What you need
- Claude Code
- Node.js 18.17 or newer with
npx - Docker running on the machine
The default SocratiCode stack uses local Qdrant and Ollama.
Install the plugin
Install the SocratiCode marketplace and plugin for your user:
claude plugin marketplace add giancarloerra/socraticode
claude plugin install --scope user socraticode@socraticode
Open the project in a new Claude Code session. Run /mcp and confirm SocratiCode is connected, then ask for codebase_status.
The plugin already supplies the MCP server. A separate SocratiCode MCP registration is unnecessary. If both appear, remove the standalone registration so there is one server and one set of tools.
Index and verify one project
Ask Claude Code to run codebase_index for the current project. Indexing runs in the background, so check codebase_status until it reports completion.
Then ask Claude Code to use codebase_search for a function or feature you know is present. Open one returned source location and confirm it matches the project.
The default watcher handles later file changes while the MCP process is running.
Update the plugin
After a SocratiCode plugin release, run:
claude plugin marketplace update socraticode
claude plugin update --scope user socraticode@socraticode
Start a new Claude Code session after updating.
For sensitive projects, review source-code boundaries before the first index. For one index shared across a team, read shared team context.