Files

What is Files?

Files is an MCP server that provides file-oriented tools for AI agents like Cursor. It supports reading symbols from code, performing search-and-replace, inserting text at precise line ranges, inspecting JavaScript/TypeScript modules, and sending OS notifications.

How to use Files?

Install and run via npx mcp-files or as a Docker container. Configure the MCP client (e.g., Cursor or Claude Desktop) with a JSON entry pointing to npx -y mcp-files. Alternatively use HTTP transport by setting the environment variable TRANSPORT=http. Tools can also be invoked directly from the command line, e.g., mcp-files read_symbol "MySymbol" src/file.ts.

Key features of Files

• Find code symbols anywhere in the codebase with read_symbol.
• Perform intelligent search-and-replace with search_replace.
• Insert or replace text at exact line ranges with insert_text.
• Inspect JavaScript/TypeScript modules and their properties.
• Send native OS notifications with os_notification.
• Supports both stdio and HTTP transport modes.
• Requires Node.js 20 or higher.

Use cases of Files

• Locate and modify a specific function across large codebases.
• Replace deprecated implementations with surgical precision.
• Insert documentation or comments at exact code locations.
• Import and inspect module exports for dependency analysis.

FAQ from Files

What runtime does Files require?

Node.js version 20 or higher is required.

How do I clear the npx cache if tools don't load?

Run npx clear-npx-cache followed by npx mcp-files to resolve ERR_MODULE_NOT_FOUND errors.

Can Files be used over HTTP?

Yes, set the environment variable TRANSPORT=http and optionally PORT (default 4657) to expose an HTTP server.

Which transports does Files support?

It supports stdio (default) and HTTP transport modes.

How do I see all available tools and parameters?

The README lists tools such as read_symbol, import_symbol, search_replace, insert_text, and os_notification with their parameters. Running mcp-files --help also shows usage.