Unleash the Power of Your IDE: A Complete Guide to JetBrains MCP Proxy Server

Tired of limitations when integrating your JetBrains IDE with other tools? Learn how to bridge the gap with the JetBrains MCP Proxy Server, a powerful tool that unlocks seamless communication between your IDE and external applications like Claude Desktop, LibreChat, and more. This guide provides you with everything you need to know to set up, configure, and troubleshoot your MCP proxy for a streamlined development experience.

What is the JetBrains MCP Proxy Server and Why You Need It

The JetBrains MCP Proxy Server acts as an intermediary, forwarding requests from various clients to your JetBrains IDE instance. It empowers you to extend your IDE's capabilities by connecting it to other services and applications. Forget about complex configurations and compatibility issues.

• Seamless Integration: Connect your IDE with tools such as Claude Desktop, LibreChat etc. effortlessly.
• Extended Functionality: Unlock advanced features and workflows by leveraging external application integrations.
• Simplified Development: Streamline your development process with seamless communication between your IDE and other tools.

Quick Start: Integrating MCP with Claude Desktop

Connecting the MCP proxy to Claude Desktop is straightforward. Here's how to do it:

1. Locate your claude_desktop_config.json file:

   • MacOS: ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
   • Windows: %APPDATA%/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

2. Add the following configuration snippet:

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

This configuration tells Claude Desktop to utilize the @jetbrains/mcp-proxy package through npx.

Configuration Mastery: Fine-Tuning Your MCP Proxy

Customize your MCP proxy setup for optimal performance and specific IDE configurations. Here's how to configure settings like port, host, and logging:

• Targeting Specific IDEs: If you're running multiple IDEs, specify the port of the target IDE's built-in webserver:

"env": {
 "IDE_PORT": "<port of IDE's built-in webserver>"
}

• Setting Custom Host Address: By default, the proxy connects to 127.0.0.1. You can change this:

"env": {
 "HOST": "<host/address of IDE's built-in webserver>"
}

• Enable Logging: For debugging and monitoring, enable logging:

"env": {
 "LOG_ENABLED": "true"
}

Troubleshooting Common MCP Proxy Issues

Encountering problems with your JetBrains MCP proxy? Don't worry, we've got you covered. Here are solutions to common issues:

Node.js Version Problems

The MCP proxy requires a recent version of Node.js. If you encounter a "Cannot find module 'node:path'" error, it means you're likely running an older version.

• Solution: Upgrade to Node.js version 18 or later. Ensure your configuration points to the correct Node.js installation path.

MacOS: nvm and Plugin Detection

If you installed Node.js using nvm (Node Version Manager) on MacOS, the MCP Server Plugin might not detect it.

• Solution: Create a symbolic link:

which npx && > /dev/null && sudo ln -sf "$(which npx)" /usr/local/bin/npx

This command creates a symbolic link in /usr/local/bin that points to your nvm npx executable.

Integrating With External Clients or Docker Containers and Fixing 404 Errors

Connecting from external clients (like LibreChat) or Docker containers to the JetBrains MCP proxy can sometimes result in 404 errors.

• Solution: Two steps are crucial:

  1. Enable External Connections: In your JetBrains IDE, go to "Settings | Build, Execution, Deployment | Debugger" and enable "Can accept external connections."
  2. Configuration: Use your machine's LAN IP address instead of host.docker.internal and explicitly set IDE_PORT and HOST in your configuration. For example:

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 and YOUR_IDEA_LAN_IP with your computer's local network IP address.

Building the Project (for Developers)

Want to contribute to the MCP proxy or customize it further? Here's how to build it:

1. Prerequisites:

   • Node.js
   • pnpm

2. Install Dependencies:

brew install node pnpm # macOS

3. Build the Project:

pnpm build

This will compile the source code and prepare the project for deployment or further development.

Conclusion: Supercharge Your Workflow with MCP

The JetBrains MCP Proxy Server is an indispensable tool for developers seeking to extend the capabilities of their IDE and streamline their workflow. By following this guide, you'll be able to seamlessly integrate your IDE with external applications, troubleshoot common issues, and even contribute to the project's development. Embrace the power of interconnected tools and unlock a new level of productivity with the MCP proxy.