MCP File Reader Server

Name: MCP File Reader Server
Author: spar65

@spar65

Repository

About MCP File Reader Server

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Basic information

Config

Add this server to your MCP-compatible client using the configuration below.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "file-reader": {
      "command": "/FULL/PATH/TO/YOUR/PROJECT/venv/bin/python",
      "args": [
        "/FULL/PATH/TO/YOUR/PROJECT/mcp-file-reader-example/file_reader_server.py"
      ],
      "enabled": true,
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}

Tools

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Overview

What is MCP File Reader Server?

A simple MCP server that reads files from a designated data directory. It supports two transport modes: Stdio (managed by Cursor) and SSE (run manually via Uvicorn/Starlette). Designed for developers who want to make local file content accessible to AI assistants within Cursor.

How to use MCP File Reader Server?

Install Python 3.8+, clone the repo, create a virtual environment, and install dependencies (mcp, uvicorn[standard], starlette, httpx). For Stdio mode, configure the global Cursor MCP config file to point to the server script and toggle it on in Cursor Settings. For SSE mode, run ./start_sse.sh and let Cursor discover the server via the project’s .mcp.json file. Then issue prompts like read test.txt using the file-reader server (Stdio) or read sse_test.txt using the file-reader-sse server (SSE).

Key features of MCP File Reader Server

Two transport modes: Stdio (Cursor-managed) and SSE (manual Uvicorn)
Reads files from a dedicated data directory per mode
Includes an SSE client script for manual testing
Logging output to stderr for troubleshooting
MIT licensed

Use cases of MCP File Reader Server

Let an AI assistant read configuration or log files from a local data folder
Provide file content as context during coding sessions in Cursor
Test MCP server interactions using the included SSE client script
Securely expose a limited directory of text files to an MCP client

FAQ from MCP File Reader Server

Which data directory does each mode use?

Stdio mode (file-reader) reads from ~/mcp_data (home directory). SSE mode (file-reader-sse) reads from ./project_mcp_data_sse (within the project directory).

How do I run the SSE server?

Run ./start_sse.sh in the project root. It installs dependencies and starts a Uvicorn server listening on http://127.0.0.1:8080. The client connects to the /sse path.

What dependencies are required?

Python 3.8+, the mcp package, and for SSE mode additionally uvicorn[standard], starlette, and httpx.

Can I toggle the server in Cursor’s UI?

Yes, for Stdio mode you must first configure the global cursor_mcp_config.json, then restart Cursor and toggle file-reader on in Cursor Settings → MCP.

What transport does each mode use?

Stdio mode runs the server as a subprocess managed by Cursor. SSE mode runs an HTTP server that listens for SSE connections; the client connects via sse_client.