Refactoring MCP Server
MCP server exposing Martin Fowler's refactoring catalog to LLMs with 71+ refactorings
What can you do with Refactoring MCP Server?
- 71+ Refactorings: Full implementation of Martin Fowler's refactoring catalog
- Pluggable Architecture: Support for multiple languages (Python first, Ruby/Java/Go planned)
- Safe by Default: Preview mode shows changes before applying
- LLM-Optimized: TOON output format for token efficiency
Install
Add this to your client's MCP configuration (Claude Desktop: claude_desktop_config.json; Cursor: .cursor/mcp.json; VS Code and others use the same "mcpServers" shape).
mcp-refactoringclaude mcp add refactoring-mcp-server -- uvx mcp-refactoring==0.1.2
{
"mcpServers": {
"refactoring-mcp-server": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"mcp-refactoring==0.1.2"
]
}
}
}
Documentation
From the project's README on GitHub, refreshed weekly. Links open on GitHub.
Contents
mcp-refactoring
An MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that exposes Martin Fowler's refactoring catalog to LLMs through a pluggable, language-agnostic architecture.
Features
- 71+ Refactorings: Full implementation of Martin Fowler's refactoring catalog
- Pluggable Architecture: Support for multiple languages (Python first, Ruby/Java/Go planned)
- Safe by Default: Preview mode shows changes before applying
- LLM-Optimized: TOON output format for token efficiency
Installation
# Using uvx (recommended)
uvx mcp-refactoring
# Using pip
pip install mcp-refactoring
# Using pipx
pipx install mcp-refactoring
Requirements
- Python 3.10+
- A language backend (e.g.,
molting-clifor Python)
Install the Python backend:
pip install molting-cli
Claude Desktop Configuration
Add to your Claude Desktop config:
{
"mcpServers": {
"refactoring": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": ["mcp-refactoring"]
}
}
}
Available Tools
list_refactorings
List available refactorings with their parameter contracts.
list_refactorings(language="python", category="composing_methods")
preview_refactoring
Preview what changes a refactoring would make (dry-run).
preview_refactoring(
refactoring="extract-method",
target="src/order.py::Order::calculate#L10-L15",
params={"name": "calculate_tax"}
)
apply_refactoring
Apply a refactoring to the codebase.
apply_refactoring(
refactoring="rename-method",
target="src/order.py::Order::calc",
params={"new_name": "calculate_total"}
)
inspect_structure
Get structural information about code.
inspect_structure(path="src/order.py", depth="method")
analyze_code
Analyze code for smells and suggest refactorings.
analyze_code(path="src/order.py", smells=["long-method"])
Target Specification
Each language uses its native conventions:
Python
src/order.py::Order::calculate_total # Method
src/order.py::Order::calculate_total#L10-L15 # Line range
src/order.py::Order # Class
Configuration
Create ~/.mcp-refactoring/config.toml:
[backends.python]
enabled = true
command = "molting"
[backends.ruby]
enabled = false
command = "molting-rb"
Environment variable overrides:
MCP_REFACTORING_PYTHON_COMMAND=/path/to/molting
MCP_REFACTORING_PYTHON_ENABLED=true
Refactoring Categories
Based on Martin Fowler's catalog:
- Composing Methods: extract-method, inline-method, etc.
- Moving Features: move-method, extract-class, etc.
- Organizing Data: encapsulate-field, replace-type-code, etc.
- Simplifying Conditionals: decompose-conditional, guard-clauses, etc.
- Simplifying Method Calls: rename-method, add-parameter, etc.
- Dealing with Generalization: pull-up-method, extract-interface, etc.
Development
# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/marshally/mcp-refactoring.git
cd mcp-refactoring
# Install in development mode
pip install -e ".[dev]"
# Run tests
pytest
# Run linter
ruff check .
# Run type checker
mypy src/
License
MIT License - see LICENSE for details.
Frequently asked questions
What is Refactoring MCP Server?
MCP server exposing Martin Fowler's refactoring catalog to LLMs with 71+ refactorings
How do I install Refactoring MCP Server?
It runs on your machine. In Claude Code: claude mcp add refactoring-mcp-server -- uvx mcp-refactoring==0.1.2. For other clients, paste the JSON configuration from this page into their MCP settings.
Does Refactoring MCP Server need an API key?
Its registry entry lists no required key or secret. Some features may still need an account with the service it connects to.
Is Refactoring MCP Server open source?
Yes. Its code is on GitHub under the MIT license.
Who maintains Refactoring MCP Server?
It is published by marshally. AI.tn lists it but does not maintain or endorse it.
From the official MCP Registry. Listing is not an endorsement: review a server's code and permissions before giving it access to your data.