JetBrains MCP Proxy Server: Cross-IDE Collaboration & Workflow Harmony

What is JetBrains MCP Proxy Server: Cross-IDE Collaboration & Workflow Harmony?

The MCP Proxy Server acts as a bridge between your development tools and JetBrains IDEs. It proxies API requests from external clients—like Claude Desktop or custom scripts—to the IDE’s built-in web server. This enables seamless collaboration across multiple IDE instances or environments, keeping your workflow synchronized and efficient.

How to Use JetBrains MCP Proxy Server: Cross-IDE Collaboration & Workflow Harmony?

Start by installing the MCP Server plugin in your IDE. For integration with Claude Desktop, configure the `claude_desktop_config.json` file with the proxy command:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "jetbrains": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@jetbrains/mcp-proxy"]
    }
  }
}

On macOS, place this JSON in `~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/`, while Windows users should edit `%APPDATA%/Claude/`.

Key Features of JetBrains MCP Proxy Server: Cross-IDE Collaboration & Workflow Harmony?

• Targeted IDE Connections: Use `IDE_PORT` to specify which IDE instance to communicate with when running multiple copies.
• Custom Host Addresses: Override the default `127.0.0.1` with any `HOST` value for remote or networked setups.
• Diagnostic Logging: Enable detailed logs via `LOG_ENABLED` to troubleshoot connectivity issues.
• Scriptable Deployment: Works with Node.js tools like `npx`, making it easy to integrate into devops workflows.

Use Cases of JetBrains MCP Proxy Server: Cross-IDE Collaboration & Workflow Harmony?

Developers use this proxy to:

• Trigger IDE actions (e.g., debugging, linting) from external tools without manual intervention.
• Create cross-platform workflows that span multiple JetBrains products (e.g., PyCharm + DataGrip).
• Automate testing environments by scripting interactions with IDE features.
• Support remote collaboration setups where IDEs run on different machines.

FAQ from JetBrains MCP Proxy Server: Cross-IDE Collaboration & Workflow Harmony?

• Q: Does this work on Linux? While officially tested on macOS, the Node.js-based proxy should function on Linux with manual configuration.
• Q: How do I verify the proxy is active? Check the IDE’s logs for connection attempts and ensure port conflicts are resolved.
• Q: Can I use this without Claude Desktop? Yes—any tool that can send HTTP requests to the proxy’s endpoint can leverage this integration.

JetBrains MCP Proxy Server

The server proxies requests from client to JetBrains IDE.

Install MCP Server plugin

https://plugins.jetbrains.com/plugin/26071-mcp-server

Usage with Claude Desktop

To use this with Claude Desktop, add the following to your claude_desktop_config.json. The full path on MacOS: ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json, on Windows: %APPDATA%/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "jetbrains": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@jetbrains/mcp-proxy"]
    }
  }
}

Configuration

If you're running multiple IDEs with MCP server and want to connect to the specific one, add to the MCP server configuration:

"env": {
  "IDE_PORT": "<port of IDE's built-in webserver>"
}

By default, we connect to IDE on 127.0.0.1 but you can specify a different address/host:

"env": {
  "HOST": "<host/address of IDE's built-in webserver>"
}

To enable logging add:

"env": {
  "LOG_ENABLED": "true"
}

How to build

1. Tested on macOS
2. brew install node pnpm
3. Run pnpm build to build the project