MCP Terminal

What is MCP Terminal?

MCP Terminal is a terminal‑based interactive client for Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers. It runs on any platform with Node.js and is designed for developers who want to connect AI models to external tools and data sources through MCP.

How to use MCP Terminal?

Install it globally with npm install -g mcp-terminal, then run mcp-terminal configure to open your default editor and define one or more MCP servers in a JSON configuration file. After configuring, start the server with mcp-terminal start and begin an interactive chat session with mcp-terminal chat. The chat requires an OpenAI API key set via the OPENAI_API_KEY environment variable or a .env file.

Key features of MCP Terminal

• Connect to multiple MCP servers simultaneously
• Interactive terminal for sending messages to AI models
• Support for both stdio and SSE transports
• Easy configuration management via a JSON file
• Switch between connected servers during a session

Use cases of MCP Terminal

• Interactively chat with an AI model that can use MCP tools to answer questions and perform actions
• Manage and test multiple MCP server configurations from a single terminal interface
• Explore how AI models interact with external APIs and data sources through MCP

FAQ from MCP Terminal

What is the Model Context Protocol (MCP)?

MCP is an open standard protocol that connects AI language models with external tools, data sources, and APIs. It allows models to extend their capabilities beyond training data by accessing real‑time information and performing actions.

What do I need to use the chat feature?

You need an OpenAI API key (set as OPENAI_API_KEY environment variable or in a .env file) and at least one configured MCP server.

What transport types does MCP Terminal support?

It supports both stdio (standard input/output) and SSE (Server‑Sent Events) transports. Servers can be configured with just a command for stdio, just a URL for remote servers, or both for locally‑started SSE servers.

How do I configure MCP servers?

Run mcp-terminal configure. This opens your default editor with a JSON configuration file where you define server entries with command and/or url fields.

What license does MCP Terminal use?

The project is licensed under the MIT license.