MCP-Grep: Instant Data Analysis & Action Execution

MCP-Grep: Instantly find, analyze, and act on critical data. Save hours, boost precision—effortless mastery for smarter workflows.

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About MCP-Grep

What is MCP-Grep: Instant Data Analysis & Action Execution?

MCP-Grep is a specialized server built around the Model Context Protocol (MCP) that exposes grep functionality as a service. It enables seamless integration of text search capabilities into automated workflows or custom applications by providing programmatic access to system-level grep operations. Unlike traditional command-line usage, MCP-Grep abstracts grep's core functionality into standardized resources and tools accessible via MCP-compliant clients.

How to Use MCP-Grep: Instant Data Analysis & Action Execution?

Start by installing the package using pip install mcp-grep, then launch the server with mcp-grep-server. Connect via any MCP client to interact with two primary endpoints: grep://info for system grep metadata and the grep tool for pattern searches. For example, Python clients can execute searches with context options and handle results programmatically:

from mcp.client import MCPClient
client = MCPClient()
results = client.use_tool("grep", {"pattern": "error", "paths": ["logs/"], "recursive": True})

MCP-Grep Features

Key Features of MCP-Grep: Instant Data Analysis & Action Execution?

System introspection: Retrieve detailed information about the underlying grep binary (path, version, capabilities)
Advanced search parameters: Support for regex patterns, case-insensitive matching, and recursive directory traversal
Actionable output: Control context lines around matches and limit maximum returned results
Flexible execution: Choice between regex-based searches or literal string matching

Use Cases of MCP-Grep: Instant Data Analysis & Action Execution?

Common scenarios include:

Automating log analysis in DevOps pipelines by searching across hundreds of files instantly
Building custom search interfaces for developers needing programmatic access to codebase patterns
Creating real-time monitoring tools that trigger actions based on matching patterns in live data streams
Integrating with AI models to perform context-aware searches within unstructured datasets

MCP-Grep FAQ

FAQ from MCP-Grep: Instant Data Analysis & Action Execution?

Q: Does MCP-Grep require constant server uptime?

A: Yes, the server must run continuously to service client requests. Consider using systemd services for production environments.

Q: Can I use custom grep flags not listed in features?

A: Only explicitly supported options are exposed through the API to maintain protocol consistency. Contributions for new features are welcome.

Q: How does performance compare to native grep?

A: Execution speed matches native performance since it delegates work directly to the system's installed grep binary.

Content

MCP-Grep

A grep server implementation that exposes grep functionality through the Model Context Protocol (MCP).

Installation

pip install mcp-grep

Usage

MCP-Grep runs as a server that can be used by MCP-compatible clients:

# Start the MCP-Grep server
mcp-grep-server

The server exposes the following MCP functionality:

Resource: grep://info - Returns information about the system grep binary
Tool: grep - Searches for patterns in files using the system grep binary

Features

Information about the system grep binary (path, version, supported features)
Search for patterns in files using regular expressions
Support for common grep options:
- Case-insensitive matching
- Context lines (before and after matches)
- Maximum match count
- Fixed string matching (non-regex)
- Recursive directory searching

Example API Usage

Using the MCP Python client:

from mcp.client import MCPClient

# Connect to the MCP-Grep server
client = MCPClient()

# Get information about the grep binary
grep_info = client.get_resource("grep://info")
print(grep_info)

# Search for a pattern in files
result = client.use_tool("grep", {
    "pattern": "search_pattern",
    "paths": ["file.txt", "directory/"],
    "ignore_case": True,
    "recursive": True
})
print(result)

Development

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/erniebrodeur/mcp-grep.git
cd mcp-grep

# Install in development mode
pip install -e ".[dev]"

# Run tests
pytest

License

MIT