lsp-tools

LSP Tools Plugin

LSP-first code intelligence for Claude Code with strong enforcement patterns

Overview

LSP Tools enforces semantic code navigation using Language Server Protocol, providing IDE-like precision for code operations. The plugin ensures Claude uses LSP operations before modifying code, analyzes impact before refactoring, and verifies changes with diagnostics.

Part of the zircote-lsp marketplace - A collection of LSP-focused plugins for Claude Code.

Key Features

• Three Iron Laws - Mandatory behavioral constraints for code operations
• 14 Language Support - TypeScript, Python, Go, Rust, Java, Kotlin, C/C++, C#, PHP, Ruby, HTML/CSS, LaTeX, Markdown, Terraform
• Setup Command - Automatically configures hooks for your project
• Specialized Plugin Integration - Defers to zircote/*-lsp plugins when installed
• Decision Trees - Clear guidance on when to use LSP vs Grep vs Glob

Installation

# Install from zircote-lsp marketplace
/plugin install lsp-tools@zircote-lsp

Prerequisites

1. Enable LSP in Claude Code:

   # Add to your shell profile (~/.bashrc, ~/.zshrc)
   export ENABLE_LSP_TOOL=1
   

2. Install language servers for your languages:

   # TypeScript/JavaScript
   npm install -g @vtsls/language-server typescript
   
   # Python
   npm install -g pyright
   
   # Go
   go install golang.org/x/tools/gopls@latest
   
   # Rust
   rustup component add rust-analyzer
   

   See references/lsp-setup-verification.md for all languages.

Usage

The Three Iron Laws

The skill enforces these mandatory behaviors:

1. NO MODIFYING UNFAMILIAR CODE WITHOUT goToDefinition FIRST
2. NO REFACTORING WITHOUT findReferences IMPACT ANALYSIS FIRST
3. NO CLAIMING CODE WORKS WITHOUT LSP DIAGNOSTICS VERIFICATION

Trigger Phrases

The skill activates when you say:

• "find definition", "go to definition", "where is X defined"
• "find references", "who uses this", "what calls this function"
• "understand this code", "trace this function", "explore codebase"
• "before I refactor", "impact of changing", "safe to rename"
• "analyze dependencies", "call hierarchy", "incoming calls"

Setup Command

Set up LSP hooks for your project:

# Auto-detect languages in project
/lsp-tools:lsp-setup

# Specify languages explicitly
/lsp-tools:lsp-setup typescript python

# Single language
/lsp-tools:lsp-setup go

This command:

1. Detects languages used in your project
2. Copies appropriate hooks to .claude/hooks.json
3. Optionally appends LSP guidance to CLAUDE.md

LSP Operations

Operation	Purpose	Use Before
goToDefinition	Jump to where symbol is defined	Modifying unfamiliar code
findReferences	Find all usages of a symbol	Refactoring, renaming
goToImplementation	Find interface implementations	Working with polymorphism
hover	Get type info, docs, signatures	Understanding APIs
documentSymbol	List all symbols in a file	Understanding large files
workspaceSymbol	Search symbols across codebase	Finding related code
incomingCalls	Find callers of a function	Impact analysis
outgoingCalls	Find functions called by target	Dependency tracing

Decision Tree

WHAT DO YOU NEED?
│
├─ Symbol definition or implementation
│  └─ USE LSP: goToDefinition, goToImplementation
│
├─ All usages of a symbol
│  └─ USE LSP: findReferences
│
├─ Type info, docs, or signatures
│  └─ USE LSP: hover
│
├─ Call graph or dependencies
│  └─ USE LSP: incomingCalls, outgoingCalls
│
├─ Literal text search (TODOs, strings, config)
│  └─ USE: Grep
│
└─ File discovery by pattern
   └─ USE: Glob

Supported Languages