MCP Zig
A Model Context Protocol (MCP) library for the Zig ecosystem.
What is MCP Zig?
MCP Zig is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to model context protocol (mcp) library for the zig ecosystem.
A Model Context Protocol (MCP) library for the Zig ecosystem.
This server falls under the Developer Tools and APIs categories on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- A Model Context Protocol (MCP) library for the Zig ecosystem
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
Manual Installation
npx mcp-zigConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use MCP Zig
mcp.zig is a native Zig library that implements the full Model Context Protocol specification for the Zig programming language ecosystem. It fills a gap left by the official MCP SDKs — which cover TypeScript, Python, Java, and Kotlin but not Zig — by providing both a server framework (for exposing tools, resources, and prompts) and a client framework (for connecting to MCP-compatible servers). Built in pure Zig, it supports STDIO and HTTP transports, JSON-RPC 2.0, and long-running interactive tasks, making it suitable for high-performance MCP server implementations.
Prerequisites
- Zig 0.16.0 or higher installed (zig.guide/getting-started for install instructions)
- A Zig project initialized with 'zig init'
- Familiarity with the Zig build system (build.zig)
- An MCP-compatible client (Claude Desktop, Cursor, Claude Code) if you want to test your server
Add mcp.zig to your Zig project
Use 'zig fetch' to download the mcp.zig package and add it to your project's build dependencies. Use the tarball URL for a stable release.
zig fetch --save https://github.com/muhammad-fiaz/mcp.zig/archive/refs/tags/0.0.5.tar.gzConfigure build.zig to import the mcp module
In your build.zig file, add a dependency on the mcp package and import it as a module into your executable.
const mcp_dep = b.dependency("mcp", .{
.target = target,
.optimize = optimize,
});
exe.root_module.addImport("mcp", mcp_dep.module("mcp"));Write an MCP server in Zig
Import the mcp module and create a server with a name and version. Use server.addTool() to register tool handlers, then call server.run() with the STDIO transport to start accepting connections.
const std = @import("std");
const mcp = @import("mcp");
pub fn main(init: std.process.Init) void {
run(init.io, init.gpa) catch |err| mcp.reportError(err);
}
fn run(io: std.Io, allocator: std.mem.Allocator) !void {
var server: mcp.Server = .init(allocator, .{
.name = "my-zig-server",
.version = "1.0.0",
});
defer server.deinit();
try server.addTool(.{
.name = "greet",
.description = "Greet a user by name",
.handler = greetHandler,
});
try server.run(io, allocator, .stdio);
}Build and run the server
Build all targets with 'zig build' and run the built executable. You can also use the included example targets to test basic server functionality.
zig build
./zig-out/bin/my-zig-serverConnect an MCP client to your Zig server
Point your MCP client at the compiled binary. Add it to Claude Desktop or Cursor configuration using the STDIO transport with the path to your built executable.
{
"mcpServers": {
"my-zig-server": {
"command": "/path/to/zig-out/bin/my-zig-server",
"args": []
}
}
}MCP Zig Examples
Client configuration (Claude Desktop)
Claude Desktop configuration pointing to a locally compiled Zig MCP server binary.
{
"mcpServers": {
"my-zig-server": {
"command": "/Users/yourname/projects/my-zig-server/zig-out/bin/my-zig-server",
"args": []
}
}
}Prompts to try
After connecting a compiled Zig MCP server, test it with these prompts.
- "List all tools available on this server"
- "Call the greet tool with the name 'Alice'"
- "Run the calculator server's add tool with 42 and 58"
- "What resources are exposed by this MCP server?"Troubleshooting MCP Zig
Zig build fails with 'unable to find module mcp'
Run 'zig fetch --save <url>' first to add mcp.zig to your zon file, then ensure build.zig calls b.dependency("mcp", ...) with the exact name 'mcp' matching the package name in build.zig.zon.
Server exits immediately without accepting connections
MCP servers using STDIO transport wait for a client to connect via stdin/stdout. When testing manually, you can pipe JSON-RPC messages. For real use, always connect via an MCP client (Claude Desktop, Cursor) rather than running the binary directly in a terminal.
Zig version mismatch errors during build
mcp.zig 0.0.5 requires Zig 0.16.x. For Zig 0.15.x use tag 0.0.3. Check your Zig version with 'zig version' and download the matching release from ziglang.org/download.
Frequently Asked Questions about MCP Zig
What is MCP Zig?
MCP Zig is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that model context protocol (mcp) library for the zig ecosystem. It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install MCP Zig?
Follow the installation instructions on the MCP Zig GitHub repository. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and add the server config to your AI client.
Which AI clients work with MCP Zig?
MCP Zig works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is MCP Zig free to use?
Yes, MCP Zig is open source and available under the MIT license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
MCP Zig Alternatives — Similar Developer Tools Servers
Looking for alternatives to MCP Zig? 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 Zig 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 Zig?
Browse our complete directory of 33,000+ MCP servers, read setup guides for your editor, and start building with the Model Context Protocol.