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INSTALLATION

Terminal tools (complete)Connect MCPVS Code Marketplace extensionCLI (no AI agent)CLI init (first run)CLI account & logoutNPX (Recommended)Test Pulse (check test)Test Pulse commandsProject MemorySupply Pulse (supply)Supply Pulse commandsTerminal CLI referenceWeb Terminal (dashboard)Command CompassCLI commandsCLI in DockerCLI: All editors (one command)CLI: Crush, Hermes, ChatGPT, KiloOAuth & HTTP setupInstall overviewHTTP APISetup WalkthroughHTTP vs stdio

API & KEYS

API Key ManagementKey Naming & FormatAuthenticationKey Dashboard

CONFIGURATION

Universal RequirementsSupported EditorsHow It WorksArchitectureCLAUDE.md TemplateAGENTS.md Template

EDITORS28 guides

Supported EditorsVS CodeVS Code extension (Marketplace)Claude CodeCursorWindsurfJetBrains

PLATFORM

macOSWindowsLinux

TOOLS10 tools

Capabilities OverviewTools OverviewTool FilteringTool Workflowsget_project_contextread_codefind_codecheck_packageexplain_architectureZephex_dev_infocheck_testaudit_headerskeep_thinkingproject_memory

GUIDES

Best PracticesToken EfficiencyUse CasesZephex vs Local MCPZephex vs Context7Zephex vs GitHub MCPZephex vs SmitheryMCP EcosystemMarkdown Access

SUPPORT

Help CenterMCP troubleshootingTeam rolloutFAQConnection IssuesRate LimitsDowntime & ErrorsBillingTier GuidePro & Max guideUsage LimitsUsage Analytics

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API Reference

Complete API documentation

Troubleshooting

Common issues and solutions

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Editor and CLI integrations

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Editor setup

Windsurf MCP Server

npx -y zephex setup --windsurf writes stdio (command/npx) to ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json — not serverUrl. Optional serverUrl HTTP below.

Official Windsurf MCP documentation: Windsurf MCP docs

MCP endpointhttps://zephex.dev/mcp
AuthenticationZEPHEX_API_KEY in env (stdio) or Bearer on serverUrl (HTTP)
Config file~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json

Why Zephex

Without MCP, your agent guesses project layout and misses supply-chain risk. Zephex connects one hosted endpoint so every session gets the same ten tools — no per-machine npm installs, no version drift across the team.

Before you start

  • Windsurf installed with Cascade / MCP support.
  • A Zephex API key from Dashboard → API Keys.
  • Ability to create ~/.codeium/windsurf/ if the folder does not exist.
  • HTTPS access to https://zephex.dev/mcp.

Get and paste your API key

HTTP and stdio setups both need a key from your Zephex dashboard. OAuth-only flows (ChatGPT, Claude.ai web) sign you in in the browser instead — skip this section for those.

  1. Sign in at zephex.dev → Dashboard → API Keys (or /dashboard/api-keys).
  2. Click Create API key, give it a name you will recognize (e.g. "Kilo — work laptop"), then create.
  3. Copy the key as soon as it appears — Zephex only shows the full secret once. It starts with mcp_sk_ or a newer mcp_prod_… format.
  4. Paste into your config: either only the key in an env field (ZEPHEX_API_KEY), or the full HTTP header value Authorization: Bearer YOUR_KEY — match what your editor’s form asks for.
  5. Do not wrap the key in extra quotes inside JSON unless the file already quotes other string values.
  6. Never commit API keys to git. Revoke and create a new key in the dashboard if one leaks.

Setup policy for Windsurf

Matches the published CLI (mcp-proxy/src/commands/setup.ts). One command signs you in, writes the correct transport, and verifies 10 tools.

Recommended commandnpx -y zephex setup --windsurf
Project-scopednpx -y zephex setup --windsurf --project
Transportstdio (npx -y zephex + ZEPHEX_API_KEY)
Config parent keymcpServers

Global vs project config

  • Global setup is the default — run setup without --project so Zephex works in every folder you open.
  • Global setup also removes stale project-level Zephex entries that shadow your user config.
  • Add --project only when you intentionally want workspace-scoped config (e.g. .cursor/mcp.json in one repo).

After setup

  • Windsurf wizard writes npx stdio (not serverUrl) for local filesystem access.
  • Fully quit the editor after setup — reload window alone is often not enough.
  • Start a new agent/chat session so MCP tools register.

Account teardown: logout vs disconnect · Connect MCP walkthrough

Find where setup wrote your config

Search docs for “where is my MCP file” — the answer is always: run list first, then open the path it prints.

  1. Run npx -y zephex@latest list — canonical path list for windsurf.
  2. Wizard writes to: ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json
  3. macOS uses ~/ and ~/.config; Windows uses %USERPROFILE% and %APPDATA%; Linux uses ~/.config.

Documented paths: ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json

Fastest install

Windsurf wizard writes npx stdio (not serverUrl) for local filesystem access.

Guided install (matches published CLI)

Runs the same code as mcp-proxy/src/commands/setup.ts — OAuth in browser, creates a CLI key, writes your editor config, verifies tools.

shell
npx -y zephex setup --windsurf

Already have a key?

Skip browser OAuth — paste a key from zephex.dev/dashboard/keys. Must start with mcp_prod_, mcp_dev_, or mcp_sk_.

shell
npx -y zephex setup --windsurf --api-key mcp_prod_your-key-here

What setup writes (stdio)

command/npx — not serverUrl: Transport: stdio (see ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json).

json
{  "mcpServers": {    "zephex": {      "command": "npx",      "args": ["-y", "zephex"],      "env": {        "ZEPHEX_API_KEY": "mcp_sk_your_key_here"      }    }  }}

After CLI install, fully restart the app if tools do not appear. Manual JSON/TOML blocks below are equivalent — use them when CLI commands are unavailable.

Hosted HTTP vs npx stdio

  • Recommended: npx -y zephex setup --windsurf — Windsurf wizard writes npx stdio (not serverUrl) for local filesystem access.
  • Config path: ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json
  • Manual stdio shape: command "npx", args ["-y","zephex"], env ZEPHEX_API_KEY (parent key: mcpServers).
  • Optional hosted HTTP (https://zephex.dev/mcp + Bearer) only if you do not need automatic workspace file access — pass github: URLs in prompts.
  • Never keep two zephex entries (stdio + HTTP) in the same config — pick one transport.
  • Cloud-only tools (check_package, project_memory, audit_headers, keep_thinking, Zephex_dev_info) work on both transports.
  • Repo tools (get_project_context, read_code, find_code, explain_architecture, check_test) need either stdio/npx setup or an explicit github:owner/repo or absolute path on HTTP.

Full comparison: HTTP vs stdio · npx zephex reference

How to connect Zephex

Run npx zephex setup --windsurf. Global path only: ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json.

  1. Run npx -y zephex setup --windsurf.
  2. Confirm mcp_config.json has command/args/env (stdio).
  3. Fully quit Windsurf, reopen Cascade, fresh session.
  4. Test get_project_context on open repo.

Configuration

Replace mcp_sk_your_key_here with your key from Dashboard → API Keys. Copy the full key once at creation — paste into Authorization: Bearer … for HTTP configs, or into ZEPHEX_API_KEY for stdio/npx configs.

stdio (what setup writes)

command npx — matches writeWindsurfConfig in setup.ts.

json
{  "mcpServers": {    "zephex": {      "command": "npx",      "args": ["-y", "zephex"],      "env": {        "ZEPHEX_API_KEY": "mcp_sk_your_key_here"      }    }  }}

Optional: serverUrl HTTP

Manual remote only; remove stdio block if you switch.

json
{  "mcpServers": {    "zephex": {      "serverUrl": "https://zephex.dev/mcp",      "headers": {        "Authorization": "Bearer mcp_sk_your_key_here"      }    }  }}

Tip

Because config is global, every Windsurf workspace shares the same Zephex key — use a team key with rotation policy if multiple people share one machine.

Verify, repair, disconnect (CLI)

Run these in a terminal when the editor UI is unclear — catches stale npm, wrong transport, and project shadows.

shell
npx -y zephex@latest listnpx -y zephex@latest doctornpx -y zephex@latest repair# Fully quit the editor (Cmd+Q / Alt+F4), reopen, start a new agent session

Repair policy

  • npx -y zephex@latest repair pins stdio to zephex@latest, fixes OpenCode command-array shape, and adds PATH hints for GUI-launched apps.
  • repair migrates legacy HTTP → stdio for filesystem editors — not for Cursor, Claude Code global HTTP, or Crush.

Disconnect & skills

  • disconnect --<editor> removes Zephex from config files the CLI knows about and revokes the API key found in those files.
  • There is no disconnect --project flag — disconnect checks both global and project paths (project paths use your current terminal cwd).
  • Terminal-only sign-out: mcpcli logout (editors unchanged). Full teardown: mcpcli logout --all.
  • This editor: mcpcli disconnect --windsurf
  • Fresh OAuth: mcpcli reconnect --windsurf
  • Add agent guidance: mcpcli setup --windsurf --with-skill or mcpcli skills --<editor>.
  • Remove skills from one editor: mcpcli reset --windsurf (disconnect + skill files).
  • Remove all skill copies: mcpcli skills --remove.

Check that it works

After saving your config, confirm Zephex is connected before you rely on it in real work.

  1. Cascade MCP view: zephex connected, tools visible.
  2. check_package on a npm package (no repo needed).
  3. get_project_context with the repo you have open, or github:owner/repo.
  4. 401 → fix Bearer header; 0 tools → remove old stdio block from same file.

Common searches

Questions people ask when Windsurf does not show Zephex tools — indexed for docs search.

How do I connect Zephex to windsurf?

Fastest: npx -y zephex setup --windsurf (browser sign-in, writes config, verifies 10 tools). Or paste manual config on this page, save, fully quit the app, reopen.

Where did setup save my windsurf MCP config?

Run npx -y zephex@latest list — it prints every config path on this machine that references Zephex.

windsurf works in terminal but not in the editor

GUI apps often lack nvm/fnm PATH. Run npx -y zephex@latest repair, ensure Node is on system PATH, fully quit the editor.

How do I disconnect Zephex from windsurf?

mcpcli disconnect --windsurf — revokes key and strips config.

Example ways to use the tools

You do not call tools yourself — ask your agent in plain language. Try these once Zephex is connected:

“Cascade: get_project_context on github:supabase/supabase — summarize monorepo layout.”

Remote GitHub context without cloning into Windsurf’s workspace.

“Use find_code for createCheckoutSession across this Stripe integration repo.”

Ranked hits guide Cascade to the right module before edits.

“check_package on a package name a teammate pasted in Slack — is it safe to install?”

Supply-chain check from chat, no terminal npx audit script required.

“explain_architecture how our Next.js app talks to Redis and Postgres.”

Mermaid diagram for data flow instead of guessing from folder names.

“keep_thinking while we debug why WebSocket reconnects fail in production.”

Hypothesis log survives long Cascade sessions.

“Zephex_dev_info: best-practice cookie settings for a SaaS on Cloudflare.”

Expert auth/security patterns without leaving the IDE.

Which tools need your project path?

You do not pick tools from a menu — ask your agent in normal sentences. Half of the tools only need a package name or URL; the other half need to know which codebase you mean (your Mac/Windows project folder or a GitHub repo).

Need a repo or folder path

  • get_project_context — full stack snapshot for one repo
  • read_code — read functions/classes by symbol name
  • find_code — search definitions and usages
  • explain_architecture — Mermaid diagrams for the repo
  • check_test — minimal file list for a task you describe

Work without a local project

  • check_package — npm/PyPI/Cargo/Go registry safety (no repo path)
  • project_memory — Cross-session project memory: remember decisions, gotchas, goals, conventions across sessions via local SQLite (stdio only).
  • audit_headers — security grade for any HTTPS URL you own or may test
  • keep_thinking — structured debugging notes across steps
  • Zephex_dev_info — vetted patterns (auth, DB, deploy, etc.)

How to tell the agent where the code lives

  • GitHub (no clone required): say github:owner/repo — example: github:vercel/next.js
  • Local folder: give the absolute path to the project root (the folder that contains package.json, pyproject.toml, or go.mod).
  • If your editor already has the repo open, try “use get_project_context on this workspace” first; if the tool returns empty, repeat with the full path or github: URL in the same chat.
  • For read_code / find_code, name the symbol or search term in the same message as the path (e.g. “find_code AuthService in github:myorg/api”).

macOS and Windows paths

  • macOS example path: /Users/yourname/Developer/my-app
  • Windows example path: C:\Users\yourname\projects\my-app
  • Replace yourname with your Mac or Windows login — the agent cannot guess your home directory.
  • Cloud-only tools (check_package, audit_headers) never need your username or project folder.

When Zephex will not connect

These situations usually mean the setup cannot work until you fix the underlying issue:

  • No internet or a firewall blocks outbound HTTPS to zephex.dev (port 443).
  • API key never created, revoked, or pasted incorrectly (missing Bearer , extra quotes, or truncated copy).
  • Wrong MCP URL — must be exactly https://zephex.dev/mcp (not /docs, not /api, no wrong host).
  • Mixed stdio + HTTP — two zephex entries (npx and url) confuse many clients; keep one transport.
  • Corporate proxy strips Authorization headers or chunked transfer encoding.
  • Monthly request limit reached on the Free plan (555 requests/month) — tools stop until next cycle, share for bonus requests, or upgrade.
  • Editing the wrong config file — global vs project-level paths differ by editor and OS.
  • App not fully quit after save — MCP often loads only on a cold start (especially IDEs).
  • Tools connect but return “no project” — not a connection failure; add github:owner/repo or an absolute path (see tool usage section).
  • Node.js or npx not on PATH when the desktop app launches (common on macOS Dock launches).
  • Invalid JSON in the config file (comments, trailing commas, or wrong wrapper key).
  • ZEPHEX_API_KEY missing, still set to the placeholder, or pasted in the wrong field (stdio uses env, not Bearer headers).
  • You edited Claude Code’s config but opened Claude Desktop (different files).
  • App was not fully quit after saving the config — MCP only reloads on a cold start.
  • npx works in Terminal but not inside the app — use absolute paths to node/npx in the command block if needed.
  • First npx -y zephex run can take 30–60s — increase startup_timeout_sec where the editor supports it.
  • Still have an HTTP url block while testing stdio — remove the duplicate zephex server.
  • Saved mcp_config.json inside a project folder — Windsurf only reads ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json.
  • Used url instead of serverUrl — Windsurf remote shape requires serverUrl.
  • Left command/npx stdio block — conflicts with serverUrl entry.

If something goes wrong

zephex shows 0 tools

Fully quit Windsurf, delete duplicate zephex entries, keep only serverUrl block.

Connection failed

serverUrl must be https://zephex.dev/mcp. Bearer + full API key in headers.

JSON syntax error

Validate file at global path only. No comments in JSON.

Tools work but wrong project context

Global MCP does not auto-scope — name github: URL or absolute path per open repo.

Edited wrong user profile on shared PC

Confirm ~/.codeium is under the OS user running Windsurf.

Still stuck? Quickstart · MCP troubleshooting

Tools included with Zephex

Cascade reads ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json — then these ten Zephex tools are callable from the flow:

  • get_project_context

    Reads your project structure, dependencies, scripts, env vars, and framework markers in one call. Replaces manually opening package.json, tsconfig, and multiple config files at the start of every session.

  • read_code

    AST-based code extraction: pass a symbol name and get the implementation without reading entire files. Supports symbol lookup, batched file reads, and structural outlines for large files.

  • find_code

    Ranked search across the repo for definitions, usages, and patterns. Faster than blind grep when the agent does not know where a symbol lives.

  • check_package

    Live registry lookup for npm, PyPI, Cargo, and Go modules. Surfaces typosquat risk, maintainer changes, and suspicious version jumps before you run install.

  • explain_architecture

    Generates Mermaid diagrams for auth flows, service boundaries, and module dependencies so the agent reasons about structure instead of guessing.

  • check_test

    Turns a task description into the smallest file set to read or edit, with risk ratings and caller impact notes.

  • audit_headers

    Grades a deployed URL for CSP, HSTS, TLS, cookies, and redirects. Returns fix snippets for common hosts (Vercel, Cloudflare, Nginx).

  • keep_thinking

    Structured multi-step debugging: tracks hypotheses and conclusions so long investigations do not loop.

  • Zephex_dev_info

    Expert patterns for authentication, databases, frontend frameworks, deployment, and mobile stacks when the agent needs vetted guidance.

  • project_memory

    Persists decisions, gotchas, and conventions per project in ~/.zephex/memory (SQLite FTS5). recall before unfamiliar areas; remember after discoveries. Local stdio only on npx zephex.

Related

  • Cursor MCP setup
  • VS Code MCP setup
  • Antigravity MCP setup
  • check_package reference
  • Quickstart — create your first API key
  • HTTP vs stdio — which to use
  • npx zephex setup commands
  • MCP troubleshooting
  • All supported editors
  • All 10 MCP tools
  • Install wizard
  • Pricing and limits