---
title: "Getting Started"
description: "Install and set up MCP Steroid with your AI Agent"
weight: 10
group: "Getting Started"
---

## What is MCP Steroid?

MCP Steroid gives AI Agents **visual understanding and full control** of your IntelliJ-based IDE through the Model Context Protocol. Unlike traditional code assistants
that only see text, MCP Steroid lets agents SEE your IDE: dialogs, toolbars, debugger state, test results, and visual elements.

**[Read the full introduction →](https://jonnyzzz.com/blog/2026/01/04/mcp-steroids-intellij/)**

## Installation

MCP Steroid is distributed as an IntelliJ plugin. Currently, in early access - [message Eugene Petrenko on LinkedIn](https://linkedin.com/in/jonnyzzz) to get access.

### Requirements

- IntelliJ IDEA 2025.3+ (or any IntelliJ-based IDE: Rider, Android Studio, GoLand, WebStorm, PyCharm, etc.)
- An MCP-compatible AI Agent (Claude Code, Codex, Gemini, or any MCP client)

### Install the Plugin

1. Download the plugin ZIP file (provided via LinkedIn)
2. In IntelliJ, go to **Settings > Plugins > Gear icon > Install Plugin from Disk**
3. Select the downloaded ZIP file
4. Restart IntelliJ

## Connecting Your AI Agent

When the plugin starts, it automatically creates a description file at `.idea/mcp-steroid.md` in each open project. 
This file contains all necessary instruction for you to continue. 

Verify the connection:
```bash
claude -p "List all open projects using steroid_list_projects"
codex exec "List all open projects using steroid_list_projects"
gemini "List all open projects using steroid_list_projects"
```

Any MCP-compatible client can connect using the HTTP/SSE transport at the server URL.

We recommend you to aks your AI Agent to use IntelliJ APIs and use IntelliJ while it is working.

## Human Review Mode

By default, MCP Steroid requires human approval for all code execution (**ALWAYS** mode). When your AI Agent sends code:

1. A notification appears in IntelliJ
2. You can review, edit, or reject the code
3. Only approved code gets executed

This ensures you maintain full control over what runs in your IDE. You can change that via the Registry..., look for `mcp.steroid.*` keys.

## Use Cases & Examples

MCP Steroid enables powerful agentic workflows:

- **Multi-Agent Orchestration**: Use a primary agent to coordinate multiple AI Agents working on different aspects of your codebase. [Read about orchestrating AI fleets →](https://jonnyzzz.com/blog/2026/01/30/orchestrating-ai-fleets/)
- **Natural Language Development**: Instruct agents in plain English while they handle the technical implementation. [Learn about coding in English with AI →](https://jonnyzzz.com/blog/2026/01/27/coding-in-english-with-ai/)
- **Documentation Refactoring**: See how 16 agents improved documentation quality by 15% and reduced time-to-value by 5x. [Read the case study →](https://jonnyzzz.com/blog/2026/01/24/16-ai-agents-documentation-refactor/)

## Troubleshooting

### Connection Issues

**MCP Server Not Starting**
- Check if IntelliJ is running with a project open
- Verify `.idea/mcp-steroid.md` exists in your project
- Check registry key: `Help > Find Action > Registry...` → `mcp.steroid.server.port`

**Port Conflicts**

If port 6315 is in use, change it:
1. Go to `Help > Find Action > Registry...`
2. Search for `mcp.steroid.server.port`
3. Set a different port (e.g., 6316)
4. Restart IntelliJ
5. Update your MCP client configuration with the new URL from `.idea/mcp-steroid.md`


After connecting your AI Agent, you should see a list of currently open IntelliJ projects when testing with the `steroid_list_projects` tool. If the connection works, your AI Agent can now access all MCP Steroid capabilities.

For more troubleshooting help, see [GitHub Issues](https://github.com/jonnyzzz/mcp-steroid/issues).

## Next Steps

- [Configuration Options](/docs/configuration/) - Customize server settings, timeouts, and review mode
- [GitHub Issues](https://github.com/jonnyzzz/mcp-steroid/issues) - Report bugs or request features
