Content
# Perfetto MCP
> Turn natural language into powerful Perfetto trace analysis
A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that transforms natural-language prompts into focused Perfetto analyses. Quickly explain jank, diagnose ANRs, spot CPU hot threads, uncover lock contention, and find memory leaks – all without writing SQL.
## ✨ Features
- **Natural Language → SQL**: Ask questions in plain English, get precise Perfetto queries
- **ANR Detection**: Automatically identify and analyze Application Not Responding events
- **Performance Analysis**: CPU profiling, frame jank detection, memory leak detection
- **Thread Contention**: Find synchronization bottlenecks and lock contention
- **Binder Profiling**: Analyze IPC performance and slow system interactions
## 📋 Prerequisites
- **Python 3.13+** (macOS/Homebrew):
```bash
brew install python@3.13
```
- **uv** (recommended):
```bash
brew install uv
```
## 🚀 Getting Started
<details>
<summary><strong>Cursor</strong></summary>
[](https://cursor.com/install-mcp?name=perfetto-mcp&config=eyJjb21tYW5kIjoidXZ4IHBlcmZldHRvLW1jcCJ9)
Or add to `~/.cursor/mcp.json` (global) or `.cursor/mcp.json` (project):
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"perfetto-mcp": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": ["perfetto-mcp"]
}
}
}
```
</details>
<details>
<summary><strong>Claude Code</strong></summary>
Run this command. See [Claude Code MCP docs](https://docs.anthropic.com/en/docs/claude-code/mcp) for more info.
```bash
# Add to user scope
claude mcp add perfetto-mcp --scope user -- uvx perfetto-mcp
```
Or edit `~/claude.json` (macOS) or `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude.json` (Windows):
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"perfetto-mcp": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": ["perfetto-mcp"]
}
}
}
```
</details>
<details>
<summary><strong>VS Code</strong></summary>
[<img alt="Install in VS Code" src="https://img.shields.io/badge/VS_Code-VS_Code?style=flat-square&label=Install%20Perfetto%20MCP&color=0098FF">](https://insiders.vscode.dev/redirect?url=vscode%3Amcp%2Finstall%3F%7B%22name%22%3A%22perfetto-mcp%22%2C%22type%22%3A%22stdio%22%2C%22command%22%3A%22uvx%22%2C%22args%22%3A%5B%22perfetto-mcp%22%5D%7D)
or add to `.vscode/mcp.json` (project) or run "MCP: Add Server" command:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"perfetto-mcp": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": ["perfetto-mcp"]
}
}
}
```
Enable in GitHub Copilot Chat's Agent mode.
</details>
<details>
<summary><strong>Codex</strong></summary>
Edit `~/.codex/config.toml`:
```toml
[mcp_servers.perfetto-mcp]
command = "uvx"
args = ["perfetto-mcp"]
```
</details>
### Local Install (development server)
```bash
cd perfetto-mcp-server
uv sync
uv run mcp dev src/perfetto_mcp/dev.py
```
<details>
<summary><strong>Local MCP</strong></summary>
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"perfetto-mcp-local": {
"command": "uv",
"args": [
"--directory",
"/path/to/git/repo/perfetto-mcp",
"run",
"-m",
"perfetto_mcp"
],
"env": { "PYTHONPATH": "src" }
}
}
}
```
</details>
<details>
<summary><strong>Using pip</strong></summary>
```bash
pip3 install perfetto-mcp
python3 -m perfetto_mcp
```
</details>
## 📖 How to Use
Example starting prompt:
> In the perfetto trace, I see that the FragmentManager is taking 438ms to execute. Can you figure out why it's taking so long?
### Required Parameters
Every tool needs these two inputs:
| Parameter | Description | Example |
|-----------|-------------|---------|
| **trace_path** | Absolute path to your Perfetto trace | `/path/to/trace.perfetto-trace` |
| **process_name** | Target process/app name | `com.example.app` |
### In Your Prompts
Be explicit about the trace and process, prefix your prompt with:
*"Use perfetto trace `/absolute/path/to/trace.perfetto-trace` for process `com.example.app`"*
### Optional Filters
Many tools support additional filtering (but let your LLM handle that):
- **time_range**: `{start_ms: 10000, end_ms: 25000}`
- **Tool-specific thresholds**: `min_block_ms`, `jank_threshold_ms`, `limit`
## 🛠️ Available Tools
### 🔎 Exploration & Discovery
| Tool | Purpose | Example Prompt |
|------|---------|----------------|
| **`find_slices`** | Survey slice names and locate hot paths | *"Find slice names containing 'Choreographer' and show top examples"* |
| **`execute_sql_query`** | Run custom PerfettoSQL for advanced analysis | *"Run custom SQL to correlate threads and frames in the first 30s"* |
### 🚨 ANR Analysis
Note: Helpful if the recorded trace contains ANR
| Tool | Purpose | Example Prompt |
|------|---------|----------------|
| **`detect_anrs`** | Find ANR events with severity classification | *"Detect ANRs in the first 10s and summarize severity"* |
| **`anr_root_cause_analyzer`** | Deep-dive ANR causes with ranked likelihood | *"Analyze ANR root cause around 20,000 ms and rank likely causes"* |
### 🎯 Performance Profiling
| Tool | Purpose | Example Prompt |
|------|---------|----------------|
| **`cpu_utilization_profiler`** | Thread-level CPU usage and scheduling | *"Profile CPU usage by thread and flag the hottest threads"* |
| **`main_thread_hotspot_slices`** | Find longest-running main thread operations | *"List main-thread hotspots >50 ms during 10s–25s"* |
### 📱 UI Performance
| Tool | Purpose | Example Prompt |
|------|---------|----------------|
| **`detect_jank_frames`** | Identify frames missing deadlines | *"Find janky frames above 16.67 ms and list the worst 20"* |
| **`frame_performance_summary`** | Overall frame health metrics | *"Summarize frame performance and report jank rate and P99 CPU time"* |
### 🔒 Concurrency & IPC
| Tool | Purpose | Example Prompt |
|------|---------|----------------|
| **`thread_contention_analyzer`** | Find synchronization bottlenecks | *"Find lock contention between 15s–30s and show worst waits"* |
| **`binder_transaction_profiler`** | Analyze Binder IPC performance | *"Profile slow Binder transactions and group by server process"* |
### 💾 Memory Analysis
| Tool | Purpose | Example Prompt |
|------|---------|----------------|
| **`memory_leak_detector`** | Find sustained memory growth patterns | *"Detect memory-leak signals over the last 60s"* |
| **`heap_dominator_tree_analyzer`** | Identify memory-hogging classes | *"Analyze heap dominator classes and list top offenders"* |
### Output Format
All tools return structured JSON with:
- **Summary**: High-level findings
- **Details**: Tool-specific results
- **Metadata**: Execution context and any fallbacks used
## 📚 Resources
- **[Trace Processor Python API](https://perfetto.dev/docs/analysis/trace-processor-python)** - Perfetto's Python interface
- **[Perfetto SQL Syntax](https://perfetto.dev/docs/analysis/perfetto-sql-syntax)** - SQL reference for custom queries
## 📄 License
Apache 2.0 License. See [LICENSE](https://github.com/antarikshc/perfetto-mcp/blob/main/LICENSE) for details.
---
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