# Serena: setup & source

> Expose semantic code navigation, references, diagnostics, and edits to coding agents through an MCP-to-LSP bridge. Installable in Awesome Python Dev; review its source, license and setup.

[HTML page](https://m9rco.github.io/awesome-python-dev/tools/serena/) · [Agent guide](https://m9rco.github.io/awesome-python-dev/agents/index.md) · [Discovery index](https://m9rco.github.io/awesome-python-dev/llms.txt)

This website describes the repository catalog snapshot, which may contain unreleased entries. It is not a promise that every entry exists in the currently published package. Check `uvx awesome-python-dev list --json` for the catalog available in your installed runtime. GitHub stars and review dates are recorded snapshots, not live rankings.

Catalog reviewed: 2026-10-29. [Catalog source](https://github.com/m9rco/awesome-python-dev/blob/239895d3dd1353a48c5b39eee8eb028aadd8ac8f/src/awesome_python_dev/data/catalog.json).

LSP tools / Installable

## Serena

Expose semantic code navigation, references, diagnostics, and edits to coding agents through an MCP-to-LSP bridge.

[Upstream project ↗](https://github.com/oraios/serena) [View repository ↗](https://github.com/oraios/serena) 

### Install into your coding agents

```sh
uvx awesome-python-dev init --agents codex,claude --tools serena
```

Run inside the project you want to equip. This command targets Codex and Claude Code; use `--agents` to choose other supported agents. [Read the prerequisites and setup guide](https://m9rco.github.io/awesome-python-dev/getting-started/) .

The installer writes MCP configuration. Your coding agent starts the server after reload and approval; installation does not run server tools.

Serena uses Python 3.13 via uvx. Language-specific runtimes may also be needed. Its project path is absolute: run init again after moving a project.

### Integration notes

Pins stable v2.1.0. uvx selects Python 3.13 (upstream supports >=3.11,<3.15); Git and network access required. Generic single-project ide context, explicit LSP backend and tools interface; dashboard/browser/GUI disabled. Language-server dependencies may download at first project activation; some languages need an external toolchain. MCP handshake and discovery of 22 tools verified on macOS in a temporary Python project; symbol operations and individual agent UIs were not exercised.

### Source & review

- Repository: oraios/serena
- License: GPL-3.0-or-later (application); MIT (SolidLSP)
- Category: lsp bridge
- Reviewed: 2026-10-27
- GitHub stars at review: 30,759
- Installation: Installable
- Pinned source: `5e4f5cd173c7ff3eed37ee3f1de6c266b937c5dc`

Star counts are review snapshots, not live rankings. Upstream licenses apply to each resource.

### Included in these profiles

- [Code intelligence](https://m9rco.github.io/awesome-python-dev/profiles/lsp/) 

### Review the source evidence

- [Upstream evidence 1 ↗](https://api.github.com/repos/oraios/serena) 
- [Upstream evidence 2 ↗](https://github.com/oraios/serena) 
- [Upstream evidence 3 ↗](https://github.com/oraios/serena/releases/tag/v2.1.0) 
- [Upstream evidence 4 ↗](https://github.com/oraios/serena/blob/5e4f5cd173c7ff3eed37ee3f1de6c266b937c5dc/pyproject.toml) 
- [Upstream evidence 5 ↗](https://github.com/oraios/serena/blob/5e4f5cd173c7ff3eed37ee3f1de6c266b937c5dc/LICENSE) 
- [Upstream evidence 6 ↗](https://oraios.github.io/serena/02-usage/020_running.html) 
- [Upstream evidence 7 ↗](https://oraios.github.io/serena/02-usage/050_configuration.html)