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JetBrains IDEs

Configure JetBrains IDEs to access your Netdata infrastructure through MCP.

Supported IDEs​

  • IntelliJ IDEA
  • PyCharm
  • WebStorm
  • PhpStorm
  • GoLand
  • DataGrip
  • Rider
  • CLion
  • RubyMine

Prerequisites​

  1. JetBrains IDE installed - Any IDE from the list above
  2. AI Assistant plugin - Install from IDE marketplace
  3. The IP and port (usually 19999) of a running Netdata Agent - Prefer a Netdata Parent to get infrastructure level visibility. Currently the latest nightly version of Netdata has MCP support (not released to the stable channel yet). Your AI Client (running on your desktop or laptop) needs to have direct network access to this IP and port.
  4. nd-mcp program available on your desktop or laptop - This is the bridge that translates stdio to websocket, connecting your AI Client to your Netdata Agent or Parent. Find its absolute path
  5. Optionally, the Netdata MCP API key that unlocks full access to sensitive observability data (protected functions, full access to logs) on your Netdata. Each Netdata Agent or Parent has its own unique API key for MCP - Find your Netdata MCP API key

Installing AI Assistant​

  1. Open your JetBrains IDE
  2. Go to Settings/Preferences:
    • Windows/Linux: File → Settings → Plugins
    • macOS: IntelliJ IDEA → Preferences → Plugins
  3. Search for "AI Assistant" in Marketplace
  4. Install and restart IDE

MCP Configuration​

note

MCP support in JetBrains IDEs may require additional plugins or configuration. Check the plugin documentation for the latest setup instructions.

Method 1: AI Assistant Settings​

  1. Go to Settings → Tools → AI Assistant
  2. Look for MCP or External Tools configuration
  3. Add Netdata MCP server:
{
  "name": "netdata",
  "command": "/usr/sbin/nd-mcp",
  "args": [
    "ws://YOUR_NETDATA_IP:19999/mcp?api_key=NETDATA_MCP_API_KEY"
  ]
}

Method 2: External Tools​

If direct MCP support is not available, configure as an External Tool:

  1. Go to Settings → Tools → External Tools
  2. Click "+" to add new tool
  3. Configure:
    • Name: Netdata MCP
    • Program: /usr/sbin/nd-mcp
    • Arguments: ws://YOUR_NETDATA_IP:19999/mcp?api_key=NETDATA_MCP_API_KEY

Replace:

Usage in Different IDEs​

IntelliJ IDEA (Java/Kotlin)​

Monitor JVM applications:

// Ask AI Assistant about production performance
"What's the memory usage of our Java services?"
"Show me GC patterns in the last hour"
"Are there any thread pool issues?"

PyCharm (Python)​

Debug Python applications:

# Ask: What's the CPU usage when this function runs in production?
def process_data():
    pass

# Ask: Show me memory patterns for the Python workers

WebStorm (JavaScript/TypeScript)​

Monitor Node.js applications:

// Ask: What's the event loop latency?
// Ask: Show me API endpoint response times
// Ask: Any memory leaks in the Node processes?

DataGrip (Databases)​

Analyze database performance:

-- Ask: Show me database query latency
-- Ask: What's the connection pool usage?
-- Ask: Any slow queries in the last hour?

IDE-Specific Features​

Code Annotations​

Add infrastructure context to your code:

@NetdataMonitor("cpu.usage > 80%")
public void resourceIntensiveMethod() {
    // AI Assistant can show real-time metrics
}

Debugging with Metrics​

While debugging:

  1. Set breakpoint
  2. Ask AI Assistant: "What were the system metrics when this code last ran in production?"
  3. Get historical context for better debugging

Performance Profiling​

Combine IDE profiler with Netdata metrics:

  • Run profiler in IDE
  • Ask: "Show me system metrics during the profiling period"
  • Correlate application and system performance

Best Practices​

Development Workflow​

  1. Before deploying: "What's the current production load?"
  2. During testing: "Compare metrics between dev and prod"
  3. After deployment: "Show me metrics changes after deployment"

Troubleshooting Production Issues​

"Show me what happened at 14:32 when the error occurred"
"What were the system resources during the last OutOfMemory error?"
"Find correlated metrics during the last service degradation"

Capacity Planning​

"What's the resource usage trend for this service?"
"Project memory needs based on current growth"
"When will we need to scale based on current patterns?"

Plugin Alternatives​

If official MCP support is limited, consider:

MCP Bridge Plugin​

Search marketplace for:

  • "MCP Client"
  • "Model Context Protocol"
  • "External AI Tools"

Custom Plugin Development​

Create a simple plugin that bridges JetBrains with Netdata:

  1. Use IDE Plugin SDK
  2. Implement MCP client
  3. Add tool window for Netdata metrics

Troubleshooting​

AI Assistant Not Connecting​

  • Check MCP configuration in settings
  • Restart IDE after configuration changes

No Netdata Option​

  • Ensure latest AI Assistant version
  • Check for additional MCP plugins
  • Try External Tools approach

Connection Errors​

  • Test Netdata access: curl http://YOUR_NETDATA_IP:19999/api/v3/info
  • Verify bridge path and permissions
  • Check IDE logs for detailed errors

Limited Functionality​

  • Some IDEs may have restricted AI Assistant features
  • Try different JetBrains IDEs for better support
  • Consider using Cursor or VS Code for full MCP support
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