JetBrains

Translates incoming Model Context Protocol (MCP) requests from external clients into HTTP API calls to JetBrains IDE's built-in web server running on ports 63342-63352. Uses StdioServerTransport for stdin/stdout communication with clients and node-fetch for HTTP request forwarding, implementing a bridge pattern that maps MCP protocol semantics to IDE HTTP endpoints without modifying the underlying IDE behavior.

Dynamically discovers active JetBrains IDE instances by scanning the default port range 63342-63352 without requiring manual configuration. The proxy attempts connection to each port in sequence, detecting which IDE instances are running and their web server availability, enabling zero-config setup where the proxy automatically connects to the first available IDE or a specifically configured one via IDE_PORT environment variable.

Distributes the JetBrains MCP proxy as an NPM package (@jetbrains/mcp-proxy) that can be executed globally via npx without requiring local installation or dependency management. The binary mcp-jetbrains-proxy is compiled from TypeScript to JavaScript with executable permissions, published to NPM registry with automated CI/CD, and invoked directly from command line or integrated into Claude Desktop and VS Code configurations.

Configures proxy behavior through environment variables (IDE_PORT, HOST, LOG_ENABLED) rather than configuration files, enabling runtime customization without code changes or recompilation. The proxy reads these variables at startup to determine IDE connection target, network binding address, and logging verbosity, supporting both development workstations and containerized deployments with different configuration needs.

Implements the Model Context Protocol using StdioServerTransport from @modelcontextprotocol/sdk, enabling bidirectional JSON-RPC 2.0 communication over standard input/output streams. This transport mechanism allows the proxy to receive MCP requests from clients (VS Code, Claude Desktop, Docker containers) and send responses back through stdio, making the proxy compatible with any MCP client that supports stdio-based servers without requiring network socket configuration.

Uses node-fetch (version 3.3.2+) to make HTTP requests to the JetBrains IDE's built-in web server, translating MCP tool calls and resource requests into IDE HTTP API calls. The proxy constructs HTTP requests with appropriate endpoints, parameters, and headers based on MCP request semantics, handles HTTP responses, and converts them back into MCP protocol format for return to clients.

Supports multiple integration patterns enabling the proxy to work with different client types: VS Code extensions via stdio configuration, Claude Desktop via MCP server configuration in claude_desktop_config.json, and Docker containers via HTTP mode with explicit network configuration. The proxy adapts its behavior based on deployment context while maintaining consistent MCP protocol implementation across all client types.

Implements a build process that compiles TypeScript source code to JavaScript ES modules, sets executable permissions on the compiled binary (chmod +x), and publishes the result to NPM as a globally-executable command. The build pipeline ensures the dist/src/index.js entry point is executable and properly configured as the mcp-jetbrains-proxy binary in package.json, enabling seamless npx execution.

Implements automated CI/CD pipeline that publishes new versions to NPM registry when GitHub releases are created, using semantic versioning (major.minor.patch) to track compatibility and feature changes. The pipeline ensures version consistency between GitHub releases and NPM package versions, enabling users to pin specific versions in their configurations and automatically receive updates when using npx without version specification.

Integrates @modelcontextprotocol/sdk version 1.9.0+ to implement full Model Context Protocol compliance, including request/response handling, tool registration, and resource management. The proxy uses the SDK's StdioServerTransport and protocol handlers to ensure compatibility with all MCP clients and proper handling of MCP semantics like tool schemas, resource URIs, and error responses.