can I use Serena with Jetbrains' Claude Agent?

[stefanos-kalantzis]

Talking about this one: https://blog.jetbrains.com/ai/2025/09/introducing-claude-agent-in-jetbrains-ides/

Does it even make sense, or am I better off using Serena directly with Claude Code from CLI?

I just like very much the deeper integration with how IntelliJ handles providing context (i.e. by typing @ or with the plus button).

[MischaPanch]

If it supports MCP servers (which it should), then yes! Let me know if it worked and if the configuration requires some weird steps - then we'd document this case explicitly

[stefanos-kalantzis]

I can't make it work from any IntelliJ settings or config files :/

Adding a .mcp.json seems to not be used by Claude Agent (as instructed here: https://platform.claude.com/docs/en/agent-sdk/mcp#from-a-config-file)

Other IntelliJ settings are not used either for Claude Agent (neither the Junie nor AI Assistant settings).

It seems that IntelliJ starts Claude Agent with a single hardcoded MCP server (if you have it enabled) - the Jetbrains MCP Server: https://www.jetbrains.com/help/idea/mcp-server.html

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So, I guess this is a Jetbrains problem/limitation, and not related to Serena... I'm wondering if you can plugin to IntelliJ's internals with your plugin though, and modify the MCP servers being added to the args of Claude Agent. I found recently another IntelliJ plugin that did the same for Claude Agent (I forgot the name but I can find it if needed).

[opcode81]

So, I guess this is a Jetbrains problem/limitation, and not related to Serena

Correct. You would need to check the JetBrains docs only. If there is no mention of MCP support, then you can assume it is unsupported.

But you could consider using other agents that are integrated into the IDE and which do support MCP servers if you like the type of integration it offers.

[MischaPanch]

For example, the Jetbrains copilot plugin, for all its other downsides, does support MCP servers very well.

If you manage to find the relevant jetbrains documentation or to make it work through trial and error pls let us know and we'll extend our docs

[MischaPanch]

I'm wondering if you can plugin to IntelliJ's internals with your plugin though, and modify the MCP servers being added to the args of Claude Agent.

This is outside of the scope for our plugin. With a bit of luck jetbrains will improve the status quo soon. You could raise an issue on youtrack or vote in existing ones to accelerate this process

[stefanos-kalantzis]

For reference, this is the issue tracked on Jetbrains side: https://youtrack.jetbrains.com/issue/LLM-20452/Claude-Agent-in-AI-Assistant-Add-support-for-configured-MCP-servers-in-Claude-Agent

[stefanos-kalantzis]

Until Jetbrains has implemented proper MCP integration with Claude Agent, the combination of ACP, and claude-agent-acp seems to work!