MCP-Python
by rhabraken
# Talk with Your Database Using MCP
This guide explains how to set up and run your MCP server to interact with your
PostgreSQL database using Claude Desktop. It should also work with MySQL,
MariaDB, SQLite as it uses sqlalchemy under the hood. This project is build on
top of https://github.com/runekaagaard/mcp-alchemy
> **Note:** This guide assumes you have a basic understanding of Docker,
> environment variables, and CLI usage.
---
## Prerequisites
- **Docker Compose**:
[Installation instructions](https://docs.docker.com/compose/install/)
- **Claude Desktop**: [Download here](https://claude.ai/download)
- **uv**: A modern, high-performance Python package manager. If not installed,
follow the instructions below.
---
## 1. Set Up Environment Variables
1. **Copy and Rename the Environment File**
Duplicate the provided `.env.example` file and rename it to `.env`:
```bash
cp .env.example .env
```
---
## 2. Set Up Claude Desktop
1. **Download and Install Claude Desktop**
Visit the [Claude Desktop download page](https://claude.ai/download) and
install the application.
---
## 3. Launch the PostgreSQL Database with Dummy Data
1. **Run Docker Compose**
Ensure Docker Compose is installed and run:
```bash
docker-compose up -d
```
- This command will launch a PostgreSQL database on `localhost:5432` and
populate it with dummy data.
---
## 4. Install `uv` (if not already installed)
1. **Install `uv`**
Execute the following command to install `uv`:
```bash
curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh
```
---
## 5. Configure and Launch the MCP Server
1. **Create/Update the MCP Server Configuration**
Save the following JSON configuration in your MCP server config file (adjust
paths if necessary):
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"my_database": {
"command": "uv",
"args": [
"--directory",
"/directory/where/this/app/is/located/app/",
"run",
"server.py"
],
"env": {
"DB_URL": "postgresql://postgres:password@localhost:5432/mydatabase"
}
}
}
}
```
- **Tip:** If `uv` is installed in a non-standard location, update the
`"command"` value to reflect the full path to the executable.
2. **Launch the MCP Server**
With the configuration in place, the MCP server will automatically start each
time Claude Desktop is launched.
---
## 6. Enjoy Your Setup
- Open **Claude Desktop**.
- The tool will automatically call your MCP server, enabling you to interact
with your database seamlessly.
---
## Summary
1. **Set Up Environment Variables**: Copy `.env.example` to `.env`.
2. **Install and Run Claude Desktop**: Download from
[Claude Desktop](https://claude.ai/download).
3. **Launch PostgreSQL with Docker Compose**: Run `docker-compose up` to start
the database with dummy data.
4. **Install `uv`**: Run the provided installation command if necessary.
5. **Configure MCP Server**: Update the config file and ensure paths and
environment variables are correct.
6. **Launch and Enjoy**: Start Claude Desktop to begin interacting with your
database via MCP.
---
If you encounter any issues or need further assistance, please refer to the
relevant documentation or contact your support team.
Happy coding!