Desktop Commander MCP

Model Context Protocol server for terminal operations and file editing

Execute terminal commands, manage processes, and perform advanced file operations through Claude Desktop via MCP.

🛠️ All Your Dev Tools in One Place

Desktop Commander brings terminal access and file system operations directly into Claude Desktop through the Model Context Protocol.

• 🖥️ Terminal Control: Execute commands and manage long-running processes
• 📁 File Operations: Read, write, search, and edit files with precision
• 🔍 Code Search: Advanced search capabilities using ripgrep
• 🔄 Process Management: Handle SSH sessions, development servers, and background tasks

🚀 Key Features

• 🖥️ Enhanced Terminal Control: Interactive process management with session support
• 🐍 Code Execution: Run Python, Node.js, R code in memory without saving files
• 📊 Instant Data Analysis: Analyze CSV/JSON files directly in chat
• 🔍 Advanced File Search: Fuzzy search across your entire codebase
• ✏️ Surgical Code Editing: Precise file modifications with diff previews
• 🔄 Process Management: Handle SSH, databases, development servers seamlessly

📦 Installation

Option 1: NPX Setup (Recommended)

npx @chriscoletech/desktop-commander-mcp@latest setup

Option 2: Manual Configuration

Add to your Claude Desktop config file (claude_desktop_config.json):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "desktop-commander": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["@chriscoletech/desktop-commander-mcp"]
    }
  }
}

After installation, restart Claude Desktop to activate the MCP server.

🔧 Available MCP Tools

Desktop Commander provides these tools through the Model Context Protocol:

File System Operations

• read_file - Read file contents with optional offset/length parameters
• read_multiple_files - Read multiple files simultaneously
• write_file - Write or append to files
• create_directory - Create directories or ensure they exist
• list_directory - Get detailed directory listings
• move_file - Move or rename files and directories
• get_file_info - Get detailed file/directory metadata

File Search & Code Analysis

• search_files - Find files by name (substring matching)
• search_code - Search text/code patterns in files using ripgrep
• edit_block - Apply surgical text replacements to files

Process & Terminal Management

• start_process - Start terminal processes with intelligent state detection
• read_process_output - Read output from running processes
• interact_with_process - Send input to processes and get responses
• list_sessions - List all active terminal sessions
• force_terminate - Force terminate terminal sessions
• list_processes - List all running system processes
• kill_process - Terminate processes by PID

Legacy Terminal Tools (Backward Compatibility)

• execute_command - Execute terminal commands (legacy)
• read_output - Read command output (legacy)

Configuration & Utilities

• get_config - Get complete server configuration as JSON
• set_config_value - Set specific configuration values
• get_usage_stats - Get usage statistics for debugging
• give_feedback_to_desktop_commander - Open feedback form in browser

📚 Documentation

📖 Full Documentation - Comprehensive guide with detailed examples, production deployment, troubleshooting, and advanced configuration.

See also:

• FAQ - Common questions and solutions
• Privacy Policy - Data handling and privacy information
• Release Process - Development and release workflow

📄 License

MIT License - see LICENSE file for details.

⭐ Star this repository if you find it useful!
🐛 Report issues or suggest features at GitHub Issues

Get started today - npx @chriscoletech/desktop-commander-mcp@latest setup and bring terminal access into Claude Desktop!