sigrok-mcp-server

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for sigrok — enables AI agents like Claude Code, Codex, and Cursor to capture, decode, and analyze signals from logic analyzers and measurement devices. Supports I2C, SPI, UART, CAN, and 100+ protocols via sigrok-cli.

Documentation | Getting Started

Tools

Tool	Description
list_supported_hardware	List all supported hardware drivers
list_supported_decoders	List all supported protocol decoders
list_input_formats	List all supported input file formats
list_output_formats	List all supported output file formats
show_decoder_details	Show detailed info about a protocol decoder (options, channels, documentation)
show_driver_details	Show detailed info about a hardware driver (functions, scan options, devices)
show_version	Show sigrok-cli and library version information
scan_devices	Scan for connected hardware devices
capture_data	Capture communication data from a device and save to file
decode_protocol	Decode protocol data from a captured file using protocol decoders
check_firmware_status	Check firmware file availability in sigrok firmware directories

Quickstart

Docker

docker pull ghcr.io/kenosinc/sigrok-mcp-server
docker run -i ghcr.io/kenosinc/sigrok-mcp-server

From source

Requires Go 1.25+ and sigrok-cli installed on your system.

go build -o sigrok-mcp-server ./cmd/sigrok-mcp-server
./sigrok-mcp-server

The server communicates over stdio (stdin/stdout JSON-RPC).

Configuration

Configuration is via environment variables:

Variable	Default	Description
SIGROK_CLI_PATH	sigrok-cli	Path to the sigrok-cli binary
SIGROK_TIMEOUT_SECONDS	30	Command execution timeout in seconds
SIGROK_WORKING_DIR	(empty)	Working directory for sigrok-cli execution

MCP Client Configuration

Claude Desktop

Add to your claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "sigrok": {
      "command": "docker",
      "args": ["run", "-i", "--rm", "ghcr.io/kenosinc/sigrok-mcp-server"]
    }
  }
}

To access USB devices from the container:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "sigrok": {
      "command": "docker",
      "args": ["run", "-i", "--rm", "--privileged", "ghcr.io/kenosinc/sigrok-mcp-server"]
    }
  }
}

To also provide firmware files for devices that require them (e.g. Kingst LA2016):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "sigrok": {
      "command": "docker",
      "args": [
        "run", "-i", "--rm", "--privileged",
        "-v", "/path/to/sigrok-firmware:/usr/local/share/sigrok-firmware:ro",
        "ghcr.io/kenosinc/sigrok-mcp-server"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Claude Code

claude mcp add sigrok -- docker run -i --rm ghcr.io/kenosinc/sigrok-mcp-server

With USB access and firmware:

claude mcp add sigrok -- docker run -i --rm --privileged -v /path/to/sigrok-firmware:/usr/local/share/sigrok-firmware:ro ghcr.io/kenosinc/sigrok-mcp-server

Firmware

Some hardware drivers require firmware files that cannot be bundled with this server due to licensing restrictions. The server works without firmware for devices that don't need it (e.g. demo, protocol-only analysis). For devices that require firmware (e.g. Kingst LA2016, Saleae Logic16), mount your firmware directory into the container at /usr/local/share/sigrok-firmware.

Use the check_firmware_status tool to verify firmware availability and diagnose device detection issues.

See the sigrok wiki for firmware extraction instructions for your device.

Architecture

MCP Client (LLM)
    |  stdio (JSON-RPC)
    v
sigrok-mcp-server (Go)
    |  exec.Command
    v
sigrok-cli
    |
    v
libsigrok / libsigrokdecode

• Transport: stdio (stdin/stdout JSON-RPC)
• No C bindings: sigrok-cli is the sole interface to sigrok
• Capture & decode: capture_data acquires data from devices; all other tools are read-only queries
• Structured output: Raw sigrok-cli text output is parsed into JSON

Workflow Example

A typical signal analysis workflow using Claude:

1. scan_devices — Discover connected hardware
2. show_driver_details — Check driver capabilities
3. capture_data — Capture communication data to file
4. decode_protocol — Decode captured data with protocol decoders
5. Claude analyzes the decoded output and explains the communication

Development

# Build
go build ./...

# Test
go test ./... -race

# Lint
golangci-lint run ./...

Project Structure

cmd/sigrok-mcp-server/     Entry point
internal/
  config/                  Environment-based configuration
  sigrok/
    executor.go            sigrok-cli command execution with timeout
    parser.go              Output parsing (list, decoder, driver, version, scan)
    testdata/              Real sigrok-cli output fixtures
  tools/
    tools.go               MCP tool definitions and registration
    handlers.go            Tool handler implementations

License

MIT (Kenos, Inc.)