Cortex MCP — Multi-Level Reasoning Server

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README

# Cortex MCP

[![npm version](https://img.shields.io/npm/v/%40j0hanz%2Fcortex-mcp?style=flat-square&logo=npm)](https://www.npmjs.com/package/%40j0hanz%2Fcortex-mcp) [![License](https://img.shields.io/badge/license-MIT-blue?style=flat-square)](#contributing-and-license)

[![Install in VS Code](https://img.shields.io/badge/VS_Code-Install_Server-0098FF?style=flat-square&logo=visualstudiocode&logoColor=white)](https://insiders.vscode.dev/redirect/mcp/install?name=cortex-mcp&config=%7B%22command%22%3A%22npx%22%2C%22args%22%3A%5B%22-y%22%2C%22%40j0hanz%2Fcortex-mcp%40latest%22%5D%7D) [![Install in VS Code Insiders](https://img.shields.io/badge/VS_Code_Insiders-Install_Server-24bfa5?style=flat-square&logo=visualstudiocode&logoColor=white)](https://insiders.vscode.dev/redirect/mcp/install?name=cortex-mcp&config=%7B%22command%22%3A%22npx%22%2C%22args%22%3A%5B%22-y%22%2C%22%40j0hanz%2Fcortex-mcp%40latest%22%5D%7D&quality=insiders) [![Install in Visual Studio](https://img.shields.io/badge/Visual_Studio-Install_Server-C16FDE?logo=visualstudio&logoColor=white)](https://vs-open.link/mcp-install?%7B%22cortex-mcp%22%3A%7B%22command%22%3A%22npx%22%2C%22args%22%3A%5B%22-y%22%2C%22%40j0hanz%2Fcortex-mcp%40latest%22%5D%7D%7D)

[![Add to LM Studio](https://files.lmstudio.ai/deeplink/mcp-install-light.svg)](https://lmstudio.ai/install-mcp?name=cortex-mcp&config=eyJjb21tYW5kIjoibnB4IiwiYXJncyI6WyIteSIsIkBqMGhhbnovY29ydGV4LW1jcEBsYXRlc3QiXX0%3D) [![Install in Cursor](https://cursor.com/deeplink/mcp-install-dark.svg)](https://cursor.com/en/install-mcp?name=cortex-mcp&config=eyJjb21tYW5kIjoibnB4IiwiYXJncyI6WyIteSIsIkBqMGhhbnovY29ydGV4LW1jcEBsYXRlc3QiXX0%3D) [![Install in Goose](https://block.github.io/goose/img/extension-install-dark.svg)](https://block.github.io/goose/extension?cmd=npx&arg=-y&arg=%40j0hanz%2Fcortex-mcp%40latest&id=%40j0hanz%2Fcortex-mcp&name=cortex-mcp&description=cortex-mcp%20MCP%20server)

Multi-level reasoning MCP server with configurable depth levels, session-based state management, structured thought input, and real-time trace resources.

## Overview

Cortex MCP is a stdio-only MCP server for stateful, depth-controlled reasoning. The runtime entrypoint in `src/index.ts` connects `createServer()` to `StdioServerTransport`, and the server surface in `src/server.ts` enables tools, prompts, completions, logging, and subscribable resources around a single session-based reasoning engine.

The live MCP surface confirmed by Inspector is 1 tool, 6 concrete resources, 4 resource templates, and 7 prompts. Sessions are stored in memory, exposed as MCP resources, and cleared on process restart.

## Key Features

- `reasoning_think` supports step-by-step sessions, `run_to_completion` batches, rollback, early conclusion, and structured `observation` / `hypothesis` / `evaluation` input.
- Four depth levels are built into the engine: `basic`, `normal`, `high`, and `expert`, each with bounded thought ranges and token budgets.
- Prompt helpers expose `reasoning.basic`, `reasoning.normal`, `reasoning.high`, `reasoning.expert`, `reasoning.continue`, `reasoning.retry`, and `get-help`.
- Resource endpoints expose internal docs plus live session lists, per-session JSON views, full markdown traces, and individual thought documents.
- Completions are wired for levels, session IDs, and thought names through `completable()` and resource-template completion hooks.

## Requirements

- Node.js `>=24` for local `npx` or `npm` usage.
- An MCP client that supports `stdio` transport.
- Optional: Docker if you want to build or run the container image defined by `Dockerfile`.

## Quick Start

Use this standard MCP client configuration:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "cortex-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@j0hanz/cortex-mcp@latest"]
    }
  }
}
```

## Client Configuration

<details>
<summary><b>Install in VS Code</b></summary>

[![Install in VS Code](https://img.shields.io/badge/VS_Code-Install_Server-0098FF?style=flat-square&logo=visualstudiocode&logoColor=white)](https://insiders.vscode.dev/redirect/mcp/install?name=cortex-mcp&config=%7B%22command%22%3A%22npx%22%2C%22args%22%3A%5B%22-y%22%2C%22%40j0hanz%2Fcortex-mcp%40latest%22%5D%7D)

Add to `.vscode/mcp.json`:

```json
{
  "servers": {
    "cortex-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@j0hanz/cortex-mcp@latest"]
    }
  }
}
```

Or install via CLI:

```sh
code --add-mcp '{"name":"cortex-mcp","command":"npx","args":["-y","@j0hanz/cortex-mcp@latest"]}'
```

For more info, see [VS Code MCP docs](https://code.visualstudio.com/docs/copilot/chat/mcp-servers).

</details>

<details>
<summary><b>Install in VS Code Insiders</b></summary>

[![Install in VS Code Insiders](https://img.shields.io/badge/VS_Code_Insiders-Install_Server-24bfa5?style=flat-square&logo=visualstudiocode&logoColor=white)](https://insiders.vscode.dev/redirect/mcp/install?name=cortex-mcp&config=%7B%22command%22%3A%22npx%22%2C%22args%22%3A%5B%22-y%22%2C%22%40j0hanz%2Fcortex-mcp%40latest%22%5