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Install HoloViz MCP with uv

This guide shows you how to install HoloViz MCP using uv, a fast Python package installer. This is the recommended installation method.

Prerequisites

You need uv installed on your system. If you don't have it:

# macOS and Linux
curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh

# Windows
powershell -c "irm https://astral.sh/uv/install.ps1 | iex"

For other installation methods, see the uv installation guide.

Install HoloViz MCP

Install HoloViz MCP as a uv tool:

# Basic installation
uv tool install holoviz-mcp

# Or with PyData packages (assumed for our tutorials and how-to guides)
uv tool install "holoviz-mcp[pydata]"

# Or with specific extra packages
uv tool install holoviz-mcp --with altair --with polars

Which option should I use?

  • Basic: Minimal installation, you add packages as needed
  • PyData: Includes pandas, numpy, matplotlib, and other common data science packages
  • With extras: Add specific packages you know you'll need

Install Chromium

HoloViz MCP uses Chromium for taking screenshots. Install it:

holoviz-mcp install chromium

📦 This downloads 300MB as it downloads the Chromium and FFMPEG engines.

Create Documentation Index

Create the documentation index so HoloViz MCP can provide intelligent answers:

holoviz-mcp update index

⏱️ This takes 5-10 minutes on first run as it downloads and indexes documentation from Panel, hvPlot, and other HoloViz libraries.

Verify Installation

Test that the server starts correctly:

holoviz-mcp

You should see output indicating the server is running. Press Ctrl+C to stop it.

Update HoloViz MCP

To update to the latest version:

uv tool upgrade holoviz-mcp

After updating, refresh the documentation index:

holoviz-mcp update index

Uninstall

To remove HoloViz MCP:

uv tool uninstall holoviz-mcp

To also remove the documentation index and configuration:

rm -rf ~/.holoviz-mcp

Next Steps

After installation, configure your IDE or AI assistant:

Or start with a complete tutorial: