Rehe

What is Rehe?

Rehe implements the Desktop Extensions (DXT) format, a specification for packaging local MCP servers into single-file .dxt archives that can be installed with one click. It includes a CLI tool for creating extensions, the manifest schema, and the loader used by Claude for macOS and Windows.

How to use Rehe?

Install the CLI globally via npm install -g @anthropic-ai/dxt, then in your MCP server’s folder run dxt init to create a manifest.json and dxt pack to produce the .dxt file. Open the resulting file with an app that supports DXT (e.g., Claude for macOS or Windows) to install.

Key features of Rehe

• Packages entire local MCP servers into a single .dxt zip archive
• Includes a manifest.json for metadata and configuration
• Supports automatic updates and easy configuration of servers and variables
• Provides a curated directory of extensions for end users
• Offers a CLI tool (dxt init and dxt pack) for extension creation

Use cases of Rehe

• Distributing a local MCP server to end users with one-click installation
• Bundling a Node.js MCP server with all dependencies in a portable archive
• Wrapping a Python MCP server with its virtual environment for cross-device reuse
• Creating a binary MCP server that runs on both macOS and Windows without setup

FAQ from Rehe

What is a Desktop Extension (.dxt)?

A .dxt file is a zip archive containing a local MCP server and a manifest.json. It is similar to Chrome .crx or VS Code .vsix files, enabling single-click installation of MCP servers.

What are the dependencies for using the Rehe CLI?

The CLI requires Node.js and is installed globally via npm install -g @anthropic-ai/dxt. No other runtime dependencies are needed beyond those of the MCP server being packaged.

Where does the extension data live?

The extension is a self-contained zip file. When installed, the app (e.g., Claude) loads the server from the unpacked archive on the local filesystem.

How do I package a Python or Node.js extension?

For Python, bundle packages in server/lib/ or a full virtual environment in server/venv/. For Node.js, run npm install --production and bundle the node_modules directory. The manifest’s server.entry_point points to the main executable or file.

What transport and authentication does Rehe use?

The MCP server communicates over stdio transport. Authentication is handled by the server itself; Rehe does not impose its own auth layer. The manifest can specify environment variables and parameters via mcp_config.env.