Code Scalpel¶

What is Code Scalpel?¶

Code Scalpel is an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that provides AI assistants like Claude, GitHub Copilot, and Cursor with surgical code operation tools. Instead of guessing at line numbers or hallucinating code structure, AI agents can use Code Scalpel to:

Why Code Scalpel?¶

The Problem with AI Code Assistants¶

When AI assistants work with code, they often:

• Guess at line numbers → Edits land in the wrong place
• Hallucinate function names → Code that doesn't exist
• Miss context → Changes break dependencies
• Skip security checks → Vulnerabilities slip through

The Code Scalpel Solution¶

Code Scalpel gives AI agents tools, not guesses:

Two Ways to Use Code Scalpel¶

Code Scalpel offers two usage modes to fit your workflow:

MCP Mode (AI Assistant Integration)¶

Perfect for AI-powered development workflows. Your AI assistant (Claude, Copilot, Cursor) uses Code Scalpel tools automatically.

Best for: - Working with AI assistants - Natural language code operations - Conversational development workflows

Installation: Add to your AI assistant's MCP configuration (see Quick Start below)

CLI Mode (Command Line)¶

Direct command-line access to all 23 tools. Perfect for scripting, CI/CD, and manual analysis.

Best for: - Build pipelines and CI/CD - Shell scripts and automation - Manual code analysis - Quick one-off operations

Installation:

# Option 1: uvx (recommended - no installation needed)
uvx codescalpel --help

# Option 2: pip install
pip install codescalpel
codescalpel --help

Example:

# Extract a function with dependencies
uvx codescalpel extract-code src/api.py --function process_payment --include-deps

# Security scan
uvx codescalpel scan src/ --json > security-report.json

# Generate call graph
uvx codescalpel get-call-graph src/main.py --format mermaid

Complete CLI reference

Quick Start¶

Get started in under 5 minutes:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "code-scalpel": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["codescalpel", "mcp"]
    }
  }
}

{
  "servers": {
    "code-scalpel": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["codescalpel", "mcp"],
      "env": {
        "CODE_SCALPEL_LICENSE_PATH": "${workspaceFolder}/.code-scalpel/license/"
      }
    }
  }
}

pip install codescalpel
codescalpel --help

Full installation guide

Tools Overview¶

Code Scalpel provides 23 MCP tools organized by category:

Analysis & Context¶

Code Extraction & Modification¶

Security¶

Graph Analysis¶

Symbolic Execution¶

Policy & Governance¶

Complete tool reference

Supported Languages¶

Code Scalpel v2.0 provides full parsing support for 7 languages:

Tiers¶

Code Scalpel offers three tiers to match your needs:

* Some tools support basic cross-file operations in Community with limits

Compare tiers

Next Steps¶