kimi-code-mcp

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Delegate codebase analysis from Claude to Kimi Code (default model k3, CLI alias kimi-code/k3) — cut Claude-side token cost ~90%.

Task	Claude only	Claude + kimi-code-mcp	Claude-side savings
Analyze 200-file monorepo	~250K tok	~25K tok	~90%
Summarize 50-page RFC PDF	~60K tok	~6K tok	~90% (sketch)
Cross-reference 100 commits	~80K tok	~8K tok	~90% (sketch)

*Illustrative estimates — savings are on Claude tokens only and depend on the task; Kimi's subscription cost is separate. See Token Economics.

Quick start

# 1. Install the current Kimi Code CLI (macOS / Linux) and log in.
#    code.kimi.com/install.sh redirects to the archived Python kimi-cli. Do not use it.
curl -fsSL https://code.kimi.com/kimi-code/install.sh | bash
kimi login

# Node.js >= 22.19.0 alternative:
# npm install -g @moonshot-ai/kimi-code

# This server runs ~/.local/bin/kimi only. The installer puts the binary in
# ~/.kimi-code/bin and adds that directory to your shell rc.
mkdir -p "$HOME/.local/bin"
ln -sfn "$HOME/.kimi-code/bin/kimi" "$HOME/.local/bin/kimi"

# 2. Install this MCP server (Node.js >= 18)
npm install -g kimi-mcp-server

[!WARNING] On 2026-11-02 the npm registry only has [email protected]. Git main is 0.5.0 and is not published, so npm install -g does not yet default to k3 or read ~/.kimi-code/config.toml. Use Install from source until 0.5.0 is published if you need the behavior on this page.

Windows (PowerShell): irm https://code.kimi.com/kimi-code/install.ps1 | iex. The runner in this repo still expects the POSIX path ~/.local/bin/kimi, so link the installed kimi binary there the same way.

Project scope — commit .mcp.json at the repo root:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "kimi-code": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "kimi-mcp-server"]
    }
  }
}

User scope (all projects, stored in ~/.claude.json, not ~/.claude/mcp.json):

claude mcp add --scope user --transport stdio kimi-code -- npx -y kimi-mcp-server

Run /mcp in Claude Code to verify — you should see kimi-code with 8 tools.

The MCP defaults to k3 and passes -m kimi-code/k3 on CLI calls. Override with the tool's model argument or KIMICODE_MODEL / KIMI_MODEL (argument wins). On CLI 2.4.1, kimi provider list prints Default model: … when a default is set. That value can differ from the MCP default. Switch inside the CLI with /model.

[!TIP] You don't need the CLI for the common case. kimi_query and kimi_verify call the Kimi Code API directly — no CLI install or kimi login required. Set $KIMICODE_API_KEY (see Kimi Code API Setup). Only kimi_analyze and kimi_resume spawn the CLI. See Two backends: API vs CLI.

How it works

1. Claude calls the kimi_analyze tool when a task needs bulk codebase reading.
2. MCP routes the request to Kimi Code (default -m kimi-code/k3) — Kimi reads the codebase from disk.
3. The result is piped back as a structured response — Claude acts on it with precise, targeted edits.

┌──────────────┐  stdio/MCP   ┌──────────────┐  subprocess   ┌──────────────┐
│  Claude Code │ ◄──────────► │ kimi-code-mcp│ ────────────► │ Kimi CLI     │
│  (conductor) │              │ (MCP server) │               │ (k3)         │
└──────────────┘              └──────────────┘               └──────────────┘

Two backends: API vs CLI

The server reaches Kimi two different ways, and each tool uses the one that fits its job. Knowing which is which tells you what you need to set up.

Backend	How it talks to Kimi	What it needs	Sees your codebase?
Direct API	HTTPS to api.kimi.com/coding/v1 (or KIMI_BASE_URL)	An API key ($KIMICODE_API_KEY, or api_key in ~/.kimi/config.toml / ~/.kimi-code/config.toml)	❌ No — you paste in the context
Local CLI	Spawns the kimi binary as a subprocess	CLI installed and kimi login done	✅ Yes — reads files from disk

Tool	Backend	Why
kimi_query	API (CLI only if no key configured)	Contextless Q&A — no codebase needed, so the API is simpler and has no login dependency
kimi_verify	API	You pass the code/diff/claim inline; Kimi judges it as an independent third party
kimi_analyze	CLI	Reads the codebase from disk. Context follows the model window
kimi_resume	CLI	Continues a stateful CLI session that holds prior codebase context
kimi_list_sessions, kimi_cache_*, kimi_status	local	Read local session/cache metadata

[!IMPORTANT] Most users only need the API key. If you just want a second opinion / verification (kimi_query, kimi_verify), set the API key and you're done — skip the CLI entirely. Install + kimi login only when you want Kimi to read your codebase via kimi_analyze / kimi_resume.

Run kimi_status any time to see which backends are live — it reports the API-configured state and the CLI install/auth state separately.

Guidelines for agents

If you are an AI agent (Claude Code, a subagent, etc.) deciding when to call these tools:

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