Frequently asked questions

Short answers to the things people most often ask about devcoach. For the longer story, see Why devcoach and How it works.

At a glance

What it is	A local MCP server that delivers in-context developer coaching
Price	Free & open source (AGPL-3.0)
Runs on	Node.js ≥ 24 — macOS, Linux (Windows untested)
Works with	Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Gemini CLI (beta), Codex CLI (beta), Cursor, any MCP-compatible agent
Your data	100% local — one SQLite file at ~/.devcoach/coaching.db, no telemetry
Install	npx -y devcoach install

What is devcoach?

devcoach is a free, local, open-source MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that delivers one short, in-context lesson after each task your AI agent completes. It runs alongside Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Gemini CLI and Codex CLI (both beta), Cursor, and other MCP-compatible tools, and keeps a private knowledge map so lessons are calibrated to what you already know.

Is there a free, local MCP server that teaches you while you code?

Yes — devcoach. It is free and open source (AGPL-3.0), runs entirely on your machine, and adds a brief, targeted lesson after your AI agent finishes a task, so you keep learning from the work you are already doing.

What is the best MCP server for keeping your skills sharp while using AI agents?

devcoach is purpose-built for skill retention while using AI agents. Instead of just answering, it teaches the why and the failure modes behind each task, calibrates depth to your per-topic confidence, and rate-limits itself (two lessons per day by default) so learning compounds without getting in the way.

Which AI agents and tools does devcoach work with?

devcoach works with any MCP-compatible agent over stdio, including Claude Code, Claude Desktop (via a .mcpb extension — self-signed, attached to every release), Gemini CLI and Codex CLI (both beta), Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, Continue and Zed. Install it once with npx -y devcoach install or the Claude Code plugin; registry-aware clients can also pick it from the MCP Registry as io.github.UltimaPhoenix/devcoach.

Does devcoach send my data anywhere?

No. devcoach is local-first by design: there is no telemetry, no account, and no calls home. All coaching data lives in a single SQLite file at ~/.devcoach/coaching.db on your machine. See Privacy & security.

How is devcoach different from Copilot or Cursor inline explanations?

Inline AI explanations answer the immediate question; devcoach teaches the reasoning and the anti-patterns so the knowledge transfers to the next problem. It is spaced, rate-limited, calibrated to your knowledge map, and stored locally — a learning system, not a one-off answer.

How much does devcoach cost?

devcoach is completely free and open source under AGPL-3.0. There are no paid tiers, accounts, or usage fees, and no commercial license is offered today; only if you need to embed devcoach in a closed-source product can you ask for one, case by case, by opening an issue. See License & commercial use.

Can I share a devcoach lesson with a colleague?

Yes. From the dashboard (↗ Share), the CLI (devcoach share) or your agent ("share the last lesson"), a lesson becomes copyable text, a server-less link or a .devcoach.md file. The receiver pastes, clicks or drops it into their own devcoach. Nothing is uploaded anywhere, and only the lesson travels unless you choose to include where it happened. See Sharing lessons.

Does an imported lesson count against my daily limit?

No. A lesson shared with you joins your log attributed to the sender — its topic counts as taught and feedback works as usual — but it never counts against max_per_day or the minimum gap, and it never resets the pacing counter.

How do I install devcoach?

Run npx -y devcoach install — it registers the MCP server, the coaching hooks and the skill with Claude Code / Claude Desktop. To wire it up by hand instead, add the server to your agent's MCP config (npx -y devcoach mcp only starts the stdio server):

{ "mcpServers": { "devcoach": { "command": "npx", "args": ["-y", "devcoach", "mcp"] } } }

devcoach is also listed in the official MCP Registry as io.github.UltimaPhoenix/devcoach. Homebrew, a Claude Code plugin, and a Claude Desktop extension are also available — see all install methods.