Geargrafx

Geargrafx includes an MCP server that provides debugging and tooling capabilities for the emulator. The MCP interface exposes tools for execution control, memory inspection, hardware status, and other debugging utilities that help you analyze and modify behavior during emulation. This enables deeper exploration of the TurboGrafx-16 / PC Engine ecosystem, including CD-ROM subsystems, memory regions, and VDC/VRAM state, all within a consistent MCP framework. Use the MCP server to attach to a running Geargrafx instance, inspect memory and registers, step through code, and access device status information as you test homebrew, translations, or compatibility with various hardware configurations. The MCP tools are designed to work alongside Geargrafx’s primary emulation features and can be used to automate debugging workflows with Copilot/AI-assisted capabilities where supported by the platform.

Prerequisites:

• Docker installed and running on your system (Linux, macOS, Windows).
• Optional: Docker Compose if you prefer orchestration (not required for the MCP setup below).

Option A: Run via Docker (recommended for quick setup)

1. Pull and run the Geargrafx MCP container: docker run -it --rm drhelius/geargrafx-mcp
2. The container will expose the MCP server interfaces as designed by the image. Attach your MCP client to the running server according to your MCP tooling documentation.

Option B: Build from source (if you have a local build of the MCP server)

1. Ensure you have a C/C++ build toolchain installed (e.g., GCC/Clang, CMake).
2. Clone the Geargrafx repository and navigate to the MCP server folder.
3. Create a build directory and compile the MCP server, then run the produced binary locally: mkdir build && cd build cmake .. make
4. Start the MCP server binary with any required flags, then connect your MCP client to it.

Notes:

• The MCP server is designed to debug and instrument Geargrafx; ensure your BIOS/image files are available and compatible with the emulation session you’re debugging.

Tips and considerations:

• Ensure you have a BIOS file compatible with CD-ROM games; the proper BIOS is required for many MCP debugging scenarios.
• The MCP server can expose memory and hardware state; avoid modifying critical regions unless you know what you’re doing to prevent emulation instability.
• If you’re using Docker, make sure the container has access to necessary peripherals or volumes if you need to load ROM images or save states from the host.
• Review the Libretro integration (RetroArch) if you’re using the Geargrafx core; MCP tooling may be available through the same or adjacent interfaces.
• If you encounter connection issues with the MCP client, verify network/localhost bindings and ensure the correct port mappings are in place for the container or local server.
• For troubleshooting, consult the Geargrafx issue tracker and the MCP tooling docs for guidance on common errors and expected tool outputs.