Apache Pinot + Roo Code: Complete MCP Integration

Apache Pinot is a MCP server that MCP server for Apache Pinot real-time analytics database with SQL query capabilities and metadata access.

When integrated with Roo Code, you can:

• List and inspect Apache Pinot tables
• View and analyze table segments
• Retrieve and analyze table schemas

This guide provides step-by-step instructions to set up Apache Pinot in Roo Code, including configuration, examples, and troubleshooting.

What You'll Achieve

After completing this setup:

• Apache Pinot will be fully integrated and operational
• You can use Apache Pinot tools directly in Roo Code
• All Apache Pinot capabilities will be available for your workflows
• Access to 5 different tools

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have:

• Apache Pinot broker hostname
• Apache Pinot broker port
• Roo Code installed and configured
• Compatible operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux)

Installation

Step 1: Install Apache Pinot

Configuration

Step 2: Configure Roo Code

1. Locate your configuration file:

   • Windows: %USERPROFILE%\.roo\mcp_settings.json
   • macOS: ~/.roo/mcp_settings.json
   • Linux: ~/.roo/mcp_settings.json

2. Add server configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "apache-pinot": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "apache-pinot"],
      "env": {
        "PINOT_BROKER_HOST": "localhost",
        "PINOT_BROKER_PORT": "9000"
      }
    }
  }
}

3. Restart Roo Code

Completely quit and restart Roo Code to load the new configuration.

Examples

Once configured, you can use Apache Pinot in Roo Code:

List All Tables

Get overview of available Pinot tables

Ask Roo Code: "Show me all the tables available in the Pinot cluster"

Expected Result: List of table names with basic metadata and schema information

Execute Analytics Query

Run SQL query for real-time analytics

Ask Roo Code: "SELECT COUNT(*) FROM events WHERE timestamp > now() - 3600000"

Expected Result: Query results showing event count for last hour

Analyze Table Structure

Get detailed schema information for a table

Ask Roo Code: "Show me the schema and structure of the user_events table"

Expected Result: Table schema with column names, types, and index information

Generate Data Visualization

Create histogram plots from query results

Ask Roo Code: "Create a histogram showing user activity distribution by hour"

Expected Result: Histogram visualization with data aggregated by time buckets

Testing Your Setup

1. Start a new conversation in Roo Code
2. Ask Roo Code to list available tools
3. Try using Apache Pinot functionality

Test prompts:

• "Type @ and verify Apache Pinot appears in the tools list"
• "Ask: "Use Apache Pinot to help with my task""
• "Check Roo Code output panel for server connection status"

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

uv Command Not Found

Symptoms: Command not found error, uv: command not found

Cause: uv package manager not installed

Solution:

• Install uv using: curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh
• Restart terminal or source shell configuration
• Verify installation with: uv --version

Pinot Connection Failed

Symptoms: Connection refused, Broker unreachable, Network timeout

Cause: Invalid Pinot broker configuration or cluster not running

Solution:

• Verify PINOT_BROKER_HOST and PINOT_BROKER_PORT in .env file
• Check Pinot cluster is running and accessible
• Test connection: telnet <broker_host> <broker_port>
• Ensure firewall allows connections to Pinot broker

Environment Variables Not Loaded

Symptoms: Config missing errors, Default values being used

Cause: .env file not found or incorrectly formatted

Solution:

• Create .env file in repository root directory
• Copy from .env.example and modify values
• Ensure no spaces around = in variable assignments
• Restart MCP server after configuration changes

Claude Desktop Not Recognizing Server

Symptoms: Server not appearing, Connection errors in Claude

Cause: Incorrect claude_desktop_config.json configuration

Solution:

• Verify path to uv binary in command field
• Ensure correct path to mcp-pinot repository
• Restart Claude Desktop after configuration changes
• Check Claude Desktop logs for error messages

MCP Server Not Connecting

Symptoms: Server not appearing in tools list, Connection timeout, MCP tools unavailable

Cause: Incorrect configuration or server not starting

Solution:

• Verify mcp_settings.json syntax is correct
• Check that Node.js and npx are installed and in PATH
• View Roo Code output panel for error messages
• Test server command manually in terminal: npx -y {server_id}
• Ensure environment variables are properly set

Permission Denied Errors

Symptoms: Cannot execute commands, File access denied, Terminal commands blocked

Cause: Roo Code requires explicit permission for file and command operations

Solution:

• Review and approve permission requests when prompted
• Check VS Code workspace trust settings
• Enable necessary permissions in Roo Code settings
• Verify file and folder permissions on your system

API Key or Model Issues

Symptoms: Authentication failed, Model not responding, No AI completions

Cause: AI model API key not configured or invalid

Solution:

• Verify API key is correctly set in Roo Code settings
• Check API key has sufficient credits/quota
• Test with a different AI model provider
• Review Roo Code output panel for API error details

Custom Mode Not Working with MCP

Symptoms: MCP tools not available in custom mode, Mode cannot access server

Cause: Custom mode configuration does not include MCP tool permissions

Solution:

• Edit custom mode configuration to include MCP tools
• Add "Use MCP" to available tools in mode definition
• Ensure mode has appropriate permissions for external tools
• Test with default mode first to verify MCP server works

Extension Conflicts

Symptoms: Roo Code not responding, VS Code performance issues, Unexpected behavior

Cause: Conflicts with other AI coding extensions

Solution:

• Disable other AI coding extensions (Cline, Continue, etc.)
• Restart VS Code after disabling conflicting extensions
• Check VS Code extension logs for conflict errors
• Use only one AI coding assistant extension at a time

Apache Pinot not appearing in Roo Code

Symptoms: Server not listed, Tools not available

Cause: Configuration or installation issue

Solution:

• Verify configuration syntax
• Check Apache Pinot installation
• Restart Roo Code
• Check logs for error messages

Next Steps

Now that Apache Pinot is integrated with Roo Code:

• Explore all Apache Pinot capabilities through Roo Code
• Check out other MCP servers that work with Roo Code
• Join the MCP community for tips and support
• Consider contributing to Apache Pinot development

Need Help?

• Search for Apache Pinot documentation
• Check the Roo Code MCP guide
• Join the MCP community discussions