Roslyn MCP Server

Let AI assistants like Claude safely refactor your C# codebase using the same Roslyn compiler platform that powers Visual Studio.

Roslyn MCP Server is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that exposes 41 Roslyn-powered tools to AI assistants and other MCP clients. It combines 19 refactoring operations, 5 code navigation tools, 6 analysis and metrics tools, 4 code generation tools, and 7 code conversion tools -- giving your AI deep code intelligence, comprehensive refactoring, and modern C# syntax transformations with full solution-wide reference tracking and preview support.

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Table of Contents

• Why RoslynMcpServer?
• Prerequisites
• Quick Start
• Standalone CLI
• Configuration
• Available Tools
• Preview Mode
• Troubleshooting
• NuGet Libraries
• Contributing
• License

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Why RoslynMcpServer?

• 41 tools -- refactoring, navigation, analysis, generation, and conversion tools, the most comprehensive Roslyn MCP server available
• Preview mode on every operation -- see exactly what will change before applying
• Atomic file writes with rollback -- if any file write fails, all changes are reverted
• Solution-wide reference updates -- renames and moves propagate across your entire solution
• Single command install -- dotnet tool install -g RoslynMcp.Server, no repo cloning needed
• Cross-platform -- works on Windows, Linux, and macOS

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Prerequisites

Before installing, make sure you have:

1. .NET 9.0 SDK or later -- Download here
2. A C# solution (.sln or .slnx) or project (.csproj) to work with

Verify your .NET SDK version:

dotnet --version

The output should be 9.0.x or higher.

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Quick Start

1. Install

dotnet tool install -g RoslynMcp.Server

2. Configure

Create a .mcp.json file in your project root (for Claude Code):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "roslyn-refactor": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "roslyn-mcp",
      "args": []
    }
  }
}

Then restart Claude Code or run /mcp to connect.

3. Verify

Ask Claude:

"Run the roslyn diagnose tool for my solution at C:/path/to/MySolution.sln"

You should see a health report with Roslyn version, MSBuild status, and workspace details.

4. Try It

Ask Claude:

"Rename the class UserService to AccountService in C:/path/to/MySolution.sln"

Claude will use the rename_symbol tool to rename the class and update every reference across your entire solution.

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Standalone CLI

All 41 tools are also available as a standalone CLI for use in scripts, CI/CD pipelines, and terminals without an AI assistant.

Install

dotnet tool install -g RoslynMcp.Cli

Usage

roslyn-cli <solution-path> <tool-name> [--option value ...]
roslyn-cli <tool-name> --help
roslyn-cli --help

Examples

# Check environment health
roslyn-cli C:/path/to/MySolution.sln diagnose --format text

# Rename a symbol across the entire solution
roslyn-cli C:/path/to/MySolution.sln rename-symbol --source-file C:/path/to/Foo.cs --symbol-name Bar --new-name Baz

# Get compiler diagnostics (errors only), pipe to jq
roslyn-cli C:/path/to/MySolution.sln get-diagnostics --severity-filter Error | jq '.data'

# Preview a refactoring without applying
roslyn-cli C:/path/to/MySolution.sln extract-method --source-file Foo.cs --start-line 10 --end-line 20 --method-name DoWork --preview

Output is JSON by default (pipeable to jq). Use --format text for human-readable output. Exit codes: 0=success, 1=tool error, 2=CLI error, 3=environment error.

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Configuration

Claude Code

Create .mcp.json in your project root:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "roslyn-refactor": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "roslyn-mcp",
      "args": []
    }
  }
}

Claude Desktop

Add to your claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "roslyn-refactor": {
      "command": "roslyn-mcp",
      "args": []
    }
  }
}

Config file locations:

OS	Path
Windows	%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json
macOS	~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

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Available Tools

All tools accept a solutionPath parameter (absolute path to a .sln, .slnx, or .csproj file). Refactoring tools also accept a preview parameter (set to true to see changes without applying them).

Move and Rename

Tool	Description	Key Parameters
move_type_to_file	Move a C# type declaration to a different file. Updates all references automatically.	sourceFile, symbolName, targetFile, createTargetFile
move_type_to_namespace	Change the namespace of a C# type. Updates all using directives and qualified references.	sourceFile, symbolName, targetNamespace, updateFileLocation
rename_symbol	Rename any C# symbol (type, method, property, field, variable, etc.) with automatic reference updates across the solution.	sourceFile, symbolName, newName, line, column, renameOverloads, renameFile

Extract

Tool	Description	Key Parameters
extract_method	Extract selected code into a new method. Automatically detects parameters and return values.	sourceFile, startLine, startColumn, endLine, endColumn, methodName, visibility
extract_variable	Extract an expression to a local variable.	sourceFile, startLine, startColumn, endLine, endColumn, variableName, useVar
extract_constant	Extract a literal value to a named constant.	sourceFile, startLine, startColumn, endLine, endColumn, constantName, visibility, replaceAll
extract_interface	Extract an interface from a class's public members.	sourceFile, typeName, interfaceName, members, targetFile
extract_base_class	Extract members to a new base class.	sourceFile, typeName, baseClassName, members, targetFile, makeAbstract

Inline

Tool	Description	Key Parameters
inline_variable	Inline a local variable by replacing all usages with its initializer value.	sourceFile, variableName, line

Signature and Encapsulation

Tool	Description	Key Parameters
change_signature	Add, remove, or reorder method parameters and update all call sites.	sourceFile, methodName, parameters (array of changes), line
encapsulate_field	Convert a field to a property with backing field.	sourceFile, fieldName, propertyName, readOnly

Generate

Tool	Description	Key Parameters
generate_constructor	Generate a constructor that initializes fields and/or properties of a type.	sourceFile, typeName, members, addNullChecks
generate_overrides	Generate override methods for base class virtual/abstract members.	sourceFile, typeName, members, callBase
implement_interface	Generate interface member implementations for a type.	sourceFile, typeName, interfaceName, explicitImplementation, members

Convert

Tool	Description	Key Parameters
convert_to_async	Convert a synchronous method to async/await pattern.	sourceFile, methodName, line, renameToAsync
convert_expression_body	Toggle between expression body (=> expr;) and block body ({ return expr; }).	sourceFile, direction, memberName, line
convert_property	Convert between auto-property and full property with backing field.	sourceFile, direction, propertyName, line
convert_foreach_linq	Convert foreach loops with Add patterns to LINQ Select/Where expressions.	sourceFile, line
convert_to_pattern_matching	Convert if/is chains and switch statements to switch expressions.	sourceFile, line
convert_to_interpolated_string	Convert string.Format() calls and concatenation to interpolated strings.	sourceFile, line
introduce_parameter	Promote a local variable to a method parameter, updating all call sites.	sourceFile, variableName, line

Using Directives

Tool	Description	Key Parameters
add_missing_usings	Add missing using directives required to resolve unbound type references. Process a single file or all files in the solution.	sourceFile, allFiles
remove_unused_usings	Remove unused using directives. Process a single file or all files in the solution.	sourceFile, allFiles
sort_usings	Sort using directives alphabetically in a C# file.	sourceFile

Diagnostics

Tool	Description	Key Parameters
diagnose	Check the health of the Roslyn MCP server environment and workspace status.	solutionPath (optional), verbose

Code Navigation

These read-only tools let you explore and understand your codebase without making changes. Use them to discover symbols, trace references, and inspect type information before refactoring.

Tool	Description	Key Parameters
find_references	Find all references to a symbol across the entire solution. Returns file locations, context snippets, and write/definition indicators.	sourceFile, symbolName, line, column, maxResults
go_to_definition	Navigate to the source definition of a symbol. Supports partial classes with multiple definition locations.	sourceFile, symbolName, line, column
get_symbol_info	Get detailed metadata for any symbol: kind, accessibility, modifiers, base types, interfaces, members, parameters, return type, and XML documentation.	sourceFile, symbolName, line, column
find_implementations	Find all implementations of an interface or overrides of an abstract/virtual member.	sourceFile, symbolName, line, column, maxResults
search_symbols	Search for symbols by name pattern across the entire workspace. Filter by kind (class, method, property, etc.).	query, kindFilter, maxResults

Analysis & Metrics

These tools analyze your code without making changes. Use them to understand code quality, data flow, and control flow.

Tool	Description	Key Parameters
get_diagnostics	Retrieve compiler diagnostics (errors, warnings, info) filtered by severity and optionally by file.	sourceFile, severityFilter
get_code_metrics	Calculate code metrics: cyclomatic complexity, lines of code, maintainability index, class coupling, depth of inheritance.	sourceFile, symbolName, line
analyze_control_flow	Analyze control flow for a code region: start/end point reachability, return statements, and exit points.	sourceFile, startLine, endLine
analyze_data_flow	Analyze data flow for a code region: variables read/written inside, data flowing in/out, captured variables.	sourceFile, startLine, endLine
find_callers	Find all callers of a symbol across the entire solution.	sourceFile, symbolName, line, column, maxResults
get_type_hierarchy	Retrieve the type hierarchy (base types and/or derived types) for a given type.	sourceFile, symbolName, line, column, direction
get_document_outline	Get a hierarchical outline of all symbols in a file (namespaces, types, members).	sourceFile

Code Generation

These tools generate new code members for existing types.

Tool	Description	Key Parameters
generate_equals_hashcode	Generate Equals() and GetHashCode() overrides for a type based on its fields/properties.	sourceFile, typeName, fields
generate_tostring	Generate a ToString() override for a type.	sourceFile, typeName, fields, format
format_document	Format a C# file using Roslyn's built-in formatter.	sourceFile
add_null_checks	Add null-check statements (ArgumentNullException.ThrowIfNull or guard clauses) for method parameters.	sourceFile, methodName, line, style

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Preview Mode

Every refactoring tool supports a preview parameter. When set to true, the tool computes and returns the changes that would be made without writing anything to disk. This lets you review diffs before committing to a refactoring.

Example (as a natural language prompt to Claude):

"Preview what would happen if I renamed OrderProcessor to OrderHandler in C:/path/to/MySolution.sln"

Claude will call rename_symbol with preview: true and show you the affected files and diffs.

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Troubleshooting

.NET 9 SDK not found

If you see errors about the SDK not being found:

1. Verify the SDK is installed: dotnet --list-sdks
2. Make sure .NET 9.0 or later appears in the list
3. If not, install it from https://dotnet.microsoft.com/download/dotnet/9.0

MSBuild or solution loading issues

If MSBuild cannot be located or your solution fails to load:

1. Make sure you can build the solution from the command line first: dotnet build /path/to/MySolution.sln
2. On Windows, ensure Visual Studio Build Tools or a Visual Studio installation is available
3. Check that solutionPath is an absolute path to a valid .sln, .slnx, or .csproj file

Using the diagnose tool

The diagnose tool is the first thing to try when something is not working. It reports:

• Whether Roslyn is loaded and its version
• Whether MSBuild was found and its version
• Whether the .NET SDK is available and its version
• Whether a given solution can be loaded, including project and document counts

Run it through Claude:

"Run the roslyn diagnose tool with verbose output for C:/path/to/MySolution.sln"

Or without a solution path to check just the environment:

"Run the roslyn diagnose tool"

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NuGet Libraries

In addition to the global tool, the project publishes libraries for building custom integrations:

# Core library -- refactoring operations and workspace management
dotnet add package RoslynMcp.Core

# Contracts library -- shared models and interfaces
dotnet add package RoslynMcp.Contracts

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Contributing

Contributions are welcome. See CONTRIBUTING.md for guidelines.

Build from Source

git clone https://github.com/JoshuaRamirez/RoslynMcpServer.git
cd RoslynMcpServer
dotnet build -c Release

Run Tests

# All tests
dotnet test

# Specific test projects
dotnet test tests/RoslynMcp.Core.Tests
dotnet test tests/RoslynMcp.Server.Tests
dotnet test tests/RoslynMcp.Cli.Tests

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License

This project is licensed under the MIT License. See the LICENSE file for details.

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Acknowledgments

• Built with Roslyn -- the .NET Compiler Platform
• Implements the Model Context Protocol

Support

• Issues: GitHub Issues
• Discussions: GitHub Discussions