Performance Studio
Free, open-source SQL Server execution plan analyzer — cross-platform GUI + CLI with 30 analysis rules, missing index detection, SSMS extension. Built-in MCP server for AI-assisted plan review.
What is Performance Studio?
Performance Studio is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to free, open-source sql server execution plan analyzer — cross-platform gui + cli with 30 analysis rules, missing index detection, ssms extension. built-in mcp server for ai-assisted plan review.
Free, open-source SQL Server execution plan analyzer — cross-platform GUI + CLI with 30 analysis rules, missing index detection, SSMS extension. Built-in MCP server for AI-assisted plan review.
This server falls under the Developer Tools and Databases categories on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- Free, open-source SQL Server execution plan analyzer — cross
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
Manual Installation
npx performancestudioConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use Performance Studio
Performance Studio is a free, open-source SQL Server execution plan analyzer with a built-in MCP server that lets AI assistants review and explain query plans. It ships as a cross-platform GUI application plus a CLI (`planview`) and exposes 13 MCP tools covering plan discovery, missing index detection, expensive operator analysis, plan comparison, and Query Store integration. DBAs and developers use it to diagnose slow queries, validate index recommendations, and get AI-assisted explanations of complex execution plan decisions.
Prerequisites
- .NET 10 SDK (only needed if building from source; pre-built binaries are self-contained)
- A SQL Server instance to connect to, or existing .sqlplan files for offline analysis
- Performance Studio binary downloaded from the GitHub Releases page
- An MCP-compatible client such as Claude Desktop or Claude Code
- On macOS: run `xattr -cr PerformanceStudio.app` after download to remove quarantine
Download and install Performance Studio
Download the pre-built binary for your OS from the GitHub Releases page. On macOS, remove the quarantine attribute so the app will open.
# macOS: after download, clear quarantine
xattr -cr PerformanceStudio.app
# Or build from source:
git clone https://github.com/erikdarlingdata/PerformanceStudio.git
cd PerformanceStudio
dotnet buildEnable the MCP server
Create or edit `~/.planview/settings.json` to enable the built-in MCP server on port 5152 (the default).
{
"mcp_enabled": true,
"mcp_port": 5152
}Configure database credentials (optional)
For live plan capture from a SQL Server instance, create a `.env` file in your working directory with connection details. File analysis works without any credentials.
PLANVIEW_SERVER=your-sql-server
PLANVIEW_DATABASE=YourDatabase
PLANVIEW_LOGIN=sa
PLANVIEW_PASSWORD=YourPassword
PLANVIEW_TRUST_CERT=trueLaunch Performance Studio
Start the GUI application or use the CLI. Once launched with MCP enabled, the server listens on the configured port.
# CLI: analyze an existing plan file
planview analyze my_query.sqlplan --output text
# CLI: capture a live plan from SQL Server
planview analyze --server sql2022 --database AdventureWorks \
--login sa --password pwd --trust-cert \
--query "SELECT * FROM Sales.SalesOrderHeader"Configure your MCP client
Point your MCP client at the running Performance Studio MCP server. Since it runs as an HTTP server on port 5152, use a URL-based configuration.
Performance Studio Examples
Client configuration
MCP configuration pointing to the Performance Studio HTTP server. The server must be running before the client connects.
{
"mcpServers": {
"performancestudio": {
"command": "planview",
"args": ["mcp"],
"env": {
"PLANVIEW_SERVER": "your-sql-server",
"PLANVIEW_DATABASE": "YourDatabase",
"PLANVIEW_LOGIN": "sa",
"PLANVIEW_PASSWORD": "YourPassword",
"PLANVIEW_TRUST_CERT": "true"
}
}
}
}Prompts to try
Example prompts for AI-assisted SQL Server execution plan analysis.
- "List the execution plans you have loaded and summarize which query looks most expensive"
- "Analyze the current plan and show me all missing index recommendations with their estimated impact"
- "What are the most expensive operators in this plan and why might they be slow?"
- "Compare the two plans I have loaded and explain what changed between them"
- "Are there any parameter sniffing issues or implicit conversions in this plan?"Troubleshooting Performance Studio
macOS blocks the app from opening with 'cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified'
Run `xattr -cr PerformanceStudio.app` in your terminal to remove the quarantine attribute, then try opening the app again.
MCP client cannot connect to the server
Ensure Performance Studio is running and `mcp_enabled` is set to `true` in `~/.planview/settings.json`. Check that port 5152 is not blocked by a firewall. Restart the application after changing settings.
Live plan capture fails with a connection error
Verify the `PLANVIEW_SERVER`, `PLANVIEW_LOGIN`, and `PLANVIEW_PASSWORD` values in your `.env` file. Add `PLANVIEW_TRUST_CERT=true` if your SQL Server uses a self-signed certificate.
Frequently Asked Questions about Performance Studio
What is Performance Studio?
Performance Studio is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that free, open-source sql server execution plan analyzer — cross-platform gui + cli with 30 analysis rules, missing index detection, ssms extension. built-in mcp server for ai-assisted plan review. It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install Performance Studio?
Follow the installation instructions on the Performance Studio GitHub repository. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and add the server config to your AI client.
Which AI clients work with Performance Studio?
Performance Studio works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is Performance Studio free to use?
Yes, Performance Studio is open source and available under the MIT license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
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