Trueline
Smarter reads, safer edits. An MCP plugin that cuts token usage and catches editing mistakes before they hit disk. Supports Claude Code, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot, and Codex.
What is Trueline?
Trueline is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to smarter reads, safer edits. an mcp plugin that cuts token usage and catches editing mistakes before they hit disk. supports claude code, gemini cli, github copilot, and codex.
Smarter reads, safer edits. An MCP plugin that cuts token usage and catches editing mistakes before they hit disk. Supports Claude Code, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot, and Codex.
This server falls under the Developer Tools category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- Smarter reads, safer edits. An MCP plugin that cuts token us
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
Manual Installation
npx truelineConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use Trueline
Trueline is an MCP plugin that makes AI-assisted code editing significantly more efficient by replacing full-file reads with targeted, line-range-aware operations. It uses AST (abstract syntax tree) analysis to provide structural outlines of source files, enables reading only the specific line ranges needed, and validates edits using content hashes to catch stale-reference mistakes before they reach disk. Compatible with Claude Code, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot, and Codex, Trueline can dramatically cut token usage while reducing editing errors in large codebases.
Prerequisites
- Node.js 18 or later (Bun 1.3+ required only for building from source)
- At least one supported MCP client: Claude Code, Gemini CLI, VS Code GitHub Copilot, or Codex CLI
- npm available in your PATH for global installation
- Optional: the TRUELINE_ALLOWED_DIRS environment variable to expand filesystem access beyond the project directory
Install Trueline via the Claude Code plugin marketplace
The recommended installation for Claude Code users is through the plugin marketplace, which handles configuration automatically.
/plugin marketplace add rjkaes/trueline-mcp
/plugin install trueline-mcp@trueline-mcpOr install globally via npm for other clients
For Gemini CLI, VS Code Copilot, or Codex, install the package globally and then configure each client manually per the INSTALL.md instructions in the repository.
npm i -g trueline-mcpAdd to your MCP client configuration
For Claude Desktop or other clients that require manual JSON configuration, add Trueline as an MCP server. Optionally set TRUELINE_ALLOWED_DIRS to a colon-separated list of additional directories the server may access.
{
"mcpServers": {
"trueline": {
"command": "trueline-mcp",
"args": [],
"env": {
"TRUELINE_ALLOWED_DIRS": "/home/user/projects:/home/user/work"
}
}
}
}Restart your MCP client
Restart Claude Desktop or reload your client. Trueline will expose six tools: trueline_outline, trueline_read, trueline_search, trueline_edit, trueline_changes, and trueline_verify.
Use trueline_outline to explore code structure efficiently
Instead of asking Claude to read entire files, ask it to outline them first. The outline uses AST analysis to return function names, class names, and their line ranges — so Claude can then read only the relevant sections.
Trueline Examples
Client configuration
Claude Desktop configuration for Trueline MCP with optional TRUELINE_ALLOWED_DIRS to permit access to additional project directories.
{
"mcpServers": {
"trueline": {
"command": "trueline-mcp",
"args": [],
"env": {
"TRUELINE_ALLOWED_DIRS": "/Users/yourname/projects"
}
}
}
}Prompts to try
Example prompts that leverage Trueline's token-efficient reading and safe editing capabilities.
- "Give me a structural outline of src/server.ts showing all functions and their line ranges."
- "Read lines 25-45 of src/server.ts and explain what the resolveAllowedDirs function does."
- "Search for all usages of 'authenticate' in the src directory."
- "Show me what changed structurally in the last git commit using AST-level diff."
- "Edit lines 30-35 of utils.ts to add error handling — verify the references are still current first."Troubleshooting Trueline
'trueline-mcp: command not found' after npm global install
Ensure the npm global bin directory is in your PATH. Run 'npm bin -g' to find the directory and add it to your PATH in ~/.zshrc or ~/.bashrc. Alternatively, use the full path in the MCP config command field.
trueline_edit fails with a stale reference error
This is the safety mechanism working correctly — the file has changed since you last read it. Re-run trueline_verify or trueline_read to get the current content and hashes, then retry the edit with the updated references.
Files outside the project directory are not accessible
Set the TRUELINE_ALLOWED_DIRS environment variable in your MCP config to a colon-separated list of additional directories. For example: '/home/user/shared:/home/user/libs'. Restart the MCP client after changing the config.
Frequently Asked Questions about Trueline
What is Trueline?
Trueline is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that smarter reads, safer edits. an mcp plugin that cuts token usage and catches editing mistakes before they hit disk. supports claude code, gemini cli, github copilot, and codex. It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install Trueline?
Follow the installation instructions on the Trueline GitHub repository. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and add the server config to your AI client.
Which AI clients work with Trueline?
Trueline works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is Trueline free to use?
Yes, Trueline is open source and available under the Apache-2.0 license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
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Set Up Trueline in Your Editor
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Quick Config Preview
Add this to your claude_desktop_config.json or .cursor/mcp.json
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