Refactor▌
by myuon
Refactor enables regex-based code refactoring for bulk search-and-replace, pattern matching, and large-scale code transf
Provides regex-based code refactoring capabilities for bulk search-and-replace operations across file systems with pattern matching, context filtering, and glob-based file discovery to enable large-scale code transformations and migrations.
Both formats append explainx.ai attribution and the canonical URL for this MCP server listing.
best for
- / Large-scale codebase migrations and refactoring
- / Renaming functions or variables across multiple files
- / Updating import statements and API calls
- / Code cleanup and standardization tasks
capabilities
- / Search for code patterns using regex across files
- / Replace code patterns with capture group support
- / Filter operations by file type using glob patterns
- / Apply changes only within specific code contexts
- / Find exact line numbers for pattern matches
what it does
Performs regex-based search and replace operations across multiple files in your codebase. Helps automate large-scale code refactoring and migrations with pattern matching and context filtering.
about
Refactor is a community-built MCP server published by myuon that provides AI assistants with tools and capabilities via the Model Context Protocol. Refactor enables regex-based code refactoring for bulk search-and-replace, pattern matching, and large-scale code transf It is categorized under developer tools. This server exposes 2 tools that AI clients can invoke during conversations and coding sessions.
how to install
You can install Refactor in your AI client of choice. Use the install panel on this page to get one-click setup for Cursor, Claude Desktop, VS Code, and other MCP-compatible clients. This server runs locally on your machine via the stdio transport.
license
MIT
Refactor is released under the MIT license. This is a permissive open-source license, meaning you can freely use, modify, and distribute the software.
readme
refactor-mcp
A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides powerful refactoring tools for Coding Agents. It can run in two modes:
- MCP Server Mode (default): Integrates with MCP-compatible clients like Claude Code
- CLI Mode: Direct command-line usage for standalone refactoring tasks
Features
This MCP server implements two main tools to assist with code refactoring:
🔧 code_refactor
Performs regex-based search and replace operations across files with advanced filtering capabilities.
Parameters:
search_pattern(string) - Regular expression pattern to search forreplace_pattern(string) - Replacement pattern (supports capture groups like $1, $2)context_pattern(string, optional) - Only replace matches within this contextfile_pattern(string, optional) - Glob pattern to limit files (e.g.,*.js,src/**/*.ts)
Example:
// Replace foo() calls with bar() calls
code_refactor("foo\((.+)\)", "bar($1)")
// Before: let k = foo(1,2,3);
// After: let k = bar(1,2,3);
Context-aware refactoring:
// Only replace "legacy_sdk" within import statements
code_refactor("legacy_sdk", "brand_new_sdk", "import")
🔍 code_search
Searches for regex patterns and returns file locations with precise line numbers.
Parameters:
search_pattern(string) - Regular expression pattern to search forcontext_pattern(string, optional) - Filter matches by surrounding contextfile_pattern(string, optional) - Glob pattern to limit search scope
Example:
code_search("foo\(.+\)")
// Result:
// ./src/utils.js (line: 15)
// ./src/helpers.ts (lines: 23-27)
Installation
Quick Start
MCP Server Mode (for Claude Code and other MCP clients):
# Install globally for MCP integration
npm install -g @myuon/refactor-mcp
# Or use with npx (recommended for MCP clients)
npx @myuon/refactor-mcp@latest
CLI Mode (for direct command-line usage):
# Search for patterns
npx @myuon/refactor-mcp@latest cli search -p "function.*\(" -f "src/**/*.js"
# Refactor with preview
npx @myuon/refactor-mcp@latest cli refactor -s "const (\w+)" -r "let \$1" --dry-run
For Development
# Clone and install dependencies
git clone https://github.com/myuon/refactor-mcp.git
cd refactor-mcp
npm install
Usage
CLI Mode
You can use the refactor tools directly from the command line by adding cli after the main command:
# Search for patterns
refactor-mcp cli search -p "function (.*) \{" -f "src/**/*.ts"
# Search with matched content display
refactor-mcp cli search -p "function (.*) \{" -f "src/**/*.ts" --print
# Refactor with dry-run (preview changes)
refactor-mcp cli refactor -s "const (\w+) = " -r "let \$1 = " --dry-run
# Refactor with matched content display
refactor-mcp cli refactor -s "const (\w+) = " -r "let \$1 = " --print --dry-run
# Refactor with file pattern
refactor-mcp cli refactor -s "old_function" -r "new_function" -f "src/**/*.js"
# Context-aware refactoring
refactor-mcp cli refactor -s "legacy_sdk" -r "new_sdk" -c "import" -f "src/**/*.ts"
CLI Commands:
search- Search for code patterns-p, --pattern <pattern>- Regular expression pattern to search for-c, --context <context>- Optional context pattern to filter matches-f, --files <files>- Optional file glob pattern to limit search scope--print- Print matched content to stdout--matched- Show only matched text with capture groups
refactor- Refactor code with regex replacement-s, --search <search>- Regular expression pattern to search for-r, --replace <replace>- Replacement pattern (supports $1, $2, etc.)-c, --context <context>- Optional context pattern to filter matches-f, --files <files>- Optional file glob pattern to limit search scope--dry-run- Preview changes without modifying files--print- Print matched content and replacements to stdout
Important Notes:
- When using capture groups in replacement patterns on the command line, escape the dollar sign:
\$1,\$2, etc. - Example:
refactor-mcp cli refactor -s "const (\w+) = " -r "let \$1 = " --dry-run - This prevents the shell from interpreting
$1as a shell variable
MCP Server Mode (Default)
By default, refactor-mcp runs as an MCP server via stdio transport:
# Run as MCP server (default mode)
refactor-mcp
# Or explicitly with npx
npx @myuon/refactor-mcp@latest
Development
npm run dev # Run server in development mode
npm run dev:cli # Run CLI in development mode with arguments
npm run cli # Run CLI directly (for testing)
npm run build # Build for production
npm start # Run built server (MCP mode)
Code Quality
npm run check # Run all quality checks
npm run lint # Run ESLint
npm run format # Format code with Prettier
npm test # Run tests
MCP Integration
This server uses the Model Context Protocol to communicate with compatible clients. It runs via stdio transport and can be integrated into any MCP-compatible environment.
Claude Code Integration
For Claude Code users, you can easily add this MCP server with:
claude mcp add refactor npx @myuon/refactor-mcp@latest
Manual Configuration
Add to your MCP client configuration:
{
"mcpServers": {
"refactor-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["@myuon/refactor-mcp@latest"]
}
}
}
Alternative Configuration (Local Installation)
{
"mcpServers": {
"refactor-mcp": {
"command": "refactor-mcp"
}
}
}
Architecture
- Framework: Model Context Protocol SDK for TypeScript
- Runtime: Node.js with ES modules
- Validation: Zod schemas for type-safe input validation
- File Operations: Native fs module with glob pattern matching
- Testing: Vitest with comprehensive test coverage
Contributing
- Install dependencies:
npm install - Run tests:
npm test - Check code quality:
npm run check - Build:
npm run build
License
MIT
FAQ
- What is the Refactor MCP server?
- Refactor is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server profile on explainx.ai. MCP lets AI hosts (e.g. Claude Desktop, Cursor) call tools and resources through a standard interface; this page summarizes categories, install hints, and community ratings.
- How do MCP servers relate to agent skills?
- Skills are reusable instruction packages (often SKILL.md); MCP servers expose live capabilities. Teams frequently combine both—skills for workflows, MCP for APIs and data. See explainx.ai/skills and explainx.ai/mcp-servers for parallel directories.
- How are reviews shown for Refactor?
- This profile displays 36 aggregated ratings (sample rows for discoverability plus signed-in user reviews). Average score is about 4.6 out of 5—verify behavior in your own environment before production use.
Use Cases▌
Extended AI Capabilities
Add new capabilities to Claude beyond text generation
Example
Access external data sources, execute code, interact with tools and services
Transform Claude from chatbot to action-taking agent
Context Enhancement
Provide Claude with access to relevant context and data
Example
Load project documentation, access knowledge bases, query databases
Get more accurate, context-aware responses
Workflow Automation
Automate multi-step workflows combining AI and external tools
Example
Research → Summarize → Create document → Send notification
Complete complex tasks end-to-end without manual steps
Implementation Guide▌
Prerequisites
- ›Claude Desktop 0.7.0+ or Cursor IDE with MCP support
- ›Basic understanding of MCP architecture and capabilities
- ›Access credentials for integrated services (if required)
- ›Willingness to experiment and iterate on configuration
Time Estimate
15-60 minutes depending on server complexity
Installation Steps
- 1.Install MCP server: npm install -g [package-name] or via GitHub
- 2.Add server configuration to ~/.claude/mcp.json
- 3.Provide required credentials and configuration
- 4.Restart Claude Desktop to load new server
- 5.Test basic functionality with simple prompts
- 6.Explore capabilities and experiment with use cases
- 7.Document successful patterns for reuse
Troubleshooting
- ⚠MCP server not loading: Check config syntax, verify installation
- ⚠Connection errors: Check network, firewall, credentials
- ⚠Feature not working: Read server docs, check required parameters
- ⚠Performance issues: Monitor resource usage, check for network latency
- ⚠Conflicts with other servers: Check port assignments, namespace collisions
Best Practices▌
✓ Do
- +Read server documentation thoroughly before setup
- +Start with simple use cases to validate functionality
- +Test in non-production environment first
- +Monitor resource usage and performance
- +Keep servers updated for bug fixes and new features
- +Document configuration for team members
- +Use environment variables for sensitive configuration
✗ Don't
- −Don't grant overly permissive access to MCP servers
- −Don't skip reading security considerations in docs
- −Don't expose sensitive data without proper controls
- −Don't run untrusted MCP servers without code review
- −Don't ignore error messages—investigate root cause
💡 Pro Tips
- ★Combine multiple MCP servers for powerful workflows
- ★Create custom MCP servers for your specific needs
- ★Share successful configurations with team
- ★Use MCP inspector for debugging
- ★Join MCP community for tips and troubleshooting
Technical Details▌
Architecture
Model Context Protocol standardizes how AI hosts (Claude, Cursor) communicate with external tools and data sources through server implementations.
Protocols
- Model Context Protocol (MCP)
- JSON-RPC 2.0
- stdio or HTTP transport
Compatibility
- Claude Desktop
- Cursor IDE
- Custom MCP clients
When to Use This▌
✓ Use When
Use when you need Claude to access external data, execute actions, or integrate with tools. Best for extending AI capabilities beyond conversation.
✗ Avoid When
Avoid when native integrations exist (use official APIs directly), for real-time critical systems, or when security/compliance requires zero external dependencies.
Integration▌
- →Tool composition: Chain multiple MCP tools in workflows
- →Context augmentation: Provide AI with relevant external data
- →Action delegation: Let AI execute tasks on external systems
- →Bidirectional sync: Keep AI context and external systems in sync
Discussion
Product Hunt–style comments (not star reviews)- No comments yet — start the thread.
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Ratings
4.6★★★★★36 reviews- ★★★★★Amina Mehta· Dec 20, 2024
Refactor is among the better-indexed MCP projects we tried; the explainx.ai summary tracks the official description.
- ★★★★★Ira Ndlovu· Dec 8, 2024
Refactor has been reliable for tool-calling workflows; the MCP profile page is a good permalink for internal docs.
- ★★★★★Dhruvi Jain· Dec 4, 2024
Strong directory entry: Refactor surfaces stars and publisher context so we could sanity-check maintenance before adopting.
- ★★★★★Tariq Jain· Dec 4, 2024
Strong directory entry: Refactor surfaces stars and publisher context so we could sanity-check maintenance before adopting.
- ★★★★★Maya Khanna· Nov 27, 2024
Refactor is a well-scoped MCP server in the explainx.ai directory — install snippets and categories matched our Claude Code setup.
- ★★★★★Oshnikdeep· Nov 23, 2024
Refactor is among the better-indexed MCP projects we tried; the explainx.ai summary tracks the official description.
- ★★★★★Layla Jackson· Nov 23, 2024
Refactor is among the better-indexed MCP projects we tried; the explainx.ai summary tracks the official description.
- ★★★★★Yusuf Tandon· Nov 3, 2024
Useful MCP listing: Refactor is the kind of server we cite when onboarding engineers to host + tool permissions.
- ★★★★★Yusuf Gupta· Oct 22, 2024
Refactor reduced integration guesswork — categories and install configs on the listing matched the upstream repo.
- ★★★★★Yusuf Lopez· Oct 18, 2024
We wired Refactor into a staging workspace; the listing’s GitHub and npm pointers saved time versus hunting across READMEs.
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