mcp-nixos
MCP-NixOS is a Model Context Protocol server that provides real-time, accurate information about NixOS packages, options, Home Manager, and nix-darwin configurations, preventing AI assistants from hallucinating about NixOS resources and enabling them
What is mcp-nixos?
mcp-nixos is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to mcp-nixos is a model context protocol server that provides real-time, accurate information about nixos packages, options, home manager, and nix-darwin configurations, preventing ai assistants from hal...
MCP-NixOS is a Model Context Protocol server that provides real-time, accurate information about NixOS packages, options, Home Manager, and nix-darwin configurations, preventing AI assistants from hallucinating about NixOS resources and enabling them
This server falls under the Developer Tools category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- nixos_search
- nixos_info
- nixos_channels
- nixos_stats
- home_manager_search
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
NPM
npx -y mcp-nixosManual Installation
npx -y mcp-nixosConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use mcp-nixos
MCP-NixOS is a Model Context Protocol server that gives AI assistants real-time, accurate information about NixOS packages, NixOS module options, Home Manager configuration options, nix-darwin settings, Nixpkgs flake inputs, and the NixOS Wiki — preventing the hallucinated package names, wrong option paths, and outdated syntax that LLMs commonly produce when helping with Nix configurations. It exposes a unified nix tool with actions covering search, info, stats, channels, flake-inputs, and cache, plus a nix_versions tool for historical version tracking. NixOS users use it to get trustworthy, up-to-date configuration help directly inside Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-compatible editor.
Prerequisites
- Python 3.10+ with pip or the uv package manager (for pip/uvx installation)
- Nix package manager (for nix run or nix profile install methods)
- Docker (for the container-based installation method)
- Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, or another MCP-compatible client
- Internet access so the server can query the NixOS search API in real time
Choose your installation method
MCP-NixOS can be run via uvx (no installation), pip, nix run, or Docker. The uvx method is recommended for most users as it requires no global installation.
# Recommended: run directly with uvx (no install needed)
uvx mcp-nixos
# Alternative: install with pip
pip install mcp-nixos
# Alternative: run with Nix
nix run github:utensils/mcp-nixosConfigure Claude Desktop with the uvx method
Add mcp-nixos to your Claude Desktop config using uvx. This is the recommended approach and requires no manual Python environment management.
{
"mcpServers": {
"nixos": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": ["mcp-nixos"]
}
}
}Or configure with nix run
If you prefer to run it directly from the Nix flake, use the nix run method in your MCP config.
{
"mcpServers": {
"nixos": {
"command": "nix",
"args": ["run", "github:utensils/mcp-nixos", "--"]
}
}
}Or run in Docker
For a fully isolated environment, use the official Docker image from GitHub Container Registry.
{
"mcpServers": {
"nixos": {
"command": "docker",
"args": ["run", "--rm", "-i", "ghcr.io/utensils/mcp-nixos"]
}
}
}Restart your MCP client
Save the configuration file and restart Claude Desktop or your editor. MCP-NixOS will start automatically and be available for NixOS-related queries.
mcp-nixos Examples
Client configuration
Standard Claude Desktop configuration for mcp-nixos using the uvx method, which automatically fetches and runs the latest version.
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp-nixos": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": ["mcp-nixos"]
}
}
}Prompts to try
Example prompts for querying NixOS packages, options, Home Manager, and nix-darwin through the mcp-nixos MCP server.
- "Search for Firefox packages available in NixOS"
- "What NixOS options are available for configuring the nginx web server?"
- "Show me Home Manager options for setting up Git configuration"
- "List the available NixOS release channels"
- "Find historical versions of Node.js with their commit hashes in nixpkgs"
- "Search the NixOS Wiki for instructions on setting up NVIDIA drivers"
- "Get detailed information about the python3 package in nixpkgs"Troubleshooting mcp-nixos
uvx command not found
Install the uv toolchain with `curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh` (Linux/macOS) or via Homebrew on macOS with `brew install uv`. After installation, restart your terminal and verify with `which uvx`.
Search results are empty or the server returns connection errors
MCP-NixOS queries the NixOS search API in real time and requires internet access. Verify your network connection. If you are behind a proxy, set HTTP_PROXY and HTTPS_PROXY environment variables in the mcpServers env block in your config.
Docker image pull fails or container exits immediately
Ensure Docker is running and you are authenticated to GitHub Container Registry if needed (`docker login ghcr.io`). The container requires -i (interactive/stdin) to work as a stdio MCP server — do not remove that flag. Verify the image name is correct: ghcr.io/utensils/mcp-nixos.
Frequently Asked Questions about mcp-nixos
What is mcp-nixos?
mcp-nixos is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that mcp-nixos is a model context protocol server that provides real-time, accurate information about nixos packages, options, home manager, and nix-darwin configurations, preventing ai assistants from hallucinating about nixos resources and enabling them It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install mcp-nixos?
Install via npm with the command: npx -y mcp-nixos. Then add the server configuration to your AI client's JSON config file (e.g., claude_desktop_config.json or .cursor/mcp.json).
Which AI clients work with mcp-nixos?
mcp-nixos works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is mcp-nixos free to use?
Yes, mcp-nixos is open source and available under the MIT License license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
mcp-nixos Alternatives — Similar Developer Tools Servers
Looking for alternatives to mcp-nixos? Here are other popular developer tools servers you can use with Claude, Cursor, and VS Code.
Ecc
★ 188.2kThe agent harness performance optimization system. Skills, instincts, memory, security, and research-first development for Claude Code, Codex, Opencode, Cursor and beyond.
Javaguide
★ 155.8kJava 面试 & 后端通用面试指南，覆盖计算机基础、数据库、分布式、高并发、系统设计与 AI 应用开发
Gemini CLI
★ 104.5kA secure MCP server that wraps the Google Gemini CLI, allowing clients to query Gemini models using local OAuth sessions without requiring an API key. It provides tools for model interaction and diagnostics with built-in protection against command in
Awesome MCP Servers
★ 87.3k⭐ Curated list of Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers - tools that extend Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, and other MCP clients with custom capabilities.
MCP Servers
★ 86.0kModel Context Protocol Servers
CC Switch
★ 77.5kA cross-platform desktop All-in-One assistant for Claude Code, Codex, OpenCode, OpenClaw, Gemini CLI & Hermes Agent. Only official website: ccswitch.io
Browse More Developer Tools MCP Servers
Explore all developer tools servers available in the MCPgee directory. Each server includes setup guides for Claude, Cursor, and VS Code.
Set Up mcp-nixos in Your Editor
Choose your AI client for step-by-step setup instructions.
Quick Config Preview
Add this to your claude_desktop_config.json or .cursor/mcp.json
Ready to use mcp-nixos?
Browse our complete directory of 33,000+ MCP servers, read setup guides for your editor, and start building with the Model Context Protocol.