store) before heavier symbol/embedding indexes. Use when cross-module “why / how connected” questions outgrow rg/fff.

Warning: Embedding-first indexing is often heavier and less exact than text/structural search — keep it secondary. Do not use Graphify for pipeline/DB triage — that stays on is-be-mcp.

Comparison matrix

Layer	Examples	Strengths	Cost
Indexed file search	fff MCP (grep, find_files, multi_grep) — project fff-be	Warm index, frecency, git-aware	Project MCP install
CLI wrappers	rg, fd, bat, git diff	Fast, bounded, no index	Agent orchestrates
Domain compact MCP	is-be-mcp search/dispatch	Pipeline, DB, diagnostics registry	Build mcp-server/
Structural	ast-grep, semgrep	Syntax shapes	Medium
Knowledge graph	Graphify (graphifyy CLI; optional graphify-be MCP)	AST edges, path/query/explain; local, no vectors	uv tool install; build graphify-out/
Graph / embeddings	Serena, Zoekt, claude-context	Symbols, fuzzy discovery	Heavy

Backend domain MCP

For Vexlum Scoring pipeline, DB, and diagnostics — use compact search + dispatch on is-be-mcp (stdio) and optional is-be-live (SSE when WebUI runs).

See image-scoring-mcp and AGENTS.md.

Gallery triage: sibling workspace is-ui-mcp.

Agent-safe patterns

• Start with Minimal tier; escalate only when text search fails repeatedly.
• Side-effecting dispatch requires confirmed=True per MCP contract.
• Bound MCP tool output; prefer dispatch actions with limit parameters.

Commands requiring confirmation

• Installing/running new MCP servers that execute shell or network code
• Side-effecting dispatch without user approval
• Embedding index builds over entire monorepo without scope

See commands-requiring-confirmation.md.

Troubleshooting

• MCP load failures: cd mcp-server && npm install && npm run build
• webui_unavailable: WebUI not running — use stdio is-be-mcp local actions or start WebUI for SSE.

Verification checklist

test -f mcp-server/dist/compactIndex.js && echo ok
rg --version && fd --version

Tools not verified in this pass: Graphify MCP (graphifyy[mcp]), Serena, codebase-memory-mcp, Zoekt server, claude-context — treat as optional third-party. See AGENTS.md § Graphify.