What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
iTechGuides is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Learn more
To set up Pi, install its CLI, authenticate with a supported provider, add an MCP server with pi mcp add, and check the connection with pi mcp list or /mcp. Codemode is an optional way for Pi’s model to call and combine tools through JavaScript; it runs in a restricted QuickJS sandbox, not a general-purpose Node.js environment.
What this guide covers—and what “Pi 1.0” means here
Pi is a terminal coding agent. The commands below reflect Pi’s current rolling documentation, not a verified snapshot of a specific Pi 1.0 release. The available documentation does not establish the precise 1.0 release history. If a command differs in your installed version, check pi --help and the documentation for that release.
Pi’s project documentation describes support for Linux, macOS, and Windows, with Bash required. It documents two installation routes: a global npm package and standalone binaries. The project’s README has the install instructions and binary downloads.
Windows Errors? Fix Them Before They Spread
Repair common Windows errors and clear accumulated junk for a smoother, more stable PC - no reinstall needed.Free scan · no reinstallCrashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteInstall Pi and authenticate
The npm quick-start route is to install the package globally, change into your project directory, then run Pi:
#1 Best Overall
- Includes Raspberry Pi 5 with 2.4Ghz 64-bit quad-core CPU (8GB RAM)
- Includes 128GB Micro SD Card pre-loaded with 64-bit Raspberry Pi OS, USB MicroSD Card Reader
- CanaKit Turbine Black Case for the Raspberry Pi 5
- CanaKit Low Noise Bearing System Fan
- Mega Heat Sink - Black Anodized
npm install -g @mariozechner/pi-coding-agent
cd /path/to/your/project
piReplace /path/to/your/project with the directory you want Pi to work in. Alternatively, use a standalone binary from the project README if you prefer not to install through npm.
In the interactive session, enter /login and select a provider if you want to authenticate interactively. Where supported, you can instead set the provider’s API key in the environment before starting Pi; for example:
export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=your_api_key
piProvider sign-in methods and required credentials depend on the provider and can change. Consult that provider’s documentation for the account or API-key setup you intend to use. Avoid putting personal credentials in project-shared files.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteRank #2
- Includes Raspberry Pi 4 4GB Model B with 1.5GHz 64-bit quad-core CPU (4GB RAM)
- Includes Pre-Loaded 32GB EVO+ Micro SD Card (Class 10), USB MicroSD Card Reader
- CanaKit Premium High-Gloss Raspberry Pi 4 Case with Integrated Fan Mount, CanaKit Low Noise Bearing System Fan
- CanaKit 3.5A USB-C Raspberry Pi 4 Power Supply (US Plug) with Noise Filter, Set of Heat Sinks, Display Cable - 6 foot (Supports up to 4K60p)
- CanaKit USB-C PiSwitch (On/Off Power Switch for Raspberry Pi 4)
Add an MCP server
Pi’s MCP commands support local servers over stdio and remote servers over HTTP. Choose based on where the server runs: a local stdio server is launched as a process on your machine, while a remote endpoint must be reachable over the network. The current guide does not support legacy SSE transport.
Local stdio server
The Pi documentation gives this filesystem-server command as an example, followed by a status check and launch:
pi mcp add filesystem -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem .
pi mcp list
piThe example asks the server to use the current directory (.). It demonstrates the command format; review the package and its permissions before running it. Treat MCP servers as software dependencies and verify their provenance before granting access to project data.
Rank #3
- 【What you Get】You will get 1*Pi 5 8GB Single Board,1*RasTech Case,1*Active Cooler,1*Screwdriver,1*Installation instructions,12-month free warranty, lifetime service, 24-hour prompt and friendly response.
- 【More Connectors】There are two USB 3.0 ports(5Gbps simultaneously) and two USB 2.0 ports, which triple total bandwidth ,support any combination of up to two cameras or displays. Peak SD card performance is doubled through support for the SDR104 high-speed mode. It provides a smooth desktop experience for you. Offer Gigabit Ethernet and a PCIe interface, along with dual-band Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 5.0/BLE wireless capability. The RasTech Pi 5 Kit use the new 27W 5.1V 5A USB-C power connector.
- 【 Support Dual 4Kp60 Display 】Each of the two microHDMI sockets can control a 4K display at 60 Hertz, now support HDR, offering super HD video for media streaming projects. RPi 5 is the first RPi model that comes with a PCI Express port (PCIe 2.0 x1 with 500 MB/s) to attach SSDs (requires separate M.2 HAT).
- 【 Excellent Chips And Applications】Pi 5 is a full-size Pi computer using silicon built in-house at Pi. The RP1 “southbridge” provides the bulk of the I/O capabilities for Pi 5. Pi 5 is more friendly and convenient in the development of Internet of Things, Web development, machine identification, automatic control and other electronic equipment applications and network.
- 【 Faster CPU, Better GPU 】 Pi 5 features a Broadcom BCM2712 64-bit quad-core Arm Cortex-A76 processor running at 2.4GHz, it delivers a 2–3× increase in CPU performance relative to RaspberryPi 4. The 800MHz VideoCore VII GPU is compatible to OpenGL ES 3.1 and Vulkan 1.2, substantial uplift in graphics performance. Pi 5 Offers lightning-fast CPU speed, a PCI Express interface, a Real Time Clock (RTC) and a power button and runs significantly cooler than Pi 4.
Remote HTTP server
For a remote endpoint, the documented pattern is:
pi mcp add docs --url https://example.com/mcp --bearer-token-env-var DOCS_TOKEN
pi mcp listhttps://example.com/mcp is a placeholder illustrating the syntax, not an endorsed or verified service. Set the named environment variable, such as DOCS_TOKEN, in the environment where Pi runs, and use a real endpoint and credential issued by the server you trust.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEScan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Choose where configuration is stored
By default, pi mcp add writes user-level configuration. Add -l when you deliberately want project-level configuration, for example:
pi mcp add -l filesystem -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem .| Scope | Configuration file | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| User | ~/.pi/agent/mcp.json |
Personal servers and credential-bearing configuration you do not want shared with the project. |
| Project | .pi/mcp.json |
Servers the project requires, only when you trust the project and its configuration. |
Project configuration can make setup portable for collaborators, but it is also part of the project’s trust boundary. Inspect it before using Pi in an unfamiliar repository.
Rank #4
- All-in-One Complete Kit: This SANOOV RPi 5 bundle comes with Raspberry Pi 5 4GB RAM single board, active cooler, durable ABS case and screwdriver. No extra parts needed, ready to use right out of the box for beginners and hobbyists
- Powerful Single Board Computer: Equipped with 4GB RAM and high-performance processor, delivers fast running speed for 4K playback, AI projects, programming and daily computing tasks. SANOOV for raspberry pi 5 4GB is equipped with broadcom 64 quad-core Arm Cortex A76 processor with gigabit ethernet and upgraded with IEEE 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0 dual-band 2.4Ghz and 5Ghz and Power Over Ethernet (POE). Upgrading delivers 2-3 x speed vs Pi 4, redefining the experience
- Efficient Active Cooler: Effectively lowers operating temperature and prevents performance throttling. Runs quietly even under long-time heavy load, ensures stable operation all day long. SANOOV RPi 5 4GB kit offer an active cooler, which combines an aluminium heatsink with a high-performance PWM fan. Active cooler is fully compatible with the Pi OS, which can effectively reduce the temperature of RPi5 and ensure its good performance during long-term high load operation
- Sturdy ABS Protective Case: Well-fitted for Raspberry Pi 5 board, can be secured with 4 screws to effectively protect the Pi 5 motherboard from damage, reserves full access to all ports and buttons. SANOOV uses ABS material to produce the case, which has a softer texture and feel. Meanwhile, SANOOV case adopts a layered design for easy disassembly and installation. (Tip: The Case cannot install M.2 HAT Add on Board and Solid State Drive!)
- Wide Application & Full Compatibility: Seamlessly compatible with official OS and mainstream peripheral accessories for Raspberry Pi 5. Whether you are a beginner, student, electronics hobbyist or professional developer, this all-in-one kit meets your diverse needs. It excels in IoT projects, robotics design, retro gaming devices, home media servers and other DIY creations. Backed by a large global community, you can easily find guides, technical support and shared projects online
Verify, inspect, and reload MCP connections
Run pi mcp list to have Pi connect enabled servers and print their state, available tools, and errors. The command exits with status 1 if an entry is invalid or an enabled server cannot connect. In an interactive Pi session, enter /mcp to inspect connections; for a failed stdio server, the command can show the tail of its stderr output.
If you add, remove, or edit MCP configuration outside the running session, use /reload so Pi picks up the change. Afterward, use /mcp to inspect the session’s connection state.
Common checks when a server fails
- Check the exact command, endpoint, and environment-variable name in the relevant configuration.
- For a local stdio process, make sure its runtime and package are available in the environment from which Pi starts it.
- For a remote server, confirm the endpoint is reachable and the configured credential is present and valid.
- Use
pi mcp listoutside a session or/mcpinside one to find connection errors; for stdio failures, inspect the displayed stderr tail. - After editing configuration, run
/reloadin the interactive session rather than assuming the change was applied automatically.
Use codemode to compose tool calls
Codemode lets the model write JavaScript that calls Pi tools and models. A script can make multiple calls and filter or reduce their results before returning output to the model, which can be useful when a workflow involves several related operations or large tool responses.
Best Value
- Not including the Raspberry Pi 5 (8GB), the Crowpi advanced version comes with the Raspberry Pi 5
- ELECROW Black Case for the Raspberry Pi 5, CrowPi is equipped with a 9-inch HD touchscreen along with a camera; All the regular components used in DIY electronics are packed into the CrowPi development board, such as LCD, LED matrix, buzzer, light sensor, PIR sensor, ultrasonic sensor, IR sensor, etc
- Raspberry Pi Sensors: The Crowpi raspberry pi 5 programming kit is jam-packed with lots of buttons such as 19 different sensors in a tidy easy to use package; You don't have to wait and wire things
- Build Quality: Solid ABS shell and well made components in one place make it strong and convenient to travel
- Programming Lessons: This raspberry pi 5 learning kit ships with step by step instructions and provides 21 lessons to take you through identifying components reading code and running it in the terminal
Scripts execute as the body of an async function in a QuickJS sandbox, so await and return work. The sandbox does not provide Node.js APIs, filesystem access, network access, or timers. Scripts reach external capabilities through tools and models exposed by Pi; codemode is not a way to run arbitrary JavaScript with unrestricted access to your machine.
Discover tools available to scripts
Depending on server exposure settings, a tool may be available directly to the model, through codemode, or through deferred tool search. Codemode-exposed MCP tools may not appear in the codemode tool’s own description. A script can discover or inspect them with searchTools(), describeTool(), describeNamespace(), or ALL_TOOLS.
Exposure settings change how tools are presented and discovered; they are not separate installation steps. In Pi’s documented settings, codemode.mode: "on" leaves declared tools exposed and teaches the model how to call them from scripts. codemode.mode: "only" hides active tools from the model and presents them through codemode. Choose based on whether tools should appear directly in the model’s tool list or be accessed through scripts.
Recommended Free Tools
Timeouts and retries: what happens when a call stalls
Pi’s MCP documentation specifies a default timeout of 60 seconds per request; progress notifications reset that timeout. Transient HTTP connection failures with status codes 408, 429, and 5xx are retried twice. Tool calls themselves are not retried, because the server may already have performed the requested action. For a write-like operation, check its outcome before manually trying it again.
Quick Recap
Quick workflow checklist
- Install the global npm package or choose a standalone binary from the project README.
- Start Pi in the project directory and authenticate with
/loginor a supported provider API key. - Add a trusted local stdio or remote HTTP MCP server with
pi mcp add; use-lonly when project-level configuration is intended. - Run
pi mcp listto check connection state and tools. Use/mcpin an interactive session, then/reloadafter external configuration changes. - Use codemode when scripts benefit from calling multiple tools or filtering results, keeping in mind that the QuickJS sandbox lacks Node APIs, filesystem, network, and timers.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
