> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.sonarsource.com/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.sonarsource.com/sonarqube-mcp-server/setup/quickstart-guides/claude-code.md). # Claude Code Set up the SonarQube MCP Server in Claude Code to use Sonar tools in terminal-based AI workflows. [Claude Code](https://www.anthropic.com/claude-code) is Anthropic's CLI for Claude that runs in your terminal. Use this MCP server setup when you want to use Sonar tools directly from the command line or when working in a terminal-based AI workflow. To install MCP servers with Claude Code, see the [official Anthropic docs](https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/claude-code/mcp#installing-mcp-servers). ## Choose your setup The SonarQube MCP Server lets an AI agent query your SonarQube projects. With it, Claude Code can look up issues, quality gates, and coverage while it works. You can use a server that SonarQube hosts, run your own, or have the SonarQube CLI set it up for you. Choose how to connect: | Option | Is best for | What you get | Who sets it up | | -------------------------------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | -------------------------------------------------- | | [Automated setup](#automated-setup-with-the-sonarqube-cli) | Automatic configuration in Claude Code | The MCP server, secrets detection, and Sonar Vortex analysis and context | You | | [SonarQube Cloud-hosted](#connect-to-a-sonarqube-hosted-mcp-server) | SonarQube Cloud users | Nothing to install and a smaller, fixed subset of tools. No Sonar Vortex. | You connect | | [SonarQube Server-hosted](#connect-to-a-sonarqube-hosted-mcp-server) | SonarQube Server 2026.3 and later (Developer, Enterprise, and Data Center editions) | Nothing to install on your machine. No Sonar Vortex. | An administrator installs it, and then you connect | | [Self-hosted MCP server](#set-up-a-self-hosted-mcp-server) | Full control | The MCP server that you run yourself, with the Sonar Vortex analysis and context tools through the Stdio transport | You | For any option except the automated setup, the [configuration generator](https://mcp.sonarqube.com/config-generator.html) gives you a snippet to paste into your `~/.claude.json` file. ## Automated setup with the SonarQube CLI For an automated setup, use the [Claude Code setup flow](/sonarqube-cli/integrations/claude-code.md). It configures the MCP server automatically and also adds secrets detection, Vortex analysis, and Vortex context. Set up Sonar Vortex analysis and context using the SonarQube plugin or SonarQube CLI. See the [Sonar Vortex analysis](/agent-centric-development-cycle/inside-your-agent-the-agentic-loop/sonar-vortex-analysis.md) and [Sonar Vortex context](/agent-centric-development-cycle/inside-your-agent-the-agentic-loop/sonar-vortex-context.md) pages for more detail. To install both features in Claude Code, see the [Vortex for Claude Code](/agent-centric-development-cycle/inside-your-agent-the-agentic-loop/how-to-guides/install-vortex-claude-code.md) guide. To use Vortex through the MCP server instead, see [Vortex with the MCP server](/agent-centric-development-cycle/inside-your-agent-the-agentic-loop/how-to-guides/install-vortex-with-mcp.md). When using this path, your `SONARQUBE_TOKEN` lets the local MCP server, configured for [Stdio](/sonarqube-mcp-server/setup/self-hosted.md#local-server-stdio) mode, authenticate to the SonarQube Cloud API. ## Connect to a SonarQube-hosted MCP server Connect to a SonarQube-hosted MCP server to skip running your own MCP infrastructure and always use the current server version: * SonarQube Cloud-hosted: for SonarQube Cloud users. The MCP server is embedded in SonarQube Cloud, so there's nothing to install, and it exposes a smaller, fixed subset of tools. To connect, see the [SonarQube Cloud-hosted](/sonarqube-mcp-server/setup/sonarqube-cloud-hosted.md) page. * SonarQube Server-hosted: for SonarQube Server users on Developer, Enterprise, and Data Center editions, version 2026.3 and newer. An administrator installs the MCP server extension on your instance, and then you [connect your AI agent](/sonarqube-mcp-server/setup/sonarqube-server-hosted.md#connect-your-ai-agent). To install the extension, see the [SonarQube Server-hosted](/sonarqube-mcp-server/setup/sonarqube-server-hosted.md#install-the-mcp-server) page. Neither the SonarQube Cloud-hosted nor the SonarQube Server-hosted option supports Sonar Vortex, which requires local filesystem access. To use Sonar Vortex, use the automated setup or a self-hosted MCP server. To get the connection snippet for either option, use the [configuration generator](https://mcp.sonarqube.com/config-generator.html) and select the matching hosting method. ## Set up a self-hosted MCP server A self-hosted MCP server runs on your machine or in your own environment, and you manage it yourself. ### Before you start The following [common variables](/sonarqube-mcp-server/reference/environment-variables.md#common-variables) are required. `SONARQUBE_TOKEN` applies to stdio transport only. For HTTP, HTTPS, or the SonarQube Cloud-hosted MCP server, use the `Authorization: Bearer ` header instead. * `SONARQUBE_TOKEN`: Your SonarQube user token (stdio transport). * `SONARQUBE_ORG`: Your SonarQube Cloud organization key. Required for SonarQube Cloud only. * `SONARQUBE_URL`: Your SonarQube Server or Community Build URL. Also required for SonarQube Cloud in the US region (`https://sonarqube.us`). Not needed for SonarQube Cloud in the EU region. > **Important:** Your SonarQube token is a sensitive credential. Use environment variables to pass tokens rather than hardcoding them in command-line arguments or configuration files. Never commit tokens to version control. > **Warning:** *User tokens* are required when setting up connected mode or your SonarQube MCP server with SonarQube (Server, Cloud). Your binding will not function properly if you use *project tokens*, *global tokens*, or *scoped organization tokens* during setup. ### Configure manually The SonarQube MCP Server supports three transport modes. Use [Stdio](/sonarqube-mcp-server/setup/self-hosted.md#local-server-stdio) for local development and most use cases, [HTTPS](/sonarqube-mcp-server/setup/self-hosted.md#https-streamable-http-over-tls) for production and team deployments, and [HTTP](/sonarqube-mcp-server/setup/self-hosted.md#http-streamable-http) only on trusted internal networks. Use the official [SonarQube MCP Server configuration generator](https://mcp.sonarqube.com/config-generator.html) to get a configuration code snippet for your setup: 1. Identify the target MCP Client. 2. Find your [#common-variables](/sonarqube-mcp-server/reference/environment-variables.md#common-variables). 3. Choose a [hosting method](/sonarqube-mcp-server/setup/environment-considerations.md#hosting-method). 4. Enter the information into the configuration generator. 5. Paste the generated configuration into your configuration file. To configure by hand instead, select a transport tab. {% tabs %} {% tab title="STDIO (RECOMMENDED)" %} Use [Stdio](/sonarqube-mcp-server/setup/self-hosted.md#local-server-stdio) for local development or when you're the only user. It's also the transport mode used in your [Sonar Vortex analysis](/agent-centric-development-cycle/inside-your-agent-the-agentic-loop/sonar-vortex-analysis.md) and [Sonar Vortex context](/agent-centric-development-cycle/inside-your-agent-the-agentic-loop/sonar-vortex-context.md) workflows. Use the `claude mcp add sonarqube` command to set up the SonarQube MCP Server as a local stdio server: > **Note:** SONARQUBE\_URL should be defined as `https://sonarqube.us` each time you use a SonarQube Cloud configuration (`SONARQUBE_TOKEN` + `SONARQUBE_ORG`) and want to connect to a US-region instance. See the [Connecting to SonarQube Cloud in the US region](/sonarqube-mcp-server/setup/environment-considerations.md#connecting-to-sonarqube-cloud-in-the-us-region) section for details. > **Note:** Docker's MCP Hub publishes the [`mcp/sonarqube`](https://hub.docker.com/r/mcp/sonarqube) image on its own cadence, so it may occasionally lag behind the latest release. The examples below use [`sonarsource/sonarqube-mcp`](https://hub.docker.com/r/sonarsource/sonarqube-mcp/tags) instead, which receives new releases first and supports versioned tags for stable pinning. For SonarQube Cloud: ```bash claude mcp add sonarqube \ --env SONARQUBE_TOKEN=$SONARQUBE_TOKEN \ --env SONARQUBE_ORG=$SONARQUBE_ORG \ -- \ docker run -i --rm --init --pull=always -e SONARQUBE_TOKEN -e SONARQUBE_ORG sonarsource/sonarqube-mcp ``` For SonarQube Server: ```bash claude mcp add sonarqube \ --env SONARQUBE_TOKEN=$SONARQUBE_TOKEN \ --env SONARQUBE_URL=$SONARQUBE_URL \ -- \ docker run -i --rm --init --pull=always -e SONARQUBE_TOKEN -e SONARQUBE_URL sonarsource/sonarqube-mcp ``` For a manual configuration, add this MCP configuration to your `~/.claude.json` file. > **Note:** This code sample configures the MCP server using [Stdio](/sonarqube-mcp-server/setup/self-hosted.md#local-server-stdio) transport, where `SONARQUBE_TOKEN` is passed as an environment variable. > > For [HTTPS](/sonarqube-mcp-server/setup/self-hosted.md#https-streamable-http-over-tls), [HTTP](/sonarqube-mcp-server/setup/self-hosted.md#http-streamable-http), or the [SonarQube-hosted MCP server](#connect-to-a-sonarqube-hosted-mcp-server), the `SONARQUBE_TOKEN` header is deprecated. Pass the token using the `"Authorization": "Bearer "` header instead. **Claude Code with SonarQube Cloud** ```jsonc { "mcpServers": { "sonarqube": { "type": "stdio", "command": "docker", "args": [ "run", "-i", "--rm", "--init", "--pull=always", "-e", "SONARQUBE_TOKEN", "-e", "SONARQUBE_ORG", //"-e", //"SONARQUBE_URL", "sonarsource/sonarqube-mcp" ], "env": { "SONARQUBE_TOKEN": "", "SONARQUBE_ORG": "", //"SONARQUBE_URL": "https://sonarqube.us" } } } } ``` **Claude Code with SonarQube Server** ```json { "mcpServers": { "sonarqube": { "type": "stdio", "command": "docker", "args": [ "run", "-i", "--rm", "--init", "--pull=always", "-e", "SONARQUBE_TOKEN", "-e", "SONARQUBE_URL", "sonarsource/sonarqube-mcp" ], "env": { "SONARQUBE_TOKEN": "", "SONARQUBE_URL": "" } } } } ``` > **Tip:** To verify the connection, ask your AI agent to call the SonarQube MCP `ping_system` tool. For example: *"Ping the SonarQube MCP server."* > **Tip:** Restart your AI agent for good measure, although it might not be required. > {% endtab %} {% tab title="HTTPS" %} Use HTTPS when connecting Claude Code to a shared MCP server deployed for a team. This requires an [HTTPS transport server](/sonarqube-mcp-server/setup/self-hosted.md#https-streamable-http-over-tls) to be running and accessible. Add the following to your `~/.claude.json` file: ```json { "mcpServers": { "sonarqube": { "type": "https", "url": "https://:8443/mcp", "headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer " } } } } ``` {% endtab %} {% tab title="HTTP" %} > **Important:** The [HTTP](/sonarqube-mcp-server/setup/self-hosted.md#http-streamable-http) transport mode is not recommended. Use [Stdio](/sonarqube-mcp-server/setup/self-hosted.md#stdio) for local development or [HTTPS](/sonarqube-mcp-server/setup/self-hosted.md#https-streamable-http-over-tls) for multi-user production deployments. Use HTTP only on a trusted internal network or for local testing. This requires an [HTTP transport server](/sonarqube-mcp-server/setup/self-hosted.md#http-streamable-http) to be running. Add the following to your `~/.claude.json` file: ```json { "mcpServers": { "sonarqube": { "type": "http", "url": "http://:8080/mcp", "headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer " } } } } ``` {% endtab %} {% endtabs %} ## Use Sonar tools from Claude Code Once connected, Claude Code can call SonarQube MCP tools on your behalf. See the SonarQube MCP [Tools](/sonarqube-mcp-server/reference/tools.md) page for the full list of available tools. --- # Agent Instructions This documentation is published with GitBook. GitBook is the documentation platform designed so that both humans and AI agents can read, navigate, and reason over technical content effectively. 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