Installation

Install context-mode on any of its 17 supported agent CLIs — most hosts need a single command.

The ctx_* tools and the context-protection engine are identical on every host. What differs is how a host wires context-mode in — and whether you need a global package at all. Pick your host below, or use the generic MCP guide for anything not yet officially supported.

Which install do I need?

Plugin install — no global package

Claude Code and Codex CLI bundle the server, hooks, and slash commands from one marketplace command.

Plugin install — clone + link

Cursor's Marketplace listing is in review, so install the plugin from a local checkout today.

Package + config

Gemini CLI, VS Code / JetBrains Copilot, Qwen Code, Kimi Code, OpenCode, KiloCode. Install the npm package, then add the host config.

No global install. A marketplace command bundles the server, hooks, and slash commands: Claude Code (/plugin install context-mode@context-mode) and Codex CLI.
Plugin from a local checkout. Cursor's Marketplace plugin is still awaiting Cursor team review, so today you clone the repo and symlink (macOS/Linux) or robocopy (Windows) it into ~/.cursor/plugins/local/context-mode. The plugin's hook commands run npx -y context-mode, so no global package is required.
Plugin + global binary. Copilot CLI installs as a plugin (copilot plugin install mksglu/context-mode:configs/copilot-cli), but its MCP server and hooks run the global context-mode binary, so npm install -g context-mode is a prerequisite. Antigravity CLI (agy) works the same way — npm install -g context-mode, then agy plugin install https://github.com/mksglu/context-mode/tree/main/configs/antigravity-cli.
Package + config. Hosts without a marketplace install the package, then add a config entry: Gemini CLI, VS Code Copilot, JetBrains Copilot, Qwen Code, Kimi Code, OpenCode, KiloCode, and Kiro (which adds native preToolUse/postToolUse hooks).
Dedicated installer. OpenClaw ships a native gateway plugin you install with npm run install:openclaw.
MCP-only. Register an MCP server (run it through npx -y context-mode for no global install) plus a routing file: Antigravity, Zed, OMP.

Package, installer, and npx-based hosts need Node.js 22.5+ or Bun (auto-detected and faster). Pure plugin hosts handle their own runtime.

How integration differs

A host connects through one of three paradigms, and the paradigm decides which context-protection features are available.

JSON stdin/stdout hooks — the richest model: context-mode can rewrite tool arguments, inject sandbox output, and block a call before it runs. Used by Claude Code, Codex CLI, Copilot CLI, Cursor, Gemini CLI, VS Code / JetBrains Copilot, Qwen Code, Kimi Code, Kiro, and Antigravity CLI (agy, with bounded hooks).
Native plugins / extensions — context-mode loads in-process and registers real hooks. Used by OpenCode, KiloCode, OpenClaw, and Pi (a package extension via pi.on(...)).
MCP-only with a routing file — the host speaks MCP but exposes no hook surface, so a routing instruction file steers the model toward the sandbox (advisory, ~60% adherence). Used by Antigravity, Zed, and OMP.

Capability matrix

Host	Session continuity	Tool-arg modification	Tool-output injection	PreToolUse blocking	MCP tools
Claude Code	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
Cursor	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
Gemini CLI	yes	yes	yes	yes	yes
Codex CLI	yes	yes	yes	deny-only	yes
OpenCode	yes	yes	yes	yes (plugin)	yes
MCP-only hosts	partial (file-driven)	no	no	no	yes (routing file, ~60% adherence)

Codex CLI supports PreToolUse blocking in deny-only form. MCP-only hosts have no hook surface, so the routing file carries the guidance instead.

Choose your platform

JSON hook hosts

Claude Code

Primary host. Marketplace install, full hook surface, slash commands.

Codex CLI

Marketplace install; deny-only blocking, feature-flag gated hooks.

Copilot CLI

GitHub Copilot CLI. One-command plugin install (needs the global binary).

Cursor

Local-folder plugin today (Marketplace listing in review); native Cursor hooks.

Gemini CLI

Package + auto-detected MCP and hooks.

VS Code Copilot

Package + MCP and hooks inside VS Code.

JetBrains Copilot

Package + MCP and hooks inside JetBrains IDEs.

Qwen Code

Package + hooks; identical wire protocol to Claude Code.

Kimi Code

Package + TOML hooks and MCP.

Kiro

Package + MCP and native preToolUse/postToolUse hooks.

Antigravity CLI

agy plugin install + global binary; bounded hooks.

Native plugin hosts

OpenCode

Native TypeScript plugin integration.

KiloCode

OpenCode-compatible fork; shares the plugin adapter.

OpenClaw

Native gateway plugin via a dedicated installer.

Pi

Pi Coding Agent. Package extension with real hooks plus an MCP server.

MCP-only hosts

Antigravity

Antigravity IDE. MCP server + GEMINI.md routing file.

Zed

MCP server + AGENTS.md routing file.

OMP (Oh My Pi)

MCP server with isolated storage.

Not listed?

Other MCP clients

A generic, best-effort MCP setup for any unsupported client — with a heads-up that it's unverified.

Verify any install

context-mode doctor

This checks language runtimes, the knowledge base, and hook registration. In Claude Code and Cursor you can also run /context-mode:ctx-doctor, or type ctx doctor to your agent in chat.