Connect XTester to an AI agent (MCP)

Connecting — the built-in XTester screen

XTester knows the real install path and the current workspace rules, so you connect through the GUI rather than by hand-editing configs:

  1. Download XTester only from the official GitHub Release.
  2. Install or unpack the program.
  3. Launch XTester.
  4. Open the built-in "Connect to an AI agent (MCP)" item.
  5. Pick your MCP client — XTester prepares a configuration with the correct path for your installation.
  6. Apply it from the connection screen and add it to your client.
  7. Restart the agent session.
  8. Verify the connection with a safe read-only call.

The built-in screen always matches the installed version and the real component locations. That is why concrete install paths and launch arguments are not reproduced on the website — the application itself shows their current values.

How it works, conceptually

XTester runs a local MCP server over the stdio transport: the AI client talks to it directly on your computer, and no separate MCP network port is opened. See Security for more on transport and data.

Clients

Per-client instructions for Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Codex CLI, Cursor, Windsurf and VS Code are being prepared and verified. Exact config snippets and step-by-step checks will be published after they are reconciled with a verified release. Until then, use the built-in connection screen in XTester — it always matches the installed version.

What not to do

  • do not disable antivirus or SmartScreen;
  • do not run as administrator without a proven need;
  • do not use debug paths like bin\Debug\...;
  • an agent must not silently download and run the application — the user confirms install and launch.