# Mcp Steroid > Give your AI Agent a whole IDE, not just the files - **Type:** MCP server - **Install:** `agentstack add mcp-jonnyzzz-mcp-steroid` - **Verified:** Yes — security-reviewed for prompt injection and unsafe behavior - **Seller:** [jonnyzzz](https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/jonnyzzz) - **Installs:** 0 - **Category:** [Integrations](https://agentstack.voostack.com/c/integrations) - **Latest version:** 0.1.0 - **License:** Apache-2.0 - **Upstream author:** [jonnyzzz](https://github.com/jonnyzzz) - **Source:** https://github.com/jonnyzzz/mcp-steroid - **Website:** https://mcp-steroid.jonnyzzz.com ## Install ```sh agentstack add mcp-jonnyzzz-mcp-steroid ``` Requires the [AgentStack CLI](https://agentstack.voostack.com/docs/cli). Works with Claude Code, Cursor, and any MCP-compatible agent. ## About [](https://github.com/JetBrains#jetbrains-on-github) # MCP Steroid Give AI the whole IntelliJ, not just the files AI agents can finally SEE your IDE — not just read code Website • Demo Videos • Blog Post • Discord --- ## About MCP Steroid **MCP Steroid** is an open-source [Model Context Protocol](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/) server that runs inside JetBrains IDEs and exposes the full power of the IntelliJ Platform to AI agents. Unlike file-only assistants, MCP Steroid gives AI agents the same capabilities developers use: semantic code understanding, advanced refactorings, debugging, test running, visual awareness, and the entire IntelliJ API surface. There are **two ways to run it**. Start with the new **[`devrig`](https://mcp-steroid.jonnyzzz.com/docs/devrig/) CLI** (preview): a standalone tool that bridges any MCP-capable agent into a real IntelliJ-family IDE over stdio — through one bridge it connects to **every IDE you already have open at once** (across projects), or **downloads, installs, and starts one for the agent** (great for headless, CI, and fresh machines). Or run the **JetBrains IDE plugin** in-IDE over HTTP. The project is gradually moving toward the **Devrig** name. ### One bridge, every IDE A single `devrig` process connects your AI Agent to **all** the IntelliJ-family IDEs running on your machine at once — each open on a different project — and can download and start more on demand. ### What Makes It Unique MCP Steroid is the **only MCP server** offering ALL of: - **Visual IDE understanding** — Screenshots + OCR + component tree - **UI automation** — Control the IDE like a human developer - **Native IntelliJ APIs** — PSI, inspections, refactorings, and more - **Kotlin scripting** — Full platform access at runtime - **Standard MCP protocol** — Works with ANY MCP-compatible AI agent ### Benchmarks On [DPAIA](https://dpaia.org) Spring Boot tasks, agents with MCP Steroid are **20–54% faster** than file-only workflows on complex multi-file operations: | Case | Task | MCP Time | No-MCP Time | Δ | |------|------|----------|-------------|---------| | dpaia\_jhipster\_sample\_app-3 | Rename ROLE_ADMIN across app (9 files) | 202s | 440s | **-54%** | | dpaia\_empty\_maven\_springboot3-1 | JWT auth from scratch (5+ new files) | 288s | 396s | **-27%** | | dpaia\_feature\_service-25 | Parent-child JPA + Flyway (10 files) | 382s | 523s | **-27%** | | dpaia\_feature\_service-125 | Multi-layer JPA+service+controller (15 files) | 788s | 1002s | **-21%** | | dpaia\_spring\_petclinic\_rest-14 | Simple URL prefix replace (7 files) | 188s | 181s | +4% | | dpaia\_train\_ticket-1 | Extend OrderRepository JPQL (4 files) | 727s | 633s | +15% | Tasks requiring semantic understanding show the largest speed gains. Simple text replacements perform similarly with or without IDE access. --- ## Install **Requirements:** IntelliJ IDEA 2026.1+ (or any IntelliJ-based IDE: Rider, Android Studio, GoLand, WebStorm, PyCharm, CLion, etc.) ### JetBrains Marketplace Search for **MCP Steroid** in **Settings > Plugins > Marketplace**, or install from [plugins.jetbrains.com](https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/30019-mcp-steroid). ### Custom Plugin Repository (recommended for faster updates) Add this URL in **Settings > Plugins > Gear icon > Manage Plugin Repositories...**: ``` https://mcp-steroid.jonnyzzz.com/updatePlugins.xml ``` ### Manual Download Download the latest ZIP from [GitHub Releases](https://github.com/jonnyzzz/mcp-steroid/releases) and install via **Settings > Plugins > Gear icon > Install Plugin from Disk**. --- ## Connect Your AI Agent **[`devrig`](https://mcp-steroid.jonnyzzz.com/docs/devrig/)** is the standalone CLI for connecting agents to MCP Steroid. It runs a stdio MCP bridge and connects your agent to **every running IntelliJ instance at once** (across projects), discovered automatically — and when none is open it can **download, prepare, and start a managed IDE backend** for the agent (IDEA Community/Ultimate, PyCharm, Android Studio). It's the recommended way to wire up Claude Code, Codex CLI, and Gemini CLI — one registration per agent, applies to every project on the machine. > **Requirement: JDK 25.** `devrig` is a Kotlin/JVM application compiled for **Java 25** (class-file v69) and is **not** bundled with a JRE. A **JDK/JRE 25 or newer** must be available on the machine that runs it — either on `PATH` or via `JAVA_HOME` (the `devrig` launcher honours `JAVA_HOME` first). An older Java (21, etc.) fails at startup with `UnsupportedClassVersionError ... class file version 69.0`. Install e.g. [Amazon Corretto 25](https://aws.amazon.com/corretto/) or [Eclipse Temurin 25](https://adoptium.net/), and point `JAVA_HOME` at it if your default `java` is older. ### One-time setup (from a checkout of this repo) ```bash # Build :npx-kt:installDist and stage the launcher under ~/.mcp-steroid/devrig/ ./gradlew deployNpx # Register `mcp-steroid` (stdio) at user scope for each agent — once per machine. # The first call (run by full path, since devrig is not on PATH yet) self-installs the stable # launcher ~/.mcp-steroid/bin/devrig, links it onto PATH as `devrig`, and registers THAT — so # registrations survive devrig upgrades. Use `devrig` (a fresh shell picks it up) thereafter. ~/.mcp-steroid/devrig/bin/devrig install claude devrig install codex devrig install gemini ``` Each `install` call delegates to the agent's own `mcp add` CLI, so the entry lands in the user-scope config (`~/.claude.json`, `~/.codex/config.toml`, `~/.gemini/settings.json`) and is visible from every project. ### Refreshing the launcher After pulling new commits, run `./gradlew deployNpx` again. It rebuilds `:npx-kt:installDist` and re-syncs `~/.mcp-steroid/devrig/` — the launcher path stays the same, so no re-registration is needed. Runtime state under `~/.mcp-steroid/{backends,caches,logs,markers,state}` is preserved. ### Verifying it works ```bash claude mcp list # mcp-steroid: ... - ✓ Connected claude -p "List all open projects using steroid_list_projects" ``` The plugin also writes the raw server URL to `.idea/mcp-steroid.md` in each open project at `http://127.0.0.1:6315/mcp` (Streamable HTTP transport) for clients that prefer to talk to the IDE directly. --- ## Compatible AI Agents Works with ANY MCP-compatible client: - **Claude** (Claude Code, Claude Desktop) - **ChatGPT** with MCP support - **Gemini** CLI - **Codex** CLI - **Cursor** IDE - **Junie** - **OpenCode** - Any other MCP-compatible client --- ## Capabilities ### Design philosophy in one breath The MCP tool surface is **intentionally small** — power lives in `mcp-steroid://` prompt resources that teach agents to call IntelliJ's APIs directly inside `steroid_execute_code`. New tools and new `McpScriptContext` methods are not the lever for "agents deliver more"; better recipes are. The full canonical statement lives in [`docs/PHILOSOPHY.md`](docs/PHILOSOPHY.md) and is mirrored at runtime as `mcp-steroid://skill/design-philosophy`. ### 8 MCP Tools | Tool | Description | |------|-------------| | **Execute Code** (`steroid_execute_code`) | Run Kotlin code inside the IDE's JVM with full API access | | **Execute Feedback** (`steroid_execute_feedback`) | Provide execution ratings back to agents | | **Fetch Resource** (`steroid_fetch_resource`) | Fetch any `mcp-steroid://` skill guide / recipe by URI | | **Vision Screenshot** (`steroid_take_screenshot`) | Capture IDE screenshots with component metadata | | **Vision Input** (`steroid_input`) | Send keyboard/mouse events to the IDE via a sequence-string DSL | | **List Projects** (`steroid_list_projects`) | Discover all open IntelliJ projects | | **List Windows** (`steroid_list_windows`) | Enumerate IDE windows and components | | **Open Project** (`steroid_open_project`) | Open projects programmatically | ### 58 MCP Resources Comprehensive guides and examples covering: - **LSP Operations** (11) — Go to definition, find references, hover, completion - **IDE Power Operations** (22) — Refactorings, code generation, project analysis - **Debugger Integration** (7) — Breakpoints, thread control, debugging workflows - **Test Runner** (10) — Run tests, inspect results, navigate test trees - **VCS Operations** (3) — Git annotations, file history - **Project Workflows** (4) — Open projects with trust levels - **Skill Guides** (3) — IntelliJ API, debugger, and test runner guides --- ## Featured Demo Videos | Video | Description | Duration | |-------|-------------|----------| | [Codex Debugs in IntelliJ IDEA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HtDDNyAoLak) | Full debugging session with Codex | 1:03:24 | | [CodeDozer Demo 5](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ByedA15n8Q) | Most popular demo | 1:00 | | [CodeDozer & IntelliJ Debugger](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MjogrpfXLU) | Debugger integration showcase | 8:25 | | [Now we call tasks in IntelliJ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGcRk7Y3-Z8) | Task execution demo | 2:21 | | [Real Work in Monorepo Part 2](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ibc0saTT06M) | Deep dive into real workflow | 18:37 | | [Cursor Talks with IntelliJ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIl57FrAJtk) | Cursor integration | 0:44 | Watch all demos: [MCP Steroid Playlist](https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLitZWClhc4Qgz3w8qrtctMR_lpIc81n0f) --- ## Configuration MCP Steroid can be configured via IntelliJ's Registry (`Help > Find Action > Registry`) or JVM system properties. | Registry Key | Default | Description | |--------------|---------|-------------| | `mcp.steroid.server.port` | 6315 | MCP server port (0 for auto-assign) | | `mcp.steroid.server.host` | 127.0.0.1 | Bind address (use 0.0.0.0 for Docker) | | `mcp.steroid.storage.path` | (empty) | Custom storage path (default: .idea/mcp-steroid/) | See the full [Configuration Documentation](https://mcp-steroid.jonnyzzz.com/docs/configuration/) on the website. --- ## Architecture - **Technology:** Kotlin 2.3.20 on Java 25 - **HTTP Server:** Ktor 3.1.0 (Streamable HTTP + SSE) - **Protocol:** Model Context Protocol (MCP) - **Default Port:** 6315 - **OCR:** Tesseract 5.5.1 - **Platform:** IntelliJ Platform Plugin SDK The server runs **inside the IDE's JVM process** — no inter-process communication. Direct access to the project model, semantic index, PSI tree, test runner, debugger, and VCS layer. --- ## About the Project **MCP Steroid** is an open-source project by Eugene Petrenko ([@jonnyzzz](https://linkedin.com/in/jonnyzzz)), licensed under [Apache 2.0](LICENSE). Read more: - [MCP Steroid Is Now Open Source](https://jonnyzzz.com/blog/2026/04/07/mcp-steroid-open-source/) — announcement and project history - [IntelliJ as a Skill Factory](https://jonnyzzz.com/blog/2026/04/08/mcp-steroid-skill-factory/) — build custom agent skills without plugin development - [Project Assessment: 75 Days, 1300+ Commits](https://jonnyzzz.com/blog/2026/02/23/mcp-steroid-project-assessment/) — architecture and quality deep dive *IntelliJ IDEA, IntelliJ Platform, PyCharm, WebStorm, and JetBrains are trademarks of JetBrains s.r.o.* --- ## Contributing We welcome contributions! See [CONTRIBUTING.md](CONTRIBUTING.md) for guidelines on how to get started, and [CONTRIBUTORS.md](CONTRIBUTORS.md) for the list of people who have helped make MCP Steroid better. --- ## License MCP Steroid is open-source software licensed under the [Apache License 2.0](LICENSE). --- ## Links - **Website:** [mcp-steroid.jonnyzzz.com](https://mcp-steroid.jonnyzzz.com) - **JetBrains Marketplace:** [plugins.jetbrains.com](https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/30019-mcp-steroid) - **Discord:** [discord.gg/e9qgQ7NeTC](https://discord.gg/e9qgQ7NeTC) - **GitHub Issues:** [github.com/jonnyzzz/mcp-steroid/issues](https://github.com/jonnyzzz/mcp-steroid/issues) - **GitHub Sponsors:** [github.com/sponsors/jonnyzzz](https://github.com/sponsors/jonnyzzz) - **Blog:** [jonnyzzz.com](https://jonnyzzz.com) - **YouTube:** [@jonnyzzz](https://youtube.com/@jonnyzzz) - **LinkedIn:** [jonnyzzz](https://linkedin.com/in/jonnyzzz) - **X/Twitter:** [@jonnyzzz](https://x.com/jonnyzzz) --- Built with care for the AI agent developer community ## Source & license This open-source MCP server is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code. - **Author:** [jonnyzzz](https://github.com/jonnyzzz) - **Source:** [jonnyzzz/mcp-steroid](https://github.com/jonnyzzz/mcp-steroid) - **License:** Apache-2.0 - **Homepage:** https://mcp-steroid.jonnyzzz.com Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above. ## Pricing - **Free** — Free ## Security capabilities Automated source analysis of v0.1.0 — what this tool can access: - **Network access:** no - **Filesystem access:** no - **Shell / process execution:** no - **Environment & secrets:** no - **Dynamic code execution:** no *"Yes" means the capability is present in the source — more access means more to trust, not that it is unsafe.* ## Versions - **0.1.0** — security scan: passed — Imported from the upstream source. ## Links - Listing page: https://agentstack.voostack.com/l/mcp-jonnyzzz-mcp-steroid - Seller: https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/jonnyzzz - Browse the marketplace: https://agentstack.voostack.com/browse --- Listed on AgentStack — the marketplace for AI agent skills and MCP servers. Every listing is security-reviewed. Creators keep 70%.