What is JetBrains MCP Proxy Server?

JetBrains MCP Proxy Server is a tool that enables communication between external applications and JetBrains IDEs. It acts as a proxy to relay requests from client applications to JetBrains Integrated Development Environments (IDEs), facilitating integration with other tools.

How to use JetBrains MCP Proxy Server?

Install the MCP Server Plugin in your JetBrains IDE from plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/26071-mcp-server.
Set up the proxy in VS Code or Claude Desktop by adding the configuration in the respective config files.
Configure the server by adjusting environment variables if needed (e.g., IDE_PORT, HOST, or LOG_ENABLED).
Ensure your Node.js version is 18 or later (required for the proxy to work).

Key features of JetBrains MCP Proxy Server?

Provides a bridge between external applications and JetBrains IDEs.
Supports VS Code, Claude Desktop, and other external clients (LibreChat, Docker, etc.).
Customizable configuration (e.g., host/port, logging, multiple IDEs).
Compatible with Node.js 18+.

Use cases of JetBrains MCP Proxy Server?

Integrating JetBrains IDEs with VS Code for a seamless development experience.
Connecting JetBrains IDEs with Claude Desktop for AI-assisted development.
Using JetBrains IDEs in Docker containers for remote debugging and tool integration.

FAQ from JetBrains MCP Proxy Server?

What if the Node.js version is too old?

The proxy requires Node.js 18+. If you get an error like Cannot find module 'node:path', upgrade your Node.js installation.
How to fix MCP not detecting nvm-installed Node.js on MacOS?

Create a symbolic link: sudo ln -sf "$(which npx)" /usr/local/bin/npx to ensure MCP detects your Node.js installation.
Why am I getting 404 errors when connecting from Docker/other clients?

Enable external connections in your JetBrains IDE settings and use your machine's LAN IP (not host.docker.internal).
How to build the project from source?

Install Node.js and pnpm (brew install node pnpm), then run pnpm build.

JetBrains MCP Proxy Server

The server proxies requests from client to JetBrains IDE.

Install MCP Server plugin

https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/26071-mcp-server

VS Code Installation

For one-click installation, click one of the install buttons below:

Manual Installation

Add the following JSON block to your User Settings (JSON) file in VS Code. You can do this by pressing Ctrl + Shift + P and typing Preferences: Open User Settings (JSON).

{
  "mcp": {
    "servers": {
      "jetbrains": {
        "command": "npx",
        "args": ["-y", "@jetbrains/mcp-proxy"]
      }
    }
  }
}

Optionally, you can add it to a file called .vscode/mcp.json in your workspace:

{
  "servers": {
    "jetbrains": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@jetbrains/mcp-proxy"]
    }
  }
}

Usage with Claude Desktop

To use this with Claude Desktop, add the following to your claude_desktop_config.json. The full path on MacOS: ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json, on Windows: %APPDATA%/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "jetbrains": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@jetbrains/mcp-proxy"]
    }
  }
}

After installing the MCP Server Plugin, and adding the JSON to the config file, restart Claude Desktop, and make sure the Jetbrains product is open before restarting Claude Desktop.

Configuration

If you're running multiple IDEs with MCP server and want to connect to the specific one, add to the MCP server configuration:

"env": {
  "IDE_PORT": "" } ``` By default, we connect to IDE on 127.0.0.1 but you can specify a different address/host: ```json "env": { "HOST": "" } ``` To enable logging add: ```json "env": { "LOG_ENABLED": "true" } ``` ## Troubleshooting ### Node.js Version Requirements **Problem:** Error message: `Cannot find module 'node:path'` **Solution:** MCP Proxy doesn't work on Node 16. Upgrade your Node.js installation to version 18 or later. Make sure that `command` in config points to the correct Node.js version. Try to use the full path to the latest version of NodeJS. ### ### MacOS: Plugin Unable to Detect Node.js Installed via nvm **Problem:** On MacOS, if you have Node.js installed through nvm (Node Version Manager), the MCP Server Plugin might be unable to detect your Node.js installation. **Solution:** Create a symbolic link in `/usr/local/bin` pointing to your nvm npx executable: ```bash which npx &>/dev/null && sudo ln -sf "$(which npx)" /usr/local/bin/npx ``` This one-liner checks if npx exists in your path and creates the necessary symbolic link with proper permissions. ### Using MCP with External Clients or Docker Containers (LibreChat, Cline, etc.) **Problem:** When attempting to connect to the JetBrains MCP proxy from external clients, Docker containers, or third-party applications (like LibreChat), requests to endpoints such as http://host.docker.internal:6365/api/mcp/list_tools may return 404 errors or fail to connect. **Solution:** There are two key issues to address: 1. Enable External Connections: In your JetBrains IDE, enable "Can accept external connections" in the _Settings | Build, Execution, Deployment | Debugger_. 2. Configure with LAN IP and Port: Use your machine's LAN IP address instead of `host.docker.internal` Explicitly set the IDE_PORT and HOST in your configuration Example configuration for LibreChat or similar external clients: ```yaml mcpServers: intellij: type: stdio command: sh args: - "-c" - "IDE_PORT=YOUR_IDEA_PORT HOST=YOUR_IDEA_LAN_IP npx -y @jetbrains/mcp-proxy" ``` Replace: `YOUR_IDEA_PORT` with your IDE's debug port (found in IDE settings) `YOUR_IDEA_LAN_IP` with your computer's local network IP (e.g., 192.168.0.12) ## How to build 1. Tested on macOS 2. `brew install node pnpm` 3. Run `pnpm build` to build the project

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