ESP-IDF Tools MCP Server

Released Apr 28, 2026

Summary

Espressif's local MCP server built into idf.py — lets an AI client set the chip target, build, flash and clean an ESP-IDF project and read back config, build status and connected serial ports.

Features

Built into idf.py — no separate server to install
Set chip target, build, flash and clean an ESP-IDF project
Reads project config, build status and connected serial ports
Runs locally over stdio, keeping hardware and toolchain on your machine
Requires ESP-IDF v6.0+ and EIM v0.8.1+

Installation

Set up this MCP server in your favorite AI agent — copy a ready-made configuration below.

Any MCP-compatible agent

Most agents (Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, VS Code, and more) read a standard mcpServers configuration.

Open your agent's MCP configuration file.
Merge the snippet below into it, filling in the environment variables with your own values.
Restart the agent — the "ESP-IDF Tools MCP Server" tools will be available.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "esp-idf-tools-mcp": {
      "command": "eim",
      "args": [
        "run",
        "idf.py mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "IDF_MCP_WORKSPACE_FOLDER": "${workspaceFolder}"
      }
    }
  }
}

Claude Code

Add the server with a single CLI command.

claude mcp add esp-idf-tools-mcp -e IDF_MCP_WORKSPACE_FOLDER=${workspaceFolder} -- eim run idf.py mcp-server

Claude Desktop

Add the server to claude_desktop_config.json (Settings → Developer → Edit Config).

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "esp-idf-tools-mcp": {
      "command": "eim",
      "args": [
        "run",
        "idf.py mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "IDF_MCP_WORKSPACE_FOLDER": "${workspaceFolder}"
      }
    }
  }
}

Cursor

ESP-IDF Installation Manager launcher

{
  "command": "eim",
  "args": [
    "run",
    "idf.py mcp-server"
  ],
  "env": {
    "IDF_MCP_WORKSPACE_FOLDER": "${workspaceFolder}"
  }
}

Description

ESP-IDF Tools MCP Server is Espressif's own Model Context Protocol integration for ESP32 firmware work. It is not a separate download: the server is built into idf.py, the ESP-IDF build tool, and started with idf.py mcp-server.

Embedded development has an awkward gap for coding agents. An agent can write firmware perfectly well, but it cannot tell whether the code compiles for the right target, whether the board is even plugged in, or which serial port it appeared on. This server closes that loop by exposing the build system and the attached hardware as MCP tools and resources.

Tools

set_target(target) — select the chip target
build_project() — compile the project
flash_project(port) — flash firmware to a connected device
clean_project() — remove build artifacts

Resources

project://config — the project's configuration
project://status — build status and produced artifacts
project://devices — serial ports currently connected

Requirements

ESP-IDF v6.0 or later with the mcp feature enabled, plus ESP-IDF Installation Manager (EIM) v0.8.1 or later. The server runs locally over stdio, so the board, the toolchain and the agent all stay on the developer's own machine.

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