DevBolt
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How do I build an MCP configuration file?

Select your MCP client (Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf, Claude Code), add servers from 16 templates (filesystem, GitHub, Slack, Postgres, and more), configure transport and arguments, and generate a valid MCP config file. Copy or download the result. Everything runs in your browser.

Build MCP server config
Input
Servers:
  - filesystem (read-only)
  - github (with token)
  - sqlite (local db)
Output
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "filesystem": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/
        server-filesystem",
        "/home/user/projects"]
    },
    "github": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/
        server-github"],
      "env": {
        "GITHUB_TOKEN": "ghp_..."
      }
    }
  }
}

MCP Config Builder

Build mcp.json configuration files visually for Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf, and Claude Code.

MCP Servers

No servers configured yet.

Add a server from or .

Client / Editor

Save to: claude_desktop_config.json

Generated Config

// Add at least one server to generate config

Related Guides

MCP Setup GuidePopular MCP ServersMCP Client Comparison

Tips & Best Practices

Pro Tip

Start with 2-3 MCP servers, not 20 — context window is finite

Every MCP server adds tool definitions to the AI's context window, consuming tokens and potentially confusing the model. Start with the servers you actually need (filesystem, database, search) and add more only when you hit a real limitation.

Common Pitfall

MCP server permissions are as dangerous as shell access

An MCP server with filesystem access can read/write any file the process can access. A database MCP server can DROP tables. Always configure the narrowest permissions possible — read-only by default, write access only for specific paths or operations.

Real-World Example

Use environment variables for server connection strings in MCP config

Never hardcode database URLs, API keys, or connection strings in your MCP config file. Use env: references or a .env file. MCP configs are often committed to repos or shared in documentation, exposing embedded credentials.

Security Note

Review MCP server source code before granting it system access

MCP servers run as local processes with access to your system. A malicious or compromised MCP server could exfiltrate data, modify files, or open network connections. Only use MCP servers from trusted sources and review their capabilities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is MCP and what is mcp.json?
MCP (Model Context Protocol) is an open standard that lets AI assistants like Claude connect to external tools and data sources. The mcp.json configuration file defines which MCP servers an AI client should connect to, their transport settings, and environment variables. Different clients use different config file paths: Claude Desktop uses claude_desktop_config.json, Cursor uses .cursor/mcp.json, and VS Code uses settings.json. DevBolt's MCP Config Builder generates the correct format for your chosen client.
How do I configure MCP servers for Claude Desktop?
Select Claude Desktop as your target client, then add MCP servers from the template library or configure custom ones. Each server needs a command (like npx or node), arguments (the server package name and options), and optionally environment variables for API keys. DevBolt provides 16 pre-configured server templates for popular services. The generated configuration goes into your Claude Desktop config file. The builder handles the correct JSON structure for each client format.
What MCP server templates are available?
DevBolt includes 16 MCP server templates covering popular integrations: filesystem access, GitHub, PostgreSQL, SQLite, Brave Search, Google Maps, Slack, memory/knowledge graph, Puppeteer for web automation, and more. Each template includes the correct command, arguments, and required environment variable placeholders. You can customize any template and add multiple servers to a single configuration. The builder supports 5 client formats: Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf, and Claude Code.

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