From Zero to Package in Seconds: the new Conan MCP

_posts/2025-12-04-From-Zero-to-Package-in-Seconds-the-new-Conan-MCP.markdown

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+---
+layout: post
+comments: false
+title: "From Zero to Package in Seconds: the new Conan MCP"
+description: "The integration of Conan with the MCP server offers several compelling advantages, particularly for developers working with C and C++ dependencies"
+meta_title: "From Zero to Package in Seconds: the new Conan MCP"
+categories: [MCP, AI, GPT, conan, conan-mcp]
+---
+
+MCP (Model Context Protocol) is an [open-source standard](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/docs/getting-started/intro) that allows language models and AI applications like ChatGPT, 
+Claude, or Grok to connect with other systems, enabling them to access data sources such as local files or databases, 
+workflows like specific prompts, and tools, such as, in our case, the Conan client.
+
+This standard allows all these resources to be grouped together and provides the AI with a way to use them to complete 
+tasks in an **agentic way**.
+
+## Why should I use it?
+The integration of Conan with MCP offers several compelling advantages, particularly for developers working 
+with C and C++ dependencies and AI development tools:
+
+### Enhanced Automation and Efficiency
+* **Easier Packaging Workflow**: The MCP server allows the language model to run Conan commands directly. This makes it 
+possible to generate the basic structure of a C++ project, add dependencies in natural language, and prepare the project by 
+installing the Conan dependencies it needs.
+It can also run security scans on your dependencies and list their declared licenses. All of this happens through simple natural 
+language prompts, using your preferred LLM.
+* **Reduced Context Switching**: Developers no longer need to jump between their development environment, command line, 
+and documentation to manage dependencies. The AI acts as an intelligent intermediary, handling complex Conan tasks 
+in the background.
+
+### Easy Dependency Management and Auditing
+* **Advanced Package Search**: Thanks to the Conan MCP Server, you can search for the exact package you need from your 
+remotes by specifying the operating system, architecture, compiled binary options, or even complex version range 
+filters, all without resorting to command line syntax.
+* **Simplified Dependency Definition**: Leveraging the power of natural language processing through MCP, developers can 
+define their required C/C++ dependencies without needing to memorize specific Conan syntax for creating recipe files.
+For instance, a simple request like "I need the latest version of Boost for my project, 
+compiled with C++17 support" is translated by the AI agent into the necessary Conan commands and configuration.
+* **Proactive Auditing and Security**: The AI agent can proactively audit dependencies as they are installed, automatically
+checking for known vulnerabilities (CVEs) and verifying license compliance against project policies, giving immediate 
+feedback in natural language.
+
+## Let’s dive into real examples
+### Create new packages
+Let’s move on to one of the highlights of the MCP: **package creation**. Suppose we want to start a project of a library 
+that uses CMake, with dependencies on fmt and OpenSSL. We can let Conan MCP create the entire project scaffolding and 
+install the dependencies.
+{% highlight bash %}
+Create a project for a CMake library using Conan, with dependencies on the 
+latest versions of fmt and OpenSSL. Install the dependencies of the project.
+{% endhighlight %}
+<div style="text-align: center;">
+  <img src="{{ site.baseurl }}/assets/post_images/2025-12-04/gif3-Create-project-x6.gif"
+       alt="Create project gif example"/>
+</div>
+<br>
+
+### Auditing project and checking licenses
+The crown jewel of this Conan MCP is **library auditing and license listing**, just a simple prompt away. Using the previous 
+project as a base, let’s ask the language model to ensure that the resolved versions have no vulnerabilities and that 
+all the licenses used by our dependencies are suitable for commercial use.
+{% highlight bash %}
+Ensure my project’s third-party libraries are secure and licensed for commercial use.
+{% endhighlight %}
+<div style="text-align: center;">
+  <img src="{{ site.baseurl }}/assets/post_images/2025-12-04/gif4-Verify-x10.gif"
+       alt="Verify project gif example"/>
+</div>
+<br>
+
+### Listing packages
+Let’s see a simpler one: we’re going to try to search for the compiled packages on ConanCenter for a library, 
+such as zlib, with some options, including the architecture being arm and the shared option set to false, and have it tell 
+us which versions we have packages for.
+{% highlight bash %}
+Tell me which versions of zlib packages are available with armv8 architecture and statically linked
+{% endhighlight %}
+<div style="text-align: center;">
+  <img src="{{ site.baseurl }}/assets/post_images/2025-12-04/gif1-List-versions-x6.gif"
+       alt="List versions gif example"/>
+</div>
+<br>
+
+### Manage existing profiles
+The MCP can also access the list of profiles and is able to query it, so that, for example, if you want to check which 
+C++ version my Windows profile with MSVC 193 is configured for, you can simply ask:
+{% highlight bash %}
+Check my Conan profiles and tell me which cppstd is configured in the Windows profile that uses compiler version 193.
+{% endhighlight %}
+<div style="text-align: center;">
+  <img src="{{ site.baseurl }}/assets/post_images/2025-12-04/gif2-profile-x6.gif"
+       alt="Search profile gif example"/>
+</div>
+<br>
+It will list the profiles using a `conan profile list` command and then use `conan profile show` with the selected profile 
+to obtain the required information. For this type of functionality to work correctly, we recommend maintaining a proper 
+order when naming your Conan profiles.
+
+## Installing Conan MCP
+To install it, the first thing you need is an MCP client. You can use for example LibreChat or 
+Cursor. Then, simply add to your MCP configuration.
+This assumes you have ``uv`` installed in your machine. ``uv`` has become the standard for MCPs. If you want to install ``uv`` you can find [how to install uv here](https://docs.astral.sh/uv/getting-started/installation/).
+{% highlight bash %}
+{
+  "mcpServers": {
+    "conan": {
+      "command": "uvx",
+      "args": ["conan-mcp"]
+    }
+  }
+}
+{% endhighlight %}
+
+## What is next?
+Conan MCP is still in an early stage, with a strong focus on the most critical developer workflows, and we are gradually
+expanding support for more Conan features. We would love to hear your feedback about what you are missing or which 
+workflows you would like to see supported next.
+
+We have prioritized the features most critical for the developer workflow: powerful **package search** and filtering, 
+seamless **project creation** and dependency installation, profile checking, and the most essential: **vulnerability 
+scanning and license listing**. 
+
+We would love to hear your ideas. Feel free to share your thoughts in our [repository](https://github.com/conan-io/conan-mcp)!
+If you have any suggestions for new features you would like to see addressed by the Conan MCP, or even if you wish to 
+contribute code to the project, don't hesitate to do so! 
+Your feedback and contributions are invaluable in shaping the future of this tool.
+
+Happy prompting with Conan MCP!
+