The Lingo.dev React MCP gives AI coding assistants the tools to set up internationalization in your React codebase — locale-aware routes, language switcher, and locale detection — from a single prompt. Inspired by the Sequential Thinking MCP, it breaks i18n setup into a guided checklist the agent follows step by step, so keys and translation infrastructure are extracted and wired up automatically.
Not to be confused with the Lingo.dev MCP
The Lingo.dev React MCP is focused on scaffolding i18n in React codebases. The separate Lingo.dev MCP is for working with localization engines (glossaries, brand voices, scorers, model configs). This page is about the React MCP.
How it works#
The Lingo.dev React MCP server exposes four tools to the agent:
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
i18n_checklist | A step-by-step implementation guide that coordinates the entire setup. The agent calls it at each step to know what to do next. |
get_project_context | Captures the project's architecture — framework, router, directory structure — to inform the implementation strategy. |
get_framework_docs | Retrieves official framework documentation for the detected framework (Next.js, React Router, TanStack Start). |
get_i18n_library_docs | Retrieves documentation for i18n libraries (e.g., react-intl) used during provider and component setup. |
The i18n_checklist tool is the coordinator. It walks the agent through 13 steps — from project analysis through locale routing, translation setup, language switcher, and build validation.
What gets implemented#
A typical Lingo.dev React MCP-guided setup produces:
- Locale-aware routes - URLs prefixed with the active locale (
/en/about,/es/about) - Language switcher - A UI component for switching between supported locales
- Locale detection - Automatic detection of the user's preferred language
- Translation infrastructure - Provider setup, translation files, and helper functions with keys extracted from your components
Supported frameworks#
| Framework | Versions |
|---|---|
| Next.js App Router | v13-16 |
| Next.js Pages Router | v13-16 |
| TanStack Start | v1 |
| React Router | v7 |
Usage#
Once the Lingo.dev React MCP is connected to your AI coding assistant, prompt it:
Set up i18n
Or specify locales upfront:
Set up i18n with the following locales: en, es, and pt-BR. The default locale is "en".
The agent calls i18n_checklist to start, then follows the guided steps — calling the other tools as needed. The result is a working i18n setup tailored to your framework and project structure.
AI-assisted coding is inherently non-deterministic. The Lingo.dev React MCP improves consistency through its checklist-driven approach, but exact results may vary between runs.