Symbols MCP Server - install, status & alternatives [2026]

01 · Install Symbols

Claude Code

claude mcp add p1va-symbols -- npx -y @p1va/symbols

Claude Desktop / Cursor / VS Code - add to config

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "p1va-symbols": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@p1va/symbols"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Same JSON for Cursor. For VS Code, rename the top-level key from `mcpServers` to `servers`.

Using another client? Same JSON, different key

Claude Desktop · mcpServers

Cursor · mcpServers

VS Code · servers

Windsurf · mcpServers

Zed · context_servers

Cline · mcpServers

Roo Code · mcpServers

Continue · mcpServers

LibreChat · mcpServers

Gemini CLI · mcpServers

Codex CLI · mcp_servers

Full setup guides: every client.

02 · Evidence

Security posture

What to check before giving this server access to your agent - from the registry, GitHub, and our own probes. We don't score safety; we show what's verifiable.

runs as local process (stdio) - runs on your machine with your user's permissions

license MIT - declared in the repository

npm package @p1va/symbols - published under the repo owner's npm scope (@p1va)

registry namespace io.github.p1va is GitHub-verified and matches the repo owner

03 · What Symbols can do

Prose above is summarized from the project's README and registry record - no invented capabilities.

What you can build

With this server connected, an agent can read an outline of code symbols in a file, optionally with a small code snippet, read docs, declaration and implementation locations for a symbol, including third-party ones, read matching symbols across the codebase, and find all references of a symbol across the codebase.

Capability map

Tools grouped from the project's README - what Symbols lets an agent do.

Outline

1 tool - e.g. returns an outline of code symbols in a file, optionally with a small code snippet

outline

Inspect

1 tool - e.g. returns docs, declaration and implementation locations for a symbol, including third-party ones

inspect

read & search

1 tool - e.g. returns matching symbols across the codebase

search

References

1 tool - e.g. finds all references of a symbol across the codebase

references

run & execute

1 tool - e.g. returns incoming and outgoing call relationships for a callable symbol

call_hierarchy

update

1 tool - e.g. renames all references of a symbol across the codebase

rename

Diagnostics

1 tool - e.g. returns active diagnostics in a given file

diagnostics

Completion

1 tool - e.g. returns contextual completions at a given location

completion

Latest releases

v0.0.25 · 2026-07-22

v0.0.22 · 2026-04-10

Add better install Skills and improve search readiness

v0.0.21 · 2026-04-09

Call Hierarchy Tool

04 · Who maintains Symbols

symbols is maintained by p1va. It's the only MCP server we track from this author; the repo dates to Aug 2025.

05 · Facts

repository: github.com/p1va/symbols
category: coding agent - ranked #111 of 194 actively-maintained coding agent servers as of 2026-08-25.
release cadence: 1 release in the last 90 days (latest 2026-07-22)
registry: io.github.p1va/symbols (active, first published 2025-09-12 · 11 versions)
packages: npm:@p1va/symbols

06 · Symbols FAQ

Is Symbols still maintained?

Yes - as of 2026-08-25, its last commit was 2026-07-22 and it shipped 1 release in the last 90 days. We re-verify nightly.

What can Symbols do?

With this server connected, an agent can read an outline of code symbols in a file, optionally with a small code snippet, read docs, declaration and implementation locations for a symbol, including third-party ones, read matching symbols across the codebase, and find all references of a symbol across the codebase.

How do I install Symbols?

Run `npx -y @p1va/symbols`. You can also paste the ready-made client config above.

Does Symbols run locally?

Yes - it's a stdio server: it runs on your machine (via npx) with your user's permissions. Your data stays local unless the server itself calls external APIs.

07 · Alternatives to Symbols

Alternatives to Symbols

Maintained coding agent servers if Symbols isn't the fit.

Pairs well with

Servers that cover what Symbols doesn't - only shown when the pairing reason fits the companion.

More coding agent MCP servers · Mneme (patsa2561-art) · Indie Stack · Tech Debt MCP · Plan Wright · Pocketlantern

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