Ref Tools MCP Server

by ref-toolsai.smithery/ref-tools-ref-tools-mcpv3.0.0

Up-to-date documentation for your coding agent. Covers 1000s of public repos and sites. Built by ref.tools

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Active11d ago

Install Ref Tools MCP server

claude mcp add ref-tools -e REF_API_KEY='<ref-api-key>' -- npx -y ref-tools-mcp

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ref-tools": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "ref-tools-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "REF_API_KEY": "<ref-api-key>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Add to ~/.cursor/mcp.json (global) or .cursor/mcp.json (project).

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ref-tools": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "ref-tools-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "REF_API_KEY": "<ref-api-key>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Settings → Developer → Edit Config (claude_desktop_config.json), then restart.

{
  "servers": {
    "ref-tools": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "ref-tools-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "REF_API_KEY": "<ref-api-key>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Add to .vscode/mcp.json in your workspace.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ref-tools": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "ref-tools-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "REF_API_KEY": "<ref-api-key>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Add to ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json.

Configuration

Variable	Required	Secret	Description
REF_API_KEY	yes	yes	Your API key for Ref

Remote endpoints

streamable-httphttps://api.ref.tools/mcp
streamable-httphttps://server.smithery.ai/@ref-tools/ref-tools-mcp/mcp

Freshness

Active — last maintenance signal 11d ago. The newest of the signals below sets the band.

Last commit (default branch)
2026-09-28 · 11d ago · GitHub
Latest release
no data · GitHub
Package published
no data · npm/PyPI
Registry entry updated
2025-10-28 · 12mo ago · official registry · v3.0.0

FAQ

›How do I install the Ref Tools MCP server in Claude Code?

Run: claude mcp add ref-tools -e REF_API_KEY='<ref-api-key>' -- npx -y ref-tools-mcp. For Cursor, VS Code, Claude Desktop and Windsurf, use the install tabs above.

›Does Ref Tools require an API key?

Yes. It expects REF_API_KEY, of which 1 is a secret.

›Can I use Ref Tools as a remote (hosted) MCP server?

Yes — it offers both a hosted endpoint and a local stdio package.

›Is Ref Tools in the official MCP registry?

Yes, as ai.smithery/ref-tools-ref-tools-mcp.

Install Ref Tools MCP server

Install in Claude Code

Install in Cursor

Install in Claude Desktop

Install in VS Code

Install in Windsurf

Configuration

Remote endpoints

Freshness

FAQ

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