LibreAI / Dev Tools / cortex
// devtools · cortex-docs/cortex

cortex

Generate interactive API docs, typed SDKs in 12 languages and MCP servers from your API specs.

★ 3.2k stars⑂ 158 forksMITupdated 2026-10
▦ visual — this project's README ships no embeddable screenshot,
so here's a placeholder. The guide below is complete regardless.
// project facts

Project facts

cortex is an open-source dev tools project by cortex-docs (cortex-docs/cortex on GitHub). It has 3,233 GitHub stars and 158 forks, is released under the MIT license, and was last updated on GitHub on 6 October 2026.

GitHub stars
3,233
Forks
158
License
MIT
Last updated on GitHub
6 October 2026
Category
Dev Tools
Listing
Full install guide
Official site
Official site
// how it works

How it works

  1. Clarify your goal

    Decide the first concrete outcome you want from it, so you can pick the right example, template or mode instead of exploring everything at once.

  2. Get the project

    Clone the repository (or install the published package) and skim its README quick start for the requirements for your platform.

  3. Install and configure

    Run the documented install step and set any required configuration — such as provider keys, data sources or local services — before the first run.

  4. Run your first task

    Execute the smallest documented example end to end, confirm the output is what you expected, then adapt it to your real data or workflow.

// features

Why people love it

Docs + SDKs + MCP from one spec

Interactive documentation, typed SDKs and an MCP server generated from the same source.

Many spec formats

OpenAPI, AsyncAPI, GraphQL, gRPC, OpenRPC and Markdown inputs, combinable in one project.

12 SDK languages

TypeScript, Python, Go, Java, Kotlin, Ruby, PHP, C#, Rust, C++ and C.

Multiple client protocols

HTTP, WebSocket, GraphQL, gRPC and JSON-RPC clients.

Free hosted docs

Add cortex.config.yml to a public repo and deploy to PROJECT.cortexdocs.dev.

Agent-ready MCP output

The MCP server embeds specifications, SDK guides and project documentation for AI agents.

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// run it

Run it yourself

  1. Clone the repository

    Get the source so you can inspect, configure and run it locally.

    git clone https://github.com/cortex-docs/cortex.git
    cd cortex
  2. Start a local demo

    Create a folder, install the CLI globally, initialise from a spec and serve the docs.

    mkdir petstore && cd petstore
    npm install --global @cortex-docs/cli
    cortex init petstore
    cortex docs serve  # open http://localhost:3012
  3. Deploy from a GitHub repo

    Publish docs and serve them over MCP straight from a repo URL with npx.

    npx -y @cortex-docs/cli deploy https://github.com/OWNER/REPO
    npx -y @cortex-docs/cli mcp-serve https://github.com/OWNER/REPO
// use cases

What you can build

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// faq

Questions, answered

Who maintains cortex?

It is maintained by cortex-docs on GitHub (cortex-docs/cortex), where the source, issues and releases live.

Is it free to use?

Yes — it is free and open source under the MIT licence, which permits use, modification and redistribution, including commercially, with attribution.

Does it need a paid API key?

No — generation runs locally/from your repo; only optional hosted-docs deployment uses Cortex's free hosting.

How does it compare to Swagger UI / Redoc for docs or OpenAPI Generator for SDKs alone?

Compared with Swagger UI / Redoc for docs or OpenAPI Generator for SDKs alone, cortex's distinguishing focus is: generate interactive API docs, typed SDKs in 12 languages and MCP servers from your API specs. Pick it when that focus matches your need; the alternative may suit you better if its broader or different scope is the priority.

How do I get started?

Clone https://github.com/cortex-docs/cortex (or install its published package), follow the README quick start to install and configure it, then run the smallest documented example — the Run section on this page mirrors those steps.

// keep exploring

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// alternatives

Alternatives in Dev Tools

The most-starred other Dev Tools projects in the LibreAI catalogue — the realistic shortlist if cortex is not the right fit.

Get cortex

Free and open — grab the source, star the repo, and start creating.