Nativ MCP Server

mcp-name: io.github.Nativ-Technologies/nativ

AI-powered localization for any MCP-compatible tool — Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, and more.

Nativ is a localization platform that uses AI to translate content while respecting your brand voice, translation memory, glossaries, and style guides. This MCP server brings Nativ's full localization engine into your AI coding workflow.

Why use Nativ via MCP?

• Translate in-context — localize strings, copy, and content directly from your editor without switching to a browser
• Translation Memory aware — every translation checks your TM first, ensuring consistency across your project
• Brand voice built-in — your team's tone, formality, and style guides are applied automatically
• Review and approve — add approved translations to TM from your editor, building quality over time
• Multi-format — JSON, CSV, Markdown, or freeform text — Nativ handles it all

Quick Start

For a remote Streamable HTTP connection, see Hosted MCP. Hosted calls use your API key in X-API-Key; the stdio setup below uses NATIV_API_KEY in the environment. JSON-only API clients can import the tools schema and call /tools/{tool_name} with HTTPS media URLs.

1. Get a Nativ API Key

Sign up at dashboard.usenativ.com, go to Settings → API Keys, and create a key. It looks like nativ_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.

2. Install

Add to your MCP configuration:

Claude Code / Claude Desktop (~/.claude/claude_desktop_config.json)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "nativ": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "nativ-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "NATIV_API_KEY": "nativ_your_api_key_here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Cursor (.cursor/mcp.json in your project or ~/.cursor/mcp.json globally)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "nativ": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "nativ-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "NATIV_API_KEY": "nativ_your_api_key_here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Windsurf

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "nativ": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "nativ-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "NATIV_API_KEY": "nativ_your_api_key_here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Note: npx auto-downloads the package on first run — no manual install needed. If uv isn't already on your machine, it will be installed automatically on first launch.

Alternative: use uvx directly

If you already have uv installed and prefer to skip the npm wrapper:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "nativ": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["nativ-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "NATIV_API_KEY": "nativ_your_api_key_here"
      }
    }
  }
}

macOS tip: If you get spawn uvx ENOENT in Cursor or Claude Desktop, GUI apps don't inherit your shell PATH. Use the full path (e.g. "command": "/Users/you/.local/bin/uvx") or wrap in a login shell: "command": "/bin/sh", "args": ["-lc", "uvx nativ-mcp"].

3. Use it

Ask your AI assistant things like:

• "Translate 'Welcome back!' to French and German"
• "Check our translation memory for existing translations of 'Sign up'"
• "What are our style guides for localization?"
• "Localize these i18n strings to all configured languages"
• "Review this German translation against our TM and brand voice"

Tools

Resources

Prompts

Examples

Translate a marketing headline

You: Translate "The future of luxury, delivered" to French and Japanese

AI: [calls translate tool for each language]

Translation (French): "L'avenir du luxe, livré chez vous"
  TM Match: 0% — new translation, no prior TM entries
  Rationale: "Livré chez vous" adds a personal touch absent from the literal
  "livré", aligning with the brand's premium yet approachable voice.

Translation (Japanese): "ラグジュアリーの未来を、あなたの元へ"
  TM Match: 45% partial — similar pattern found in TM from brand_voice source

Check existing translations

You: Do we have translations for "Add to cart" in our TM?

AI: [calls search_translation_memory]

TM Search Results for "Add to cart" (3 matches):
- 95% [strong] "Add to cart" → "Ajouter au panier" (source: approved)
- 95% [strong] "Add to cart" → "In den Warenkorb" (source: brand_voice)
- 72% [partial] "Add items to cart" → "Ajouter des articles" (source: phrase_tm)

Batch localize i18n strings

You: Localize these to French:
  - "Sign up"
  - "Log in"
  - "Forgot password?"
  - "Continue with Google"

AI: [calls translate_batch]

Batch translation to French (4 items):
1. "Sign up" → "S'inscrire" (TM 100%)
2. "Log in" → "Se connecter" (TM 100%)
3. "Forgot password?" → "Mot de passe oublié ?" (TM 92%)
4. "Continue with Google" → "Continuer avec Google" (TM 85%)

Configuration

How It Works

This MCP server acts as a bridge between your AI coding assistant and the Nativ API:

┌─────────────────────┐     ┌──────────────┐     ┌─────────────────┐
│  Claude / Cursor /   │────▶│  Nativ MCP   │────▶│   Nativ API     │
│  Windsurf / etc.     │◀────│  Server      │◀────│ (Translation,   │
│                      │     │  (stdio)     │     │  TM, Styles)    │
└─────────────────────┘     └──────────────┘     └─────────────────┘

The MCP server runs locally via stdio. It authenticates with your API key and calls the Nativ REST API on your behalf. Your AI assistant sees Nativ's tools, resources, and prompts as native capabilities.

Development

# Clone the repo
git clone https://github.com/nativ-ai/nativ-mcp.git
cd nativ-mcp

# Set up environment
uv venv
source .venv/bin/activate
uv pip install -e .

# Run the server (for testing)
NATIV_API_KEY=nativ_xxx nativ-mcp

# Run with MCP Inspector
NATIV_API_KEY=nativ_xxx npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector uv run nativ-mcp

License

MIT — see LICENSE.

Links

• Nativ Platform
• Nativ Dashboard
• MCP Protocol
• Report Issues