Allows processing and editing JavaScript files with targeted modifications using tools like sed and awk, supporting operations such as version bumping, import path updates, and debug code removal.
Supports package.json management for npm packages, particularly for version bumping and dependency updates through targeted text replacement.
Enables precise editing of TypeScript files including modifying imports, fixing formatting, and updating configuration values without rewriting entire files.
Click on "Install Server".
Wait a few minutes for the server to deploy. Once ready, it will show a "Started" state.
In the chat, type
@followed by the MCP server name and your instructions, e.g., "@MCP SmallEditreplace all occurrences of 'localhost' with 'production.server.com' in config.json"
That's it! The server will respond to your query, and you can continue using it as needed.
Here is a step-by-step guide with screenshots.
MCP SmallEdit
A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides tools for making small, targeted edits to files using stream editors like sed and awk.
Why SmallEdit?
When making minor changes to files (fixing typos, updating version numbers, changing config values), using full file replacement is inefficient. SmallEdit provides targeted editing capabilities that:
Save tokens by only specifying what to change
Reduce errors by not rewriting entire files
Enable bulk operations across multiple files
Provide preview capabilities before applying changes
Related MCP server: mcp-wcgw
Installation
npm install -g @bard/mcp-smalleditTools Available
1. sed_edit
Make small edits using sed patterns.
Examples:
// Replace all occurrences
sed_edit({
file: "package.json",
pattern: "s/0.1.0/0.2.0/g"
})
// Delete lines containing pattern
sed_edit({
file: "config.ts",
pattern: "/DEBUG_MODE/d"
})
// Preview changes first
sed_edit({
file: "index.ts",
pattern: "s/foo/bar/g",
preview: true
})2. sed_multifile
Apply patterns to multiple files.
Examples:
// Update imports across all TypeScript files
sed_multifile({
pattern: "s/'.\\//src\\//g",
filePattern: "*.ts",
directory: "src"
})
// Remove console.log from all JS files
sed_multifile({
pattern: "/console\\.log/d",
filePattern: "*.js"
})3. quick_replace
Simple find and replace without regex.
Examples:
// Replace text literally
quick_replace({
file: "README.md",
find: "version 1.0",
replace: "version 2.0"
})
// Replace only first occurrence
quick_replace({
file: "config.json",
find: "localhost",
replace: "production.server.com",
all: false
})4. line_edit
Edit specific lines by number.
Examples:
// Replace line 42
line_edit({
file: "index.ts",
lineNumber: 42,
action: "replace",
content: "export const VERSION = '2.0.0';"
})
// Delete lines 10-20
line_edit({
file: "test.ts",
lineRange: "10,20",
action: "delete"
})
// Insert after line 5
line_edit({
file: "imports.ts",
lineNumber: 5,
action: "insert_after",
content: "import { newModule } from './new-module';"
})5. awk_process
Process files with AWK for complex operations.
Examples:
// Sum numbers in second column
awk_process({
file: "data.csv",
script: "{sum += $2} END {print sum}"
})
// Extract specific columns
awk_process({
file: "data.tsv",
script: "{print $1, $3}",
outputFile: "extracted.txt"
})Configuration
Add to your MCP client config:
{
"mcpServers": {
"smalledit": {
"command": "mcp-smalledit"
}
}
}Common Use Cases
Version Bumping
sed_edit({
file: "package.json",
pattern: 's/"version": "[^"]*"/"version": "1.2.3"/g'
})Update Import Paths
sed_multifile({
pattern: "s|'@old/package|'@new/package|g",
filePattern: "*.ts"
})Remove Debug Code
sed_multifile({
pattern: "/\\/\\/\\s*DEBUG:/d",
filePattern: "*.js"
})Fix Formatting
// Add missing semicolons
sed_multifile({
pattern: "s/^\\([^;]*\\)$/\\1;/",
filePattern: "*.ts"
})Safety Features
Automatic Backups: Creates
.bakfiles by defaultPreview Mode: Test patterns before applying
Error Handling: Clear error messages for invalid patterns
File Validation: Checks file existence before editing
Notes
All file paths are relative to the current working directory
Backup files (
.bak) are created by default unless disabledUse preview mode to test complex patterns
Escape special characters appropriately in patterns
License
MIT -e
Known Issues
Pattern Delimiters
When using path replacements, use pipe delimiter instead of forward slash to avoid quoting issues:
// ❌ Problematic with paths
sed_edit({ pattern: "s/old/path/new/path/g" })
// ✅ Works correctly
sed_edit({ pattern: "s|old/path|new/path|g" })