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Prerequisites

  • Claude Code installed (Get Claude Code)
  • Node.js 18+ installed
  • ShadowGit desktop app running with tracked repositories

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Quick Setup

Install and configure ShadowGit in one command: 
# Install MCP server globally
npm install -g shadowgit-mcp-server

# Add to Claude Code
claude mcp add shadowgit -- shadowgit-mcp-server

# Restart Claude Code
That’s it. Claude now has perfect memory of your code changes.

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Verify Installation

Ask Claude: 
Can you list my ShadowGit repositories?
Claude should respond with your tracked repositories. If not, see troubleshooting below.

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What Claude can now do

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Debug recent changes

Claude, what changed in my auth.ts file in the last hour?

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Find when bugs appeared

Claude, when did the login function last work correctly?

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Understand code evolution

Claude, show me how the payment processing evolved this week

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Compare implementations

Claude, what approach worked better - yesterday's or today's refactor?

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Example Commands

Claude can now execute these commands for you: 
// See recent commits
await shadowgit.git({
  repo: "my-app",
  command: "log --oneline -20"
})

// Check what broke
await shadowgit.git({
  repo: "my-app",
  command: "diff HEAD~10 HEAD"
})

// Find who changed a line
await shadowgit.git({
  repo: "my-app",
  command: "blame src/api.ts"
})

// See file history
await shadowgit.git({
  repo: "my-app",
  command: "log -p -- src/components/Header.tsx"
})

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Advanced Usage

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Working with multiple repositories

Claude can analyze across all your projects: 
Claude, check if I've solved similar authentication issues in my other projects

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Time-based debugging

Claude, what was I working on yesterday between 2-4 PM?

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Pattern detection

Claude, do you see any patterns in when my tests fail?

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Troubleshooting

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Claude doesn’t see ShadowGit

  1. Restart Claude Code after adding the MCP server
  2. Check installation: 
    # Verify MCP server is installed
npm list -g shadowgit-mcp-server

# Test it works
shadowgit-mcp-server --version

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“No repositories found”

  1. Open ShadowGit desktop app
  2. Add at least one repository
  3. Wait for first snapshot (usually within 3 minutes)
  4. Ask Claude again

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Permission errors

On macOS, you might need to grant Terminal permissions:
  1. System Preferences → Security & Privacy
  2. Privacy tab → Full Disk Access
  3. Add Terminal or your terminal app

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Claude can’t execute git commands

Make sure git is installed: 
git --version
If not installed, download Git.

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Best Practices

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1. Let ShadowGit run for a while

The more history ShadowGit captures, the smarter Claude becomes. Let it run for at least a day before expecting deep insights.

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2. Be specific with time ranges

Instead of “recent changes”, say “changes in the last 2 hours” or “changes from yesterday”.

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3. Use repository names

Always specify which repository when you have multiple: 
Claude, in my 'frontend' repo, what changed in the last hour?

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4. Combine with file context

Claude Code already reads your files. ShadowGit adds the history dimension: 
Claude, looking at this error and my recent changes, what broke?

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Security

  • Read-only: Claude can only read history, never modify code
  • Local only: No code leaves your machine
  • Safe commands: Only non-destructive git commands allowed

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Next Steps

Installation Guide

General installation instructions

Cursor Setup

Configure Cursor with ShadowGit