MCP File System Server

What is MCP File System Server?

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that enables AI assistants (e.g., Claude via Claude Desktop) to read, write, edit, delete, and manage files within a specified project directory. All file operations are securely contained to that directory, with optional read‑only reference projects for additional context.

How to use MCP File System Server?

Install by cloning the repository and running pip install -e . in the project directory. Start the server with mcp-workspace --project-dir /path/to/project and optional arguments for reference projects, logging level, log file path, and file size limit. For Claude Desktop integration, add the server configuration to claude_desktop_config.json with the mcp-workspace command and required --project-dir argument.

Key features of MCP File System Server

• Directory listing with gitignore filtering and exclusion of .git folders
• Reading files with optional line ranges and line numbers
• Atomic file creation/overwrite with save_file
• Append content to existing files with append_file
• Precise text editing using exact string matching (edit_file)
• Move or rename files/directories within the project
• Read‑only access to multiple external reference projects
• Structured logging in both human‑readable and JSON formats

Use cases of MCP File System Server

• Read existing project files for analysis or summarization
• Generate and write new files based on natural language descriptions
• Make targeted edits to fix bugs or update code without rewriting entire files
• Delete temporary or unwanted files from the project directory
• Reference documentation, examples, or shared libraries from other directories

FAQ from MCP File System Server

What runtime dependencies does the MCP File System Server require?

Python 3 and pip are required. The server can be installed from source by cloning the repository and running pip install -e ..

How does the MCP File System Server ensure security?

All file operations are restricted to the main project directory specified with --project-dir. Reference projects are strictly read‑only, and all paths are validated to prevent directory traversal attacks. Gitignore filtering is applied automatically.

How can I integrate the MCP File System Server with Claude Desktop?

Add an entry to claude_desktop_config.json under mcpServers with the command mcp-workspace and appropriate arguments, including the required --project-dir path. Restart Claude Desktop to apply the change.

Can the MCP File System Server access additional read‑only directories?

Yes. Use the --reference-project argument (repeatable) in the format name=/path/to/dir to provide read‑only access to extra codebases, documentation, or configuration files.

Is there a file size limit when reading or editing files?

The server provides a check_file_size tool with a default line limit of 600 lines. This limit can be customized with the --file-size-limit argument.