CRASH
Enables structured, iterative reasoning for complex problem-solving with features like confidence tracking, revision mechanisms, and branching support. Provides flexible validation and multiple output formats for systematic analysis and decision-maki
What is CRASH?
CRASH is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to enables structured, iterative reasoning for complex problem-solving with features like confidence tracking, revision mechanisms, and branching support. provides flexible validation and multiple output...
Enables structured, iterative reasoning for complex problem-solving with features like confidence tracking, revision mechanisms, and branching support. Provides flexible validation and multiple output formats for systematic analysis and decision-maki
This server falls under the Coding Agents category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- Enables structured, iterative reasoning for complex problem-
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
Manual Installation
npx crash-cascaded-reasoning-with-adaptive-step-handlingConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use CRASH
CRASH (Cascaded Reasoning with Adaptive Step Handling) is an MCP server that gives AI assistants a structured, iterative reasoning framework for tackling complex multi-step problems. It tracks confidence scores at each reasoning step, supports revisions to earlier steps, allows branching to explore alternative solution paths, and validates step dependencies — all while being more token-efficient than sequential thinking alternatives. Developers and AI power users use it when an agent fails to solve a problem in a single pass, or when systematic analysis of multiple approaches is needed before committing to an implementation.
Prerequisites
- Node.js 18+ and npm (for npx or npm install execution)
- An MCP-compatible client: Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf, or JetBrains AI Assistant
Add CRASH to Claude Code
Install the CRASH MCP server into Claude Code with a single command. This is the fastest setup method and no API keys or accounts are required.
claude mcp add crash -- npx -y crash-mcpOr configure manually in Claude Desktop
Add CRASH to your Claude Desktop configuration file. The server runs via npx with no additional environment variables required for basic usage.
{
"mcpServers": {
"crash": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "crash-mcp"]
}
}
}Configure environment variables (optional)
Customize CRASH behavior with environment variables. The defaults work well for most use cases, but you can adjust output format, session timeouts, branch depth limits, and strict validation mode.
{
"mcpServers": {
"crash": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "crash-mcp"],
"env": {
"CRASH_STRICT_MODE": "false",
"CRASH_OUTPUT_FORMAT": "console",
"CRASH_SESSION_TIMEOUT": "60",
"CRASH_MAX_BRANCH_DEPTH": "5",
"MAX_HISTORY_SIZE": "100"
}
}
}
}Configure for Windows (cmd wrapper)
Windows users must use the cmd wrapper in the configuration to correctly invoke npx from an MCP subprocess.
{
"mcpServers": {
"crash": {
"command": "cmd",
"args": ["/c", "npx", "-y", "crash-mcp"]
}
}
}Invoke CRASH in your prompts
Restart your MCP client after configuration, then tell your AI assistant to use CRASH when you want structured reasoning. You can say 'use crash' at the start of a complex task to activate it.
CRASH Examples
Client configuration
Standard Claude Desktop configuration for CRASH with default settings. No API keys required.
{
"mcpServers": {
"crash": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "crash-mcp"]
}
}
}Prompts to try
Tell your AI assistant to use CRASH for problems that benefit from systematic, multi-step analysis. CRASH is most valuable when the agent needs to explore alternatives before committing to a solution.
- "Use crash to debug why my Node.js API returns 500 errors only under load"
- "Use crash to design the database schema for a multi-tenant SaaS application"
- "Use crash to analyze the tradeoffs between three different caching strategies for my use case"
- "Use crash to plan the migration of a monolith to microservices, considering dependencies"Troubleshooting CRASH
The CRASH tool does not appear in Claude's available tools
Ensure you fully quit and relaunch your MCP client after adding the configuration. For Claude Desktop on macOS, quit from the menu bar, not just close the window. Verify the config JSON is valid (no trailing commas) with a JSON linter.
Strict mode errors: step purpose is not recognized
In strict mode (`CRASH_STRICT_MODE=true`), step purposes must match exact prefixes. Use one of: analysis, action, validation, exploration, hypothesis, correction, or planning. Set `CRASH_STRICT_MODE=false` for flexible natural-language purposes.
Session data disappears between conversations
Sessions are in-memory and cleared after the timeout (default 60 minutes). Enable `CRASH_ENABLE_SESSIONS=true` for session management and increase `CRASH_SESSION_TIMEOUT` if you need longer persistence. Note that sessions are still lost when the MCP subprocess restarts.
Frequently Asked Questions about CRASH
What is CRASH?
CRASH is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that enables structured, iterative reasoning for complex problem-solving with features like confidence tracking, revision mechanisms, and branching support. provides flexible validation and multiple output formats for systematic analysis and decision-maki It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install CRASH?
Follow the installation instructions on the CRASH GitHub repository. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and add the server config to your AI client.
Which AI clients work with CRASH?
CRASH works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is CRASH free to use?
Yes, CRASH is open source and available under the MIT License license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
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Quick Config Preview
Add this to your claude_desktop_config.json or .cursor/mcp.json
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