explaingit

ontograph/ontoindex

Analysis updated 2026-05-18

14TypeScriptAudience · developerComplexity · 3/5LicenseSetup · moderate

TLDR

A tool that builds a local graph of a codebase's files, functions, and relationships, then exposes it to AI coding agents through an MCP server.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((OntoIndex))
    What it does
      Code graph
      Local storage
      MCP server
    Tech stack
      TypeScript
      Node.js
      MCP
    Use cases
      Impact analysis
      Wiki generation
    Audience
      AI coding agents
      Developers

Code map

Detail Auto

An interactive map of this repo's files and how they connect — its source is parsed live in your browser. Click Visualize to build it.

filefunction / class

What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Give an AI coding agent like Claude Code structural context about a codebase before it edits a function.

USE CASE 2

Ask which other parts of a project call a specific function or what tests cover it.

USE CASE 3

Generate human-readable wiki documentation automatically from the codebase graph.

USE CASE 4

Query relationships across multiple registered repositories from one MCP server.

What is it built with?

TypeScriptNode.jsMCP

How does it compare?

ontograph/ontoindex0xbebis/hyperpayalfredxw/nova
Stars141414
LanguageTypeScriptTypeScriptTypeScript
Setup difficultymoderatehardmoderate
Complexity3/55/53/5
Audiencedeveloperdeveloperwriter

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · moderate Time to first run · 30min

Requires Node.js 20 or 22 LTS, graph data stays local, no data leaves the machine.

You can use and modify the code, but if you run a modified version as a network service, you must publish your changes.

In plain English

OntoIndex is a tool that builds a detailed map of a software project and makes that map available to AI coding agents. The problem it addresses is that AI tools typically see only a small piece of a codebase at a time. When an AI edits a function, it may not know which other parts of the project call that function, what tests exist for it, or what breaks if a name changes. OntoIndex pre-computes all of those relationships ahead of time so the AI can ask structural questions before making changes. The map it builds is a graph where nodes represent files, folders, functions, classes, routes, documentation sections, and process steps. Edges between nodes represent relationships: one function calls another, a class extends another, a file imports another, and so on. That graph is stored locally in a folder inside the project directory, so no data leaves the machine. Agents and developers can access the graph through several interfaces. A command-line tool handles indexing, status checks, and wiki generation. An MCP server (a standard protocol for AI tools to call external services) lets AI coding environments like Claude Code or similar tools query the graph directly. An HTTP API and a browser-based interface are also available for more visual exploration or integration with other tools. The workflow is straightforward: run ontoindex analyze to build the graph for a project, then run ontoindex setup to configure it for an MCP-aware AI tool, then start the MCP server. The AI can then ask questions like where a symbol is used, what process a piece of code participates in, or what the impact of a proposed change would be. There is also a wiki generation command that writes human-readable documentation from the graph. OntoIndex supports multiple repositories in a named registry, so an agent working across more than one project can query them in context. Installation is via npm and requires Node.js 20 or 22 LTS. The project is licensed under AGPL-3.0 and includes a disclaimer that it has no associated cryptocurrency.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
Walk me through running ontoindex analyze to build a graph for my project.
Prompt 2
Help me set up ontoindex's MCP server so Claude Code can query my codebase structure.
Prompt 3
Show me how to ask ontoindex what would break if I rename this function.
Prompt 4
Explain how to generate a wiki from my project's ontoindex graph.

Frequently asked questions

What is ontoindex?

A tool that builds a local graph of a codebase's files, functions, and relationships, then exposes it to AI coding agents through an MCP server.

What language is ontoindex written in?

Mainly TypeScript. The stack also includes TypeScript, Node.js, MCP.

What license does ontoindex use?

You can use and modify the code, but if you run a modified version as a network service, you must publish your changes.

How hard is ontoindex to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated moderate, with roughly 30min to a first successful run.

Who is ontoindex for?

Mainly developer.

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