serena

# Serena MCP Server

Semantic code understanding with project memory and session persistence.

## Required First Step

**ALWAYS activate project before any Serena operation:**

```
mcp__serena__activate_project(project: "<path_or_name>")
mcp__serena__check_onboarding_performed()
```

## When to Use Serena

| Use Case | Serena | Alternative |
|----------|--------|-------------|
| Symbol rename with references | ✅ | ❌ Morphllm |
| Find all references | ✅ | ❌ Grep |
| Semantic code navigation | ✅ | ❌ Native |
| Project memory/session | ✅ | ❌ None |
| Pattern-based bulk edits | ❌ | ✅ Morphllm |
| Simple text replacement | ❌ | ✅ Edit tool |

## Core Tools

### Project Lifecycle
- `activate_project` → **REQUIRED FIRST** - activate target project
- `get_current_config` → check active project and available tools
- `check_onboarding_performed` → verify project is ready
- `onboarding` → run if onboarding not yet performed

### Symbol Operations
- `find_symbol` → locate symbols by name path pattern
- `find_referencing_symbols` → find all references to a symbol
- `get_symbols_overview` → high-level view of file symbols
- `rename_symbol` → rename across entire codebase
- `replace_symbol_body` → replace symbol definition
- `insert_before_symbol` / `insert_after_symbol` → add code around symbols

### Search & Navigation
- `search_for_pattern` → regex search across codebase
- `list_dir` → list directory contents
- `find_file` → find files by mask

### Memory Management
- `write_memory` → persist information for future sessions
- `read_memory` → retrieve stored information
- `list_memories` → show available memories
- `edit_memory` / `delete_memory` → modify or remove memories

### Reflection (Call These!)
- `think_about_collected_information` → after search operations
- `think_about_task_adherence` → before code modifications
- `think_about_whether_you_are_done` → at task completion

## Tool Details

See [references/tools.md](references/tools.md) for detailed parameter documentatio