Hindsight MCP
MCP server for AI-assisted coding with development history: git, tests, Copilot.
Hindsight MCP gives AI agents the ability to explore your development history, including git commits, test runs, and Copilot sessions. This context helps AI provide more accurate and relevant assistance.
Features
- Git History - Search commits, view diffs, and explore your repository timeline
- Test Results - Find failing tests, track test history by commit
- Copilot Sessions - Review AI-assisted coding sessions
- Activity Summary - Get aggregate statistics about development activity
Installation
From VS Code Marketplace
- Open VS Code
- Go to Extensions (Ctrl+Shift+X / Cmd+Shift+X)
- Search for "Hindsight MCP"
- Click Install
From Command Line
code --install-extension Rbfinch.hindsight-mcp
Usage
Once installed, the extension automatically provides Hindsight MCP as an MCP server to VS Code's AI features.
The MCP server provides these tools to AI agents:
| Tool |
Description |
hindsight_timeline |
View chronological development activity |
hindsight_search |
Full-text search across commits and messages |
hindsight_failing_tests |
Get currently failing tests |
hindsight_activity_summary |
Aggregate activity statistics |
hindsight_commit_details |
Detailed commit information |
hindsight_ingest |
Trigger data ingestion from sources |
First-Time Setup
Ingest your data: The first time you use Hindsight, ingest your git history:
- In Copilot Chat, try: "Ingest my git history with hindsight"
Explore your history: Ask AI about your development activity:
- "What commits did I make this week?"
- "Show me failing tests"
- "Summarize my development activity for the last 7 days"
Configuration
Configure Hindsight MCP through VS Code settings:
| Setting |
Default |
Description |
hindsight.autoStart |
true |
Automatically start hindsight-mcp server |
hindsight.databasePath |
"" |
Custom path for the hindsight database |
hindsight.binaryPath |
"" |
Custom path to hindsight-mcp binary |
Example Settings
{
"hindsight.autoStart": true,
"hindsight.databasePath": "~/.hindsight/my-project.db"
}
Commands
Open the Command Palette (Ctrl+Shift+P / Cmd+Shift+P) and search for:
| Command |
Description |
Hindsight: Download Binary |
Manually download the hindsight-mcp binary |
Hindsight: Show Version |
Display the installed version |
Alternative Installation Methods
If you prefer not to use the extension's binary management:
cargo install
cargo install hindsight-mcp
Then set the custom binary path in settings:
{
"hindsight.binaryPath": "/path/to/hindsight-mcp"
}
MCP Registry
Hindsight MCP is also available via the MCP Registry:
- Search for
@mcp hindsight in VS Code Extensions
Requirements
- VS Code 1.102.0 or later
- Internet connection for binary download (first-time only)
| Platform |
Architecture |
Support |
| Linux |
x64 |
✅ |
| Linux |
ARM64 |
✅ |
| macOS |
Intel (x64) |
✅ |
| macOS |
Apple Silicon (ARM64) |
✅ |
| Windows |
x64 |
✅ |
Troubleshooting
Binary download fails
If automatic download fails:
- Check your internet connection
- Try manual download via Command Palette: "Hindsight: Download Binary"
- Install via cargo:
cargo install hindsight-mcp
Server not appearing in MCP list
- Check Output panel (View → Output → select "Hindsight MCP")
- Ensure
hindsight.autoStart is true
- Reload VS Code window
Custom binary not found
Ensure the path in hindsight.binaryPath is absolute and the file is executable.
Links
License
MIT License - see LICENSE for details.
