mcp-add

mcp-add is a specialized utility designed for developers and power users who leverage AI-assisted coding tools. It streamlines the often tedious process of registering Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers across multiple local environments and IDEs. Instead of manually editing JSON, TOML, or YAML configuration files located in diverse system directories, this tool provides a unified CLI to manage server connections. It supports a wide array of clients, including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf, Continue, Goose, Codex, OpenCode, and the Gemini CLI.

The tool operates by abstracting the platform-specific storage locations for server configurations. Whether you need to set up a local stdio-based filesystem server or a remote SSE/HTTP server, mcp-add ensures consistency across your development stack. It is particularly useful for engineers who maintain different project-specific configurations (such as .mcp.json or .cursor/mcp.json) versus global environment settings. Users can execute the command in interactive mode to walk through setup steps, or utilize the non-interactive mode with specific flags for automated scripts and CI/CD pipelines.

• Simplifies cross-platform MCP server registration for various AI coding environments.

• Supports both local stdio processes and remote network-based servers (SSE/HTTP).

• Automates the management of global and project-level configuration files across different directory structures.

• Provides flags for fine-grained control over environment variables, command arguments, and HTTP headers.

• Fully compatible with standard npx workflows, allowing for zero-install usage.

• Handles OAuth client credentials for advanced remote server integrations in supported clients.

• Use this tool when you want to extend your AI coding assistant with local tools like file search, database access, or GitHub integration.

• Inputs include server metadata (name, type, command/URL) and target client selection; outputs are updated configuration files on the local filesystem.

• Note that some clients (like Claude Desktop) only support global configurations, while others support project-specific overrides.

• Always verify your configuration path requirements, as each supported client maintains unique file locations for server registration.

• For security, ensure sensitive information like API tokens or environment variables are handled carefully within your local development environment.