MCP-Server does not work in Windsurf

[jensolafkoch]

Laravel Package Version

1.0.1

Laravel Version

11.45.1

PHP Version

8.4.11

Database Driver & Version

Description

When I add:

    "laravel-boost": {
      "command": "php",
      "args": [
        "./artisan", 
        "boost:mcp"
      ]
    },

to my Windsurf mcp_config.json, I get an error

Error: failed to initialize server: Could not open input file: ./artisan: failed to initialize client: transport error: server terminated.

I tried variations like artisan, .\artisan, .\artisan (backslash escaped) as well to no avail.

Any ideas?

Steps To Reproduce

[pratikkuikel]

can confirm the same.
#36 (comment)

[jensolafkoch]

Ok, it does work if I explicitly set the directory like that:

    "laravel-boost": {
      "command": "php",
      "args": [
        "D:\\dev\\apps\\jok-chats\\artisan",
        "boost:mcp"
      ]
    },

Problem is of course that I use Windsurf with lots of project directories and hard coding won't work because I have to use the globally defined MCP config dynamically for different project paths - and I found no solution to do that so far.

[Ceepster14]

This may or may not be related to this issue, but possibly might help. I almost exclusively develop in Laravel using Windsurf and have persistent long term problems with it whenever it tries to execute artisan commands in the Cascade. It simply hangs the Cascade which I then have to exit out of, run the command manually, and restart the Cascade. I've been going backwards and forwards with Windsurf support for weeks now and the issue is still unresolved.

[jensolafkoch]

Yeah, I guess I know that one as well! Seeing just the "Running..." notice but nothing happens at all? I guess Windsurf is in troubled waters with the acquisition by Cognition and all the layoffs now. I don't want to switch to Cursor though ... :-)

[pushpak1300]

where exactly the mcp config path is present ? @jensolafkoch

[jensolafkoch]

@pushpak1300

In Windows its usually C:\Users\[Username]\.codeium\windsurf\mcp_config.json for the Windsurf editor and C:\Users\[Username]\jok\.codeium\mcp_config.json for the Windsurf plugin in PhpStorm.

[DanielSpravtsev]

Works for me (macos + phpstorm + windsurf plugin + php from homebrew)

"laravel-boost": {
      "command": "/opt/homebrew/opt/php@8.4/bin/php",
      "args": [
        "/Users/username/PhpstormProjects/projectname/artisan",
        "boost:mcp"
      ]
}

[jensolafkoch]

I found a workaround for Windows. In my CMD batch which starts Windsurf (and lots of other programs I need for dev) I set an env var to the project dir:

set "BOOST_WORKSPACE=%app_path%"
start /b "" windsurf %app_path%

And then use a Powershell command as MCP server:

    "laravel-boost": {
      "command": "powershell",
      "args": [
        "-NoProfile",
        "-ExecutionPolicy",
        "Bypass",
        "-Command",
        "$r=$env:BOOST_WORKSPACE; if(-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath $r)){ throw 'Path not found: ' + $r }; Set-Location -LiteralPath $r; if(-not (Test-Path -LiteralPath '.\\artisan')){ throw 'artisan missing in ' + $r }; & php '.\\artisan' 'boost:mcp'"
      ]
    },

Does work in Windsurf editor as well as in the PhpStorm Windsurf plugin.

[pushpak1300]

Problem is of course that I use Windsurf with lots of project directories and hard coding won't work because I have to use the globally defined MCP config dynamically for different project paths - and I found no solution to do that so far.

Supporting windsurf is little tricky as windsurf doesn't have project level mcp config which means the mcp server config will be shared between multiple projects which we don't want as laravel boost is project specific mcp server.

I hope you was able to find a solution for this. I'm closing this as it's seems to be fixed.
Tracking windusrf support in the #87

Thanks.

[Ceepster14]

To add to the record, I have brought this issue to the attention of the Windsurf team. Whether, with all the recent changes there, they have the capacity to be able to address it remains to be seen. They used to be very responsive in moving the product forward although this sadly seems to have tailed off after the recent acquisition.

[tanthammar]

Steps to get your path:

1. Right click on your .env file in the root of your Laravel app.
2. Copy the absolute path to your .env file
3. Paste it as the first argument in args array.
4. Replace /.env with /artisan

(My path on MacOs, Herd, was this)
"/Users/myusername/Sites/laravelappdir/artisan"

"laravel-boost": {
      "command": "php",
      "args": [
        "your-copied-app-path-here-/artisan",
        "boost:mcp"
      ]
    }