MCP Config Builder

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Generate Claude Desktop and Claude Code MCP server configs visually. Add presets, set env vars, copy JSON.

Target:

Preset:

MCP Servers

Server 1

Name

Command

Args (space-separated)

Env Variables

No env variables. Click + Add to add one.

Preview

Save this file to:

~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json  (macOS)
%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json  (Windows)

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https://developertoolkit.dev/tools/mcp-config

How to build an MCP config for Claude Desktop and Claude Code

MCP (Model Context Protocol) is Anthropic's open standard for connecting AI models to the tools and data they need. Instead of copying and pasting file contents or database records into a chat window, an MCP server exposes them directly to Claude. Claude can then read files, query databases, search the web, or interact with APIs as part of a conversation, all with your explicit configuration and control. The protocol is gaining fast adoption in 2025 across the developer community, with official servers for filesystems, GitHub, PostgreSQL, Puppeteer, Brave Search, and dozens of community-built integrations. Setting up MCP requires editing a JSON config file in the right location. This builder removes that friction: add your servers using the form, load a preset for a common integration, set environment variables like API keys, and copy the finished JSON. The live preview on the right updates as you type so you always see the exact output before copying it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is MCP (Model Context Protocol)?

MCP is an open protocol created by Anthropic that lets AI models like Claude connect to external tools and data sources. An MCP server is a small program that exposes tools, resources, or prompts over a standardized interface. Claude can then call those tools during a conversation, such as reading files, querying a database, or searching the web.

What is the difference between Claude Desktop and Claude Code config?

Claude Desktop stores its MCP config in claude_desktop_config.json in the Claude application support folder. Claude Code (the CLI) stores MCP server settings in .claude/settings.json at the project level or in ~/.claude/settings.json globally. The JSON structure is slightly different: Claude Desktop uses a top-level mcpServers key, while Claude Code uses claude.mcpServers.

What does the mcpServers field contain?

Each entry in mcpServers has a key (the server name as Claude will refer to it) and an object with at least a command field. The command is the executable to run (typically npx or node). The args array contains command-line arguments. The env object contains environment variables the server needs, such as API keys.

How do I add an API key for a server like GitHub or Brave Search?

Add an env variable in the server's environment section. For example, GitHub uses GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN and Brave Search uses BRAVE_API_KEY. The key is the environment variable name and the value is your secret. The config file is stored locally on your machine and never sent to Claude's servers.

Which MCP servers should I try first?

Filesystem is the most universally useful: it lets Claude read and write files in the directories you specify. GitHub is excellent for code review and repository exploration. PostgreSQL and other database servers are powerful for data analysis workflows. All official Anthropic MCP servers are available as npm packages under the @modelcontextprotocol scope.

MCP Config Builder

MCP Servers

How to build an MCP config for Claude Desktop and Claude Code

Frequently Asked Questions

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