Set up ByteAsk Context

Before you start

Your agent

Claude Code. Other agents: see Questions.

A compile database

A compile_commands.json for the repository. With CMake, configure with -DCMAKE_EXPORT_COMPILE_COMMANDS=ON and build once.

A git remote

The repository has a git origin remote.

Your system

Linux, or macOS with the Xcode Command Line Tools.

1Paste the prompt

Open Claude Code in any folder and paste this. It shows you each change and waits for your OK.

Please set up ByteAsk for C/C++ in Claude Code.

ByteAsk is a code-intelligence service for C and C++ (https://byteask.ai/context).
This setup makes two configuration changes and installs no software.
Show me each change and wait for my OK before applying it.

1. Register the ByteAsk MCP server for all projects:
   claude mcp add --scope user --transport http byteask https://context.byteask.ai/mcp

2. Add the block below to ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md (create the file if it does not exist).
   If a block between the byteask markers already exists, replace only that block.

   <!-- byteask:start -->
   ## C/C++ work: ByteAsk
   In C and C++ repositories, use the `byteask` MCP tools to locate code, understand
   calls and build settings, check the impact of a change, and choose the tests to run.
   Follow the instructions provided by the byteask server.
   <!-- byteask:end -->

When both changes are done, tell me to restart Claude Code (exit, then run claude
again) so it loads the new server, then type /mcp, select "byteask", choose
"Authenticate", and sign in at byteask.ai in my browser.

For my information:
- No code is uploaded until I sign in and approve indexing a repository.
  Indexing uploads that repository's source files to ByteAsk to build its index.
- Setup guide: https://byteask.ai/context/setup
- Security: https://trust.byteask.ai
- To remove: run `claude mcp remove byteask` and delete the byteask block
  from ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md.

What it changes

MCP server

Registers https://context.byteask.ai/mcp as byteask for all your projects.

~/.claude/CLAUDE.md

Adds a short block between byteask markers that tells Claude to use the byteask tools in C and C++ repositories.

Software

None is installed.

2Sign in

1. Restart Claude Code (exit, then run claude again): it loads MCP servers when it starts.

2. Type /mcp.

3. Select byteask, then Authenticate.

4. Your browser opens the ByteAsk sign-in. Enter your email and the code we send you. GitHub sign-in is coming.

5. Choose Allow. Claude Code is connected.

3Index a repository

It asks first

The first time you work in a C or C++ repository, your agent asks before indexing it.

A preview

It lists exactly which files would be uploaded, grouped by folder. Nothing is sent yet.

Your choice

Tell it which folders to leave out.

The upload

Only what the build reads goes to ByteAsk’s servers: sources, headers, generated headers and the system headers they include. No docs, test data, assets or .env files.

4Use it

Work as you normally do. In C and C++ repositories, Claude uses the byteask tools to locate code, understand calls and build settings, check the impact of a change, and choose the tests to run.

After Claude edits files, it syncs only the changed files from your approved list, so answers cover your current code.

It can also search public C and C++ libraries ByteAsk has indexed, such as fmt, abseil and spdlog. See an example answer.

Your repositories

See what is indexed at app.byteask.ai. Delete a repository, or your whole account, any time: access ends at once and copies are removed.

Remove

Unregister the MCP server:

Then delete the block from <!-- byteask:start --> to <!-- byteask:end --> in ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md. To delete your indexed code as well, delete your repositories or your account at app.byteask.ai.

Questions