mcp-add

Add MCP servers to AI coding clients without installation.

Command

bash

npx mcp-add [flags]

Run without flags for interactive mode, or provide all required flags for non-interactive mode.

Flags

Flag	Description
`--name, -n`	Server name (identifier in config)
`--type, -t`	Server type: `stdio`, `http`, or `sse`
`--command, -c`	Command to run (stdio only), e.g., `"npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem"`
`--url, -u`	Server URL (http/sse only)
`--args, -a`	Arguments for stdio command (can repeat)
`--env, -e`	Environment variables as `KEY=value` (can repeat)
`--headers, -H`	HTTP headers as `Key: value` (can repeat, http/sse only)
`--scope, -s`	Config scope: `global` or `project`
`--clients`	Target clients (comma-separated or repeated)

Supported Clients

claude desktop claude code copilot cli cursor continue windsurf opencode vscode goose codex gemini

Note: Client names with spaces must be quoted: --clients "claude code"

Examples

Stdio server (filesystem access):

bash

npx mcp-add --name filesystem --type stdio \
  --command "npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem /path/to/dir" \
  --scope global --clients "claude code"

Stdio server with separate args:

bash

npx mcp-add --name sqlite --type stdio \
  --command "npx -y @anthropic/mcp-server-sqlite" \
  --args "--db" --args "/path/to/db.sqlite" \
  --scope project --clients cursor,vscode

Remote SSE server:

bash

npx mcp-add --name my-server --type sse \
  --url "http://localhost:3000/sse" \
  --scope global --clients "claude code"

With environment variables:

bash

npx mcp-add --name github --type stdio \
  --command "npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-github" \
  --env "GITHUB_TOKEN=ghp_xxx" \
  --scope global --clients "claude code"

Interactive mode (prompts for all options):

bash

npx mcp-add

Notes

•Project scope creates config in .cursor/, .vscode/, etc. in current directory
•Global scope uses platform-specific config locations
•Claude Desktop only supports global scope
•Command strings are split by whitespace; first part becomes command, rest becomes args