Package Search MCP Server ↗

chroma guide intermediate mcp-servers search

Original Documentation

Documentation Index#
Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.trychroma.com/llms.txt Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

export const Warning = ({title, children}) =>

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;

The Package Search MCP Server is an MCP server designed to add ground truth context about code packages to AI agents. Our research demonstrates that by exposing the source code of a project’s dependencies to a model, we improve its performance on coding tasks and reduce its potential for hallucination. Chroma’s Package Search MCP server achieves this by exposing tools to allow the model to retrieve necessary context:

Tool Name	Usage
`package_search_grep`	Use regex pattern matching to retrieve relevant lines from source code
`package_search_hybrid`	Use semantic search with optional regex filtering to explore source code without existing knowledge of its structure
`package_search_read_file`	Reads specific lines from a single file in the code package

Getting Started#

To guarantee that your model uses package search when desired, add use package search to either the system prompt (to use the MCP server whenever applicable) or to each task prompt (to use it only when you instruct the model to do so).

Visit Chroma’s Package Search page. Click “Get API Key” to create or log into your Chroma account and issue an API key for Package Search. After issuing your API key, click the “Other” tab and copy your API key. Connect to the Chroma MCP server to search code packages. In this example, we search for how the Fast Fourier Transform algorithm is implemented in the numpy package from PyPI.

    import anthropic

    client = anthropic.Anthropic(
        api_key="<YOUR_ANTHROPIC_API_KEY>"
    )

    response = client.beta.messages.create(
        model="claude-sonnet-4-20250514",
        max_tokens=1000,
        messages=[
            {
                "role": "user",
                "content": "Explain how numpy implements its FFT. Use package search.",
            }
        ],
        mcp_servers=[
            {
                "type": "url",
                "url": "https://mcp.trychroma.com/package-search/v1",
                "name": "package-search",
                "authorization_token": "<YOUR_CHROMA_API_KEY>",
            }
        ],
        betas=["mcp-client-2025-04-04"],
    )

    print(response)
    ```

```go
    package main

    import (
    	"context"
    	"fmt"
    	"log"

    	"github.com/anthropics/anthropic-sdk-go"
    	"github.com/anthropics/anthropic-sdk-go/option"
    	"github.com/anthropics/anthropic-sdk-go/packages/param"
    )

    func main() {
    	client := anthropic.NewClient(
    		option.WithAPIKey("<YOUR_ANTHROPIC_API_KEY>"),
    		option.WithHeader("anthropic-beta", anthropic.AnthropicBetaMCPClient2025_04_04),
    	)

    	content := "Explain how numpy implements its FFT. Use package search."
    	fmt.Println("[user]:", content)

    	messages := []anthropic.BetaMessageParam{
    		anthropic.NewBetaUserMessage(
    			anthropic.NewBetaTextBlock(content),
    		),
    	}

    	mcpServers := []anthropic.BetaRequestMCPServerURLDefinitionParam{
    		{
    			URL:                "https://mcp.trychroma.com/package-search/v1",
    			Name:               "package-search",
    			AuthorizationToken: param.NewOpt("<YOUR_CHROMA_API_KEY>"),
    			ToolConfiguration: anthropic.BetaRequestMCPServerToolConfigurationParam{
    				Enabled:      anthropic.Bool(true),
    			},
    		},
    	}

    	message, err := client.Beta.Messages.New(
    		context.TODO(),
    		anthropic.BetaMessageNewParams{
    			MaxTokens:  1024,
    			Messages:   messages,
    			Model:      anthropic.ModelClaudeSonnet4_20250514,
    			MCPServers: mcpServers,
    		},
    	)
    	if err != nil {
    		log.Fatalf("request failed: %v", err)
    	}

    	for _, block := range message.Content {
    		textBlock := block.AsText()
    		fmt.Println("[assistant]:", textBlock.Text)
    	}
    }
    ```

<span class="tab-end"></span>

<span class="tab-start" data-tab-title="OpenAI SDK"></span>
<span class="steps-start"></span>
<Step>Visit Chroma's [Package Search](http://trychroma.com/package-search) page.<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>Click "Get API Key" to create or log into your Chroma account and issue an API key for Package Search.<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>After issuing your API key, click the "Other" tab and copy your API key.<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>Connect to the Chroma MCP server to search code packages. In this example, we search for class definitions in the `numpy` package from PyPI.<span class="step-end"></span>
<span class="steps-end"></span>

```python
  from openai import OpenAI

  client = OpenAI(
      api_key="<YOUR_OPENAI_API_KEY>"
  )

  resp = client.responses.create(
      model="gpt-5-chat-latest",
      input="Explain how numpy implements its FFT. Use package search.",
      tools=[
          {
              "type": "mcp",
              "server_label": "package-search",
              "server_url": "https://mcp.trychroma.com/package-search/v1",
              "headers": {
                  "x-chroma-token": "<YOUR_CHROMA_API_KEY>"
              },
              "require_approval": "never",
          }
      ],
  )

  print(resp)
  ```
<span class="tab-end"></span>

<span class="tab-start" data-tab-title="Google Gemini SDK"></span>
<span class="steps-start"></span>
<Step>Visit Chroma's [Package Search](http://trychroma.com/package-search) page.<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>Click "Get API Key" to create or log into your Chroma account and issue an API key for Package Search.<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>After issuing your API key, click the "Other" tab and copy your API key.<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>Get a Gemini API key in [Google's AI Studio](https://aistudio.google.com/app/apikey)<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>Connect the Chroma MCP server with Gemini to enable AI-powered code searches. In this example, we ask Gemini to explain how the Fast Fourier Transform algorithm is implemented in `numpy`, using the Chroma MCP tools to search and analyze the code.<span class="step-end"></span>
<span class="steps-end"></span>

```python
  import asyncio
  from mcp import ClientSession
  from mcp.client.streamable_http import streamablehttp_client
  from google import genai

  client = genai.Client(api_key="<YOUR_GEMINI_API_KEY>")

  async def run():
      async with streamablehttp_client(
          "https://mcp.trychroma.com/package-search/v1",
          headers={"x-chroma-token": "<YOUR_CHROMA_API_KEY>"},
      ) as (read, write, _):
          async with ClientSession(read, write) as session:
              await session.initialize()
              try:
                  prompt = f"Explain how numpy implements its FFT. Use package search."
                  response = await client.aio.models.generate_content(
                      model="gemini-2.5-flash",
                      contents=prompt,
                      config=genai.types.GenerateContentConfig(
                          temperature=0,
                          tools=[session],
                      ),
                  )
                  try:
                      if response.text:
                          print("--- Generated Text ---")
                          print(response.text)
                      else:
                          print("Model did not return text.")
                          print(f"Finish Reason: {response.candidates[0].finish_reason.name}")
                  except ValueError:
                      print("Could not access response.text.")
              except Exception as e:
                  print(f"An error occurred: {e}")

  asyncio.run(run())
  ```
<span class="tab-end"></span>

<span class="tab-start" data-tab-title="Claude Code"></span>
<span class="steps-start"></span>
<Step>Visit Chroma's [Package Search](http://trychroma.com/package-search) page.<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>Click "Get API Key" to create or log into your Chroma account and issue an API key for Package Search.<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>After issuing your API key, click the "Other" tab and copy your API key.<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>Add the Chroma MCP server to Claude Code with your Chroma API key:<span class="step-end"></span>
<span class="steps-end"></span>

```terminal
  claude mcp add --transport http package-search https://mcp.trychroma.com/package-search/v1 --header "x-chroma-token: <YOUR_CHROMA_API_KEY>"
  ```
<span class="tab-end"></span>

<span class="tab-start" data-tab-title="Codex"></span>
<span class="steps-start"></span>
<Step>Visit Chroma's [Package Search](http://trychroma.com/package-search) page.<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>Click "Get API Key" to create or log into your Chroma account and issue an API key for Package Search.<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>After issuing your API key, click the "Other" tab and copy your API key.<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>Add the following to your `~/.codex/config.toml` file with your Chroma Cloud API key:<span class="step-end"></span>
<span class="steps-end"></span>

```TOML
  [mcp_servers.package-search]
  command = "npx"
  args = ["mcp-remote", "https://mcp.trychroma.com/package-search/v1", "--header", "x-chroma-token: ${X_CHROMA_TOKEN}"]
  env = { "X_CHROMA_TOKEN" = "<YOUR_CHROMA_API_KEY>" }
  ```
<span class="tab-end"></span>

<span class="tab-start" data-tab-title="Cursor"></span>
<span class="steps-start"></span>
<Step>Visit Chroma's [Package Search](http://trychroma.com/package-search) page.<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>Click "Get API Key" to create or log into your Chroma account and issue an API key for Package Search.<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>After issuing your API key, click the "Other" tab and copy your API key.<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>In Cursor's settings, search for "MCP" and add the following configuration with your Chroma Cloud API key:<span class="step-end"></span>
<span class="steps-end"></span>

```JSON
  {
    "mcpServers": {
      "package-search": {
        "transport": "streamable_http",
        "url": "https://mcp.trychroma.com/package-search/v1",
        "headers": {
          "x-chroma-token": "<YOUR_CHROMA_API_KEY>"
        }
      }
    }
  }
  ```
<span class="tab-end"></span>

<span class="tab-start" data-tab-title="Windsurf"></span>
<span class="steps-start"></span>
<Step>Visit Chroma's [Package Search](http://trychroma.com/package-search) page.<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>Click "Get API Key" to create or log into your Chroma account and issue an API key for Package Search.<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>After issuing your API key, click the "Other" tab and copy your API key.<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>In Windsurf's settings, search for "MCP" and add the following configuration with your Chroma Cloud API key:<span class="step-end"></span>
<span class="steps-end"></span>

```JSON
  {
    "mcpServers": {
      "package-search": {
        "serverUrl": "https://mcp.trychroma.com/package-search/v1",
        "headers": {
          "x-chroma-token": "<YOUR_CHROMA_API_KEY>"
        }
      }
    }
  }
  ```
<span class="tab-end"></span>

<span class="tab-start" data-tab-title="Claude Desktop"></span>
<span class="steps-start"></span>
<Step>Visit Chroma's [Package Search](http://trychroma.com/package-search) page.<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>Click "Get API Key" to create or log into your Chroma account and issue an API key for Package Search.<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>After issuing your API key, click the "Other" tab and copy your API key.<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>Add the following to your `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`:<span class="step-end"></span>
<span class="steps-end"></span>

```JSON
  {
      "mcpServers": {
        "package-search": {
          "command": "npx",
          "args": ["mcp-remote", "https://mcp.trychroma.com/package-search/v1", "--header", "x-chroma-token: ${X_CHROMA_TOKEN}"],
          "env": {
            "X_CHROMA_TOKEN": "<YOUR_CHROMA_API_KEY>"
          }
        }
      }
  }
  ```
<span class="tab-end"></span>

<span class="tab-start" data-tab-title="Warp"></span>
<span class="steps-start"></span>
<Step>Visit Chroma's [Package Search](http://trychroma.com/package-search) page.<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>Click "Get API Key" to create or log into your Chroma account and issue an API key for Package Search.<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>After issuing your API key, click the "Other" tab and copy your API key.<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>Add the following to your Warp MCP config. Make sure to click "Start" on the server after adding.<span class="step-end"></span>
<span class="steps-end"></span>

```JSON
  {
      "package-search": {
        "command": "npx",
        "args": ["mcp-remote", "https://mcp.trychroma.com/package-search/v1", "--header", "x-chroma-token: ${X_CHROMA_TOKEN}"],
        "env": {
          "X_CHROMA_TOKEN": "<YOUR_CHROMA_API_KEY>"
        }
      }
  }
  ```
<span class="tab-end"></span>

<span class="tab-start" data-tab-title="Open Code"></span>
<span class="steps-start"></span>
<Step>Visit Chroma's [Package Search](http://trychroma.com/package-search) page.<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>Click "Get API Key" to create or log into your Chroma account and issue an API key for Package Search.<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>After issuing your API key, click the "Other" tab and copy your API key.<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>Add the following to your `~/.config/opencode/opencode.json` file with your Chroma Cloud API key:<span class="step-end"></span>
<span class="steps-end"></span>

```JSON
  {
    "$schema": "https://opencode.ai/config.json",
    "mcp": {
      "code-packages": {
        "type": "remote",
        "url": "https://mcp.trychroma.com/package-search/v1",
        "enabled": true,
        "headers": {
          "x-chroma-token": "<YOUR_CHROMA_API_KEY>"
        }
      }
    }
  }
  ```
<span class="tab-end"></span>

<span class="tab-start" data-tab-title="Ollama"></span>
<span class="steps-start"></span>
<Step>Visit Chroma's [Package Search](http://trychroma.com/package-search) page.<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>Click "Get API Key" to create or log into your Chroma account and issue an API key for Package Search.<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>After issuing your API key, click the "Other" tab and copy your API key.<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>Install the `ollmcp` package:<span class="step-end"></span>
<span class="steps-end"></span>

```bash
  pip install ollmcp
  ```

<span class="steps-start"></span>
<Step>Create an `mcp_config.json` file with the following content and your Chroma Cloud API key:<span class="step-end"></span>
<span class="steps-end"></span>

```JSON
  {
  	"mcpServers": {
  		"code-packages": {
  			"type": "streamable_http",
  			"url": "https://mcp.trychroma.com/package-search/v1",
  			"headers": {
  				"x-chroma-token": "<YOUR_CHROMA_API_KEY>"
  			},
  			"disabled": false
  		}
  	}
  }
  ```

<span class="steps-start"></span>
<Step>Start an Ollama MCP session with the path to your `mcp_config.json` file and model of choice:<span class="step-end"></span>
<span class="steps-end"></span>

```terminal
  ollmcp --servers-json <path/to/mcp_config.json> --model <model>
  ```
<span class="tab-end"></span>

<span class="tab-start" data-tab-title="MCP SDK"></span>
<span class="steps-start"></span>
<Step>Visit Chroma's [Package Search](http://trychroma.com/package-search) page.<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>Click "Get API Key" to create or log into your Chroma account and issue an API key for Package Search.<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>After issuing your API key, click the "Other" tab and copy your API key.<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>Connect to the Chroma MCP server to search code packages. In this example, we search for the Fast Fourier Transform function in the `numpy` package from PyPI using the `package_search_grep` tool.<span class="step-end"></span>
<span class="steps-end"></span>

```python
  import asyncio
  from mcp import ClientSession
  from mcp.client.streamable_http import streamablehttp_client

  async def main():
      async with streamablehttp_client(
          "https://mcp.trychroma.com/package-search/v1",
          headers={"x-chroma-token": "<YOUR_CHROMA_API_KEY>"},
      ) as (
          read_stream,
          write_stream,
          _,
      ):
          async with ClientSession(read_stream, write_stream) as session:
              await session.initialize()
              tools = await session.list_tools()
              result = await session.call_tool(
                  name="package_search_grep",
                  arguments={
                      "package_name": "numpy",
                      "registry_name": "py_pi",
                      "pattern": "\bdef fft\b",
                  },
              )
              print(f"Got result: {result}")
              print(f"Available tools: {[tool.name for tool in tools.tools]}")

  asyncio.run(main())
  ```
<span class="tab-end"></span>

<span class="tab-start" data-tab-title="Roo Code"></span>
<span class="steps-start"></span>
<Step>Visit Chroma's [Package Search](http://trychroma.com/package-search) page.<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>Click "Get API Key" to create or log into your Chroma account and issue an API key for Package Search.<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>After issuing your API key, click the "Other" tab and copy your API key.<span class="step-end"></span>
<Step>Add this to your Roo Code MCP server configuration:<span class="step-end"></span>
<span class="steps-end"></span>

```JSON
  {
    "mcpServers": {
      "code-collections": {
        "type": "streamable-http",
        "url": "https://mcp.trychroma.com/package-search/v1",
        "headers": {
          "x-chroma-token": "<YOUR_CHROMA_API_KEY>"
        }
      }
    }
  }
  ```
<span class="tab-end"></span>
<span class="tab-group-end"></span>

Link last verified June 7, 2026. View original ↗

Source: Chroma Docs

Link last verified: 2026-03-04