# Ouroboros MCP server

> Run a spec-first workflow for AI coding agents: interview, lock a seed spec, execute, evaluate and evolve.

- Listing: https://mcp.tc/i/ouroboros
- Connect: this is a local (stdio) server; install it on your machine (see Install). The listing link is a page, not an MCP endpoint.
- Type: local (stdio)
- Auth: no API key needed
- Category: [Developer Tools](https://mcp.tc/c/developer-tools)
- Vendor: Q00
- Homepage: <https://ouroboros.page/>
- Repository: <https://github.com/Q00/ouroboros>
- Package: pypi `ouroboros-ai`

## About

Ouroboros is an Agent OS for AI coding. It turns a vague request into a structured, immutable seed spec through a Socratic interview. It then executes against that spec and checks the result with a staged evaluation gate. Actions are recorded in a ledger so runs can be replayed. The grading command and expected output are kept out of the success contract handed to the agent.

It runs locally as the Python package ouroboros-ai, started with uvx over stdio. It works with several coding agent hosts, including Claude Code, Codex CLI, Gemini CLI, OpenCode, Copilot and Kiro. No API key is declared for the server itself, though the host agent needs its own model access. An install script is also provided for macOS, Linux, WSL 2 and Windows.

## What it can do

- Run a Socratic interview that exposes hidden assumptions in a request
- Lock intent into an immutable seed spec before code is written
- Execute work against the spec through a supported coding agent
- Evaluate results with a 3-stage automated gate
- Run an evolution loop with a budget
- Replay and audit runs through a ledger
- Work across many agent runtimes from one setup

## Example prompts

- "ooo interview "I want to build a task management CLI""
- "Run ooo setup to configure Ouroboros for this project"
- "Interview me about this feature idea and produce a seed spec"
- "Evaluate the current implementation against the seed spec"

## Install

### Claude Code

1. Run this in a terminal, in your project folder:

```bash
claude mcp add --transport stdio ouroboros -- uvx ouroboros-ai
```

2. Start Claude Code and type `/mcp`. **ouroboros** should show as connected.

Add `--scope user` to make it available in every project.

### Claude Desktop

1. Open **Settings → Developer → Edit Config**. It opens `claude_desktop_config.json`. Add:

`claude_desktop_config.json`:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ouroboros": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "ouroboros-ai"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

2. Save the file and restart Claude Desktop.

Needs uv (Python) on your computer. The file lives in `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/` on macOS and `%APPDATA%\Claude\` on Windows.

### Cursor

[Add to Cursor](<https://cursor.com/install-mcp?name=ouroboros&config=eyJjb21tYW5kIjoidXZ4IiwiYXJncyI6WyJvdXJvYm9yb3MtYWkiXX0%3D>) (opens Cursor)

Or add it by hand to `~/.cursor/mcp.json` (all projects) or `.cursor/mcp.json` (this project):

`mcp.json`:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ouroboros": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "ouroboros-ai"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

Needs uv (Python) on your computer.

### VS Code

[Install in VS Code](<https://vscode.dev/redirect/mcp/install?name=ouroboros&config=%7B%22type%22%3A%22stdio%22%2C%22command%22%3A%22uvx%22%2C%22args%22%3A%5B%22ouroboros-ai%22%5D%7D>) (opens VS Code)

Or from a terminal:

```bash
code --add-mcp '{"name":"ouroboros","type":"stdio","command":"uvx","args":["ouroboros-ai"]}'
```

Or commit it to the repo in `.vscode/mcp.json`:

`.vscode/mcp.json`:

```json
{
  "servers": {
    "ouroboros": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "ouroboros-ai"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

Needs uv (Python) on your computer.

### Devin Desktop

1. Add it to `~/.config/devin/mcp_config.json` (macOS and Linux) or `%APPDATA%\devin\mcp_config.json` (Windows):

`mcp_config.json`:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ouroboros": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "ouroboros-ai"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

2. Refresh the MCP server list in Cascade.

Devin Desktop is the new name for Windsurf.

### Codex

```bash
codex mcp add ouroboros -- uvx ouroboros-ai
```

Or edit `~/.codex/config.toml` directly:

`config.toml`:

```toml
[mcp_servers.ouroboros]
command = "uvx"
args = ["ouroboros-ai"]
```

Needs uv (Python) on your computer.

### Gemini CLI

```bash
gemini mcp add ouroboros uvx ouroboros-ai
```

This adds it to the current project. Add `-s user` to use it everywhere.

### Any client

Most clients that start local servers accept this shape:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ouroboros": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "ouroboros-ai"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

Zed puts servers under `context_servers` in its settings, with the same `command`, `args` and `env` fields.

Needs uv (Python) on your computer.

## Details

- Server version: 0.51.5
- Last checked: 2026-10-04
- Listed: 2026-10-04
- Updated: 2026-10-04

---
Source: https://mcp.tc/i/ouroboros (mcp.tc is an independent directory, not affiliated with this server's publisher). Corrections: https://mcp.tc/report