Getting Started

MCP server setup

er-mcp is a local stdio MCP server (MCP 2026-07-28 preferred; older initialize clients still work). Ask Claude Code, Cursor, Codex, or OpenCode for priority PRs, production-only diff size, blocked/stale filters, and to prepare/upload AI review sidecars into the same managed storage Desktop/TUI use.

Prerequisites

• git and gh on PATH (gh auth login)
• Optional: Easy Review projects at ~/.config/er/projects.json (Desktop writes this) so you can omit repo=
• Node 18+ (for the npm launcher) or a Rust toolchain (to build from source)

Install

npm

The easy-review-mcp package runs the MCP server. On first use it downloads er-mcp from the matching GitHub Release and caches it locally.

npx -y easy-review-mcp

Supported hosts: macOS arm64/x64, Linux x64. Set ER_MCP_PATH=/path/to/er-mcp to use a specific binary instead of downloading.

From source

git clone https://github.com/VilfredSikker/easy-review.git
cd easy-review
cargo install --path crates/er-mcp
# → ~/.cargo/bin/er-mcp  (ensure ~/.cargo/bin is on PATH)

which er-mcp
er-mcp --help

From a clone without installing globally:

cargo build -p er-mcp --release
# binary: target/release/er-mcp

Add to a client

Claude Code

# npm launcher
claude mcp add --scope user easy-review -- npx -y easy-review-mcp

# or a source-built binary
export ER_MCP="$HOME/.cargo/bin/er-mcp"
claude mcp add --scope user easy-review -- "$ER_MCP"

# Project scope — writes .mcp.json for the team (commit it)
claude mcp add --scope project easy-review -- npx -y easy-review-mcp

claude mcp list
claude mcp get easy-review

Flags go before the server name; everything after -- is the stdio command. There is no --command flag.

Codex

codex mcp add easy-review -- npx -y easy-review-mcp
# or: codex mcp add easy-review -- "$HOME/.cargo/bin/er-mcp"
codex mcp list
codex mcp get easy-review

Config is stored in ~/.codex/config.toml (or project .codex/config.toml for trusted projects).

Cursor

Cursor uses mcp.json (no first-party cursor mcp add equivalent for custom stdio servers). Add via Cursor Settings → Tools & MCP → New MCP Server, or edit the file:

# Global (all workspaces)
mkdir -p ~/.cursor
# then edit ~/.cursor/mcp.json — see structure below

# Or project-local (share with the team)
mkdir -p .cursor
# then edit .cursor/mcp.json

OpenCode

OpenCode configures MCP servers in opencode.json (~/.config/opencode/opencode.json globally, or project-local). You can also run opencode mcp add and follow the prompts.

{
  "$schema": "https://opencode.ai/config.json",
  "mcp": {
    "easy-review": {
      "type": "local",
      "command": ["npx", "-y", "easy-review-mcp"],
      "enabled": true
    }
  }
}

Source-built binary variant:

{
  "$schema": "https://opencode.ai/config.json",
  "mcp": {
    "easy-review": {
      "type": "local",
      "command": ["/absolute/path/to/er-mcp"],
      "enabled": true
    }
  }
}

List configured servers with opencode mcp list.

mcp.json structure

Same shape for Cursor global (~/.cursor/mcp.json), Cursor project (.cursor/mcp.json), and Claude project scope (.mcp.json at the repo root).

npm launcher

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "easy-review": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "easy-review-mcp"]
    }
  }
}

Source-built binary

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "easy-review": {
      "command": "/absolute/path/to/er-mcp"
    }
  }
}

With args / env (optional)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "easy-review": {
      "command": "/absolute/path/to/er-mcp",
      "args": [],
      "env": {
        "ER_STORAGE_ROOT": "/custom/easy-review-data"
      }
    }
  }
}

Where each client reads it

Codex TOML equivalent

# ~/.codex/config.toml
[mcp_servers.easy-review]
command = "npx"
args = ["-y", "easy-review-mcp"]

Install agent skills

MCP exposes the REST API; skills teach agents the workflows. Install the full pack:

bunx @easy-review/skills
# or: npx @easy-review/skills
# one skill: bunx @easy-review/skills -s er-review

Skills: er-review, er-guide, er-queue, er-low-hanging-fruit, er-get-feedback, er-respond, er-saved. Source: npm/skills/source/ (bundled on publish).

Verify

1. Restart the client (or reload MCP tools).
2. Ask: “List Easy Review projects” or “What should I review?”.
3. You should see tools like prs_query, pr_prepare, pr_guide, pr_upload.
4. After bunx @easy-review/skills, try: “ER review” or “create a guide” on a PR.

What you can do

Full tool list and AI upload flow: crates/er-mcp/README.md.

Troubleshooting

• Claude stuck on “connecting…” — first run downloads a binary; on macOS Gatekeeper may block it. Clear quarantine and reconnect:

  xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine ~/Library/Caches/easy-review/er-mcp
  # then in Claude: /mcp → easy-review → Reconnect

  Or skip npx and point at a local binary:

  cargo install --git https://github.com/VilfredSikker/easy-review --locked er-mcp
  claude mcp add --scope user easy-review -- "$(command -v er-mcp)"

• Server not listed — try npx -y easy-review-mcp in a terminal (should print a setup hint); or check the absolute path / restart client.
• Tools fail on GitHub — run gh auth status; MCP shells out to gh like Desktop.
• No projects — pass repo=owner/name, or open the repo in Easy Review Desktop once so projects.json exists.
• Claude “unknown option --command” — use claude mcp add easy-review -- "$ER_MCP" (options before name, command after --).