About
Next.js Development for Coding Agent
README
next-devtools-mcp is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that connects coding agents like Claude and Cursor to your running Next.js dev server.
It is a thin connector. It discovers running Next.js 16+ dev servers and proxies their built-in MCP endpoint (/_next/mcp) so agents get live runtime errors, routes, and logs. It also ships two gateways that point agents at tools they run directly: version-accurate docs and the agent-browser CLI.
[!NOTE] Docs and migration workflows no longer live in this server. Next.js bundles its own docs at
node_modules/next/dist/docs/, and upgrade / Cache Components workflows are distributed as agent skills. See Migrating from 0.3.x.
Requirements
- Node.js v20.19 or a newer LTS version
- npm or pnpm
- Next.js 16+ with a running dev server (for
nextjs_index/nextjs_call)
Install
Install for all your coding agents with add-mcp:
npx add-mcp next-devtools-mcp@latest
Add -y to skip the prompt and install to all detected agents. Add -g to install globally across all projects.
Or add the config to your MCP client manually:
{
"mcpServers": {
"next-devtools": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "next-devtools-mcp@latest"]
}
}
}
[!NOTE]
next-devtools-mcp@latestkeeps your client on the latest version.
Client-specific setup
Amp
amp mcp add next-devtools -- npx next-devtools-mcp@latest
Or follow Amp's MCP docs with the config above.
Claude Code
claude mcp add next-devtools npx next-devtools-mcp@latest
Or edit your MCP settings file with the config above.
Codex
codex mcp add next-devtools -- npx next-devtools-mcp@latest
Windows 11: add environment variables and a longer startup timeout to .codex/config.toml:
env = { SystemRoot="C:\\Windows", PROGRAMFILES="C:\\Program Files" }
startup_timeout_ms = 20_000
Gemini
# Project
gemini mcp add next-devtools npx next-devtools-mcp@latest
# Global
gemini mcp add -s user next-devtools npx next-devtools-mcp@latest
Google Antigravity
Add to .gemini/antigravity/mcp_config.json:
{
"mcpServers": {
"next-devtools": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "next-devtools-mcp@latest"]
}
}
}
See the Antigravity MCP docs.
VS Code / Copilot
code --add-mcp '{"name":"next-devtools","command":"npx","args":["-y","next-devtools-mcp@latest"]}'
Or follow the official VS Code MCP setup guide.
Warp
Settings | AI | Manage MCP Servers → + Add:
- Name:
next-devtools - Command:
npx - Arguments:
-y, next-devtools-mcp@latest
Quick Start
Start your Next.js dev server:
npm run dev
Next.js 16+ enables its MCP endpoint by default at http://localhost:3000/_next/mcp. next-devtools-mcp discovers and connects to it automatically — no config needed.
Then ask your agent about the running app:
Next Devtools, what errors are in my Next.js application?
Next Devtools, show me the structure of my routes
Next Devtools, what's in the development server logs?
The agent calls nextjs_index to discover servers, then nextjs_call to query their real state.
Tools
| Tool | What it does |
|---|---|
nextjs_index |
Discover running Next.js dev servers and list each one's runtime MCP tools. |
nextjs_call |
Call a runtime tool on a discovered server (errors, routes, logs, Server Actions). |
nextjs_docs |
Gateway. Point the agent at version-accurate docs in node_modules/next/dist/docs/. |
browser_eval |
Gateway. Point the agent at the agent-browser CLI for browser automation. |
The gateways do not do the work themselves — they tell the agent where the docs are or how to install/run the CLI, and the agent runs it directly (faster than proxying through MCP).
nextjs_index — discover servers
Scans common ports for running Next.js 16+ dev servers and lists each server's built-in runtime tools at /_next/mcp. No parameters.
Runtime tools exposed by Next.js (varies by version):
get_errors— current build, runtime, and type errorsget_logs— path to the dev log file (browser console + server output)get_page_metadata— routes, pages, component metadataget_project_metadata— project structure, config, dev server URLget_server_action_by_id— resolve a Server Action ID to its source file
Output: JSON listing discovered servers (port, PID, URL) and their tools.
nextjs_call — run a runtime tool
Calls one runtime tool on a discovered server. Run nextjs_index first to find the port and tool name.
Input:
port(required) — dev server porttoolName(required) — runtime tool to invokeargs(optional) — arguments object, only if the tool requires them
{ "port": 3000, "toolName": "get_errors" }
Output: JSON with the tool's result.
nextjs_docs — find version-accurate docs
Does not fetch docs. Next.js 16+ ships its full docs (markdown, matching your installed version) at node_modules/next/dist/docs/. This tool returns that path and how to read it, so the agent uses version-accurate docs instead of training-data guesses. On older Next.js, it recommends npx @next/codemod@latest upgrade latest.
Input: topic (optional), project_path (optional, defaults to cwd).
browser_eval — set up browser automation
Does not drive the browser. It detects whether agent-browser is installed and returns either the entry point (agent-browser skills get core --full) or the install steps (npm install -g agent-browser, then agent-browser install), so the agent runs the CLI directly.
Input: task (optional) — used only to tailor the guidance.
Migrating from 0.3.x
Starting in 0.4.0, next-devtools-mcp is a thin connector.
Changed:
nextjs_docsno longer fetches docs over the network. It points the agent at the docs Next.js bundles atnode_modules/next/dist/docs/(or recommends upgrading). Thenextjs-docs://llms-indexresource is removed.
Removed:
inittool — it only enforced the old docs-fetch workflow.upgrade_nextjs_16andenable_cache_componentstools and their prompts — now distributed as agent skills.- All
cache-components://,nextjs16://, andnextjs-fundamentals://resources — superseded by the bundled docs.
What remains: nextjs_index, nextjs_call, nextjs_docs, and browser_eval.
Privacy & Telemetry
next-devtools-mcp collects anonymous usage telemetry to improve the tool:
- Tool usage — which MCP tools are invoked (e.g.
nextjs_index,nextjs_call) - Error events — anonymous error messages when tools fail
- Session metadata — session ID, timestamps, basic environment (OS, Node.js version)
Not collected: your code, file contents or paths, personal data, credentials, or tool arguments (only tool names).
Local files live under ~/.next-devtools-mcp/ (anonymous telemetry-id, telemetry-salt, and a debug log mcp.log).
Opt out by setting the environment variable (add it to ~/.zshrc / ~/.bashrc to persist):
export NEXT_TELEMETRY_DISABLED=1
Delete local telemetry data anytime:
rm -rf ~/.next-devtools-mcp
Troubleshooting
ERR_MODULE_NOT_FOUND referencing next-devtools-mcp/dist — clear your npx cache and restart your MCP client. The server reinstalls fresh.
[error] No server info found — nextjs_index / nextjs_call need a running Next.js 16+ dev server:
- Start it:
npm run dev - Confirm Next.js 16+ (the
/_next/mcpendpoint only exists there) - Verify it started without errors
browser_eval and nextjs_docs work without a dev server.
Local Development
git clone https://github.com/vercel/next-devtools-mcp.git
cd next-devtools-mcp
pnpm install
pnpm build
Point your MCP client at the local build:
{
"mcpServers": {
"next-devtools": {
"command": "node",
"args": ["/absolute/path/to/next-devtools-mcp/dist/index.js"]
}
}
}
Or with Codex:
codex mcp add next-devtools-local -- node dist/index.js
See the Next.js MCP documentation for how MCP works with Next.js and coding agents.
License
MIT
Installing Next Devtools
This server has no published package — it is built from source. Open the repository and follow its README.
▸ github.com/vercel/next-devtools-mcpFAQ
Is Next Devtools MCP free?
Yes, Next Devtools MCP is free — one-click install via Unyly at no cost.
Does Next Devtools need an API key?
No, Next Devtools runs without API keys or environment variables.
Is Next Devtools hosted or self-hosted?
Self-hosted: the server runs locally on your machine via the install command above.
How do I install Next Devtools in Claude Desktop, Claude Code or Cursor?
Open Next Devtools on unyly.org, pick your client tab (Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor) and press Install — the config is generated automatically, no JSON editing.
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