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arathald

mcp-editor

by arathald

mcp-editor

This is a direct port of Anthropic's filesystem editing tools from their computer use demos to a TypeScript MCP server. It was written largely by Claude Sonnet 3.5 on Roo Cline (now Roo Code) with probably not quite enough direct supervision. I checked over the code and use this server every day, but there may be mistakes or AI weirdness.

I recommend using this server along with mcp-server-commands

WARNING: This MCP server has NO access controls and relies entirely on your client's approval mechanisms. Use at your own risk. DO NOT automatically approve write operations, doing so basically gives the LLM permission to destroy your computer.

WARNING: This MCP server is NOT actively maintained, and is provided for reference (for example creating your own MCP server with proper access controls). I may update it occasionally.

Usage

Get the files on your computer. Run:

npm install
npm build

If you're using the Claude desktop app, paste this into your config under "mcpServers", and edit the path to match where you put mcp-editor:

{
  "mcpServers":
... your existing servers ...
    "mcp-editor": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/absolute/path/to/mcp-editor/dist/server.js"]
    }
  }
}

If you're using MCP Installer, you just need to provide your LLM with the path on your disk to mcp-editor.

Available Tools

5 tools
createC

Create a new file with specified content

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
pathYesAbsolute path where file should be created
file_textYesContent to write to the file

TDQS

C2.9/5.0
Behavior2/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

With no annotations provided, the description carries the full burden of behavioral disclosure. It states the tool creates a file but doesn't mention critical behaviors like whether it overwrites existing files, requires specific permissions, handles errors, or what happens on success/failure. This is inadequate for a mutation tool with zero annotation coverage.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is a single, efficient sentence that directly states the tool's function without unnecessary words. It's front-loaded with the core action, making it easy to parse quickly, and every part of the sentence contributes essential information.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness2/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

For a file creation tool with no annotations and no output schema, the description is incomplete. It lacks details on behavioral traits (e.g., overwrite behavior, error handling), usage context compared to siblings, and expected outcomes, making it insufficient for safe and effective agent use.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

The schema description coverage is 100%, with clear descriptions for both parameters ('path' and 'file_text'). The description adds no additional semantic context beyond what the schema provides, such as file format expectations or path validation rules, so it meets the baseline score when the schema does the heavy lifting.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states the action ('Create a new file') and the resource ('with specified content'), making the purpose immediately understandable. However, it doesn't differentiate from sibling tools like 'insert' or 'string_replace', which might also involve file content manipulation, so it doesn't reach the highest score.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines2/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description provides no guidance on when to use this tool versus alternatives like 'insert' or 'string_replace'. It doesn't mention prerequisites, such as whether the path must exist or if it overwrites existing files, leaving the agent without contextual usage information.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

insertC

Insert text at a specific line in the file

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
pathYesAbsolute path to the file
insert_lineYesLine number where text should be inserted
new_strYesText to insert

TDQS

C2.9/5.0
Behavior2/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

With no annotations provided, the description carries the full burden of behavioral disclosure. It states the tool inserts text but doesn't mention whether this is a destructive operation (e.g., modifies the file permanently), what permissions are required, error handling (e.g., if line number is out of bounds), or side effects. This leaves significant gaps in understanding the tool's behavior beyond its basic function.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is a single, efficient sentence that directly states the tool's purpose without any unnecessary words. It is appropriately sized and front-loaded, making it easy to understand at a glance, with every part contributing to clarity.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness2/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Given the complexity of a file editing tool with no annotations and no output schema, the description is incomplete. It doesn't cover behavioral aspects like safety, permissions, or error handling, nor does it explain return values or side effects. For a tool that modifies files, this lack of context makes it inadequate for safe and effective use.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

The input schema has 100% description coverage, clearly documenting all three parameters (path, insert_line, new_str). The description adds no additional meaning beyond what the schema provides, such as formatting details or usage examples. According to the rules, with high schema coverage, the baseline score is 3, as the schema does the heavy lifting.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states the action ('Insert text') and target ('at a specific line in the file'), providing a specific verb+resource combination. However, it doesn't explicitly differentiate from sibling tools like 'create' (which might create files) or 'string_replace' (which might replace text rather than insert), leaving some ambiguity about when to choose this over alternatives.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines2/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description provides no guidance on when to use this tool versus alternatives like 'create', 'string_replace', or 'undo_edit'. It lacks context about prerequisites (e.g., file must exist), exclusions, or typical scenarios for insertion versus other editing operations, offering only a basic functional statement.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

string_replaceC

Replace a string in a file with a new string

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
pathYesAbsolute path to the file
old_strYesString to replace
new_strNoReplacement string (empty string if omitted)

TDQS

C2.9/5.0
Behavior2/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

With no annotations provided, the description carries the full burden of behavioral disclosure. It states the action ('Replace a string in a file') but doesn't mention critical behaviors such as whether the operation is destructive, requires file permissions, handles errors (e.g., if the string isn't found), or affects file encoding. This leaves significant gaps for safe and effective use.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is a single, clear sentence with zero wasted words. It's front-loaded with the core action and resource, making it highly efficient and easy to parse for an AI agent.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness2/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Given the tool's complexity (a file mutation operation) and the lack of annotations and output schema, the description is insufficient. It doesn't cover behavioral aspects like safety, error handling, or output format, which are crucial for a tool that modifies files. This leaves the agent with incomplete context for reliable use.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

The input schema has 100% description coverage, clearly documenting all three parameters (path, old_str, new_str). The description adds no additional meaning beyond what the schema provides, such as examples or edge cases (e.g., handling empty strings or special characters). Thus, it meets the baseline score when schema coverage is high.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states the tool's purpose with a specific verb ('Replace') and resource ('a string in a file'), making it immediately understandable. However, it doesn't differentiate from sibling tools like 'insert' or 'undo_edit', which might also modify files, so it doesn't reach the highest score.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines2/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description provides no guidance on when to use this tool versus alternatives like 'insert' or 'undo_edit'. It lacks context about scenarios where string replacement is preferred over other editing operations, leaving the agent to infer usage from the tool name alone.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

undo_editC

Undo the last edit to a file

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
pathYesAbsolute path to the file

TDQS

C2.9/5.0
Behavior2/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

With no annotations provided, the description carries full burden for behavioral disclosure. It states the tool 'undoes' an edit, implying mutation/reversal, but doesn't specify whether this is destructive, requires specific permissions, has limitations (e.g., only one undo level), or what happens on failure. This leaves significant behavioral gaps for a mutation tool.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is a single, efficient sentence that directly states the tool's purpose with zero wasted words. It's appropriately front-loaded and earns its place by clearly communicating the core functionality.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness2/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

For a mutation tool with no annotations and no output schema, the description is insufficient. It doesn't address critical context like what 'undo' entails (revert to previous state? delete last change?), error conditions, or return values. Given the complexity of file editing operations, more behavioral detail is needed.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 100%, with the single parameter 'path' clearly documented in the schema. The description doesn't add any parameter-specific details beyond what the schema provides (e.g., it doesn't clarify path format requirements or edit history implications), so it meets the baseline for high schema coverage.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states the action ('undo') and target ('last edit to a file'), providing a specific verb+resource combination. However, it doesn't explicitly differentiate from sibling tools like 'create' or 'insert', which are also file operations but with different purposes.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines2/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description provides no guidance on when to use this tool versus alternatives. It doesn't mention prerequisites (e.g., requires an edit history), exclusions (e.g., cannot undo deletions), or suggest when other tools like 'string_replace' might be more appropriate for different editing needs.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

viewB

View file contents or directory listing

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
pathYesAbsolute path to the file or directory
view_rangeNoOptional range of lines to view [start, end]

TDQS

B3.2/5.0
Behavior2/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

No annotations are provided, so the description carries the full burden of behavioral disclosure. It states the tool is for viewing, implying read-only behavior, but doesn't disclose other traits like error handling (e.g., what happens if the path doesn't exist), permissions required, or output format. For a tool with no annotations, this leaves significant gaps in understanding its behavior beyond the basic purpose.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is extremely concise with 'View file contents or directory listing', a single sentence that front-loads the core purpose without any wasted words. It efficiently communicates the tool's function, making it easy to parse and understand quickly.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness2/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Given no annotations and no output schema, the description is incomplete for a tool with 2 parameters. It lacks details on behavioral traits, error handling, and what the output looks like (e.g., text content vs. structured listing). For a read operation with no structured output info, more context is needed to fully understand how to use and interpret results.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

The input schema has 100% description coverage, with clear docs for 'path' and 'view_range'. The description adds no additional meaning beyond the schema, such as examples or edge cases. Since schema coverage is high, the baseline score is 3, as the description doesn't compensate but also doesn't detract from the well-documented parameters.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states the tool's purpose with 'View file contents or directory listing', specifying both verb ('View') and resources ('file contents', 'directory listing'). It distinguishes from siblings like 'create', 'insert', and 'string_replace' by indicating read-only access, though it doesn't explicitly differentiate from 'undo_edit' which might also involve viewing. The description is specific but could be more precise about sibling differentiation.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines3/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description implies usage for viewing files or directories, suggesting when to use it (e.g., to inspect content or list items). However, it lacks explicit guidance on when not to use it or alternatives, such as using other tools for editing or creation. No prerequisites or exclusions are mentioned, leaving usage context somewhat vague.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

TDQS

B3.4/5.0
Disambiguation5/5

Each tool has a clearly distinct purpose with no overlap: create makes new files, insert adds text at lines, string_replace modifies content, undo_edit reverses changes, and view reads content or lists directories. The descriptions make it easy to differentiate between file creation, editing operations, and viewing.

Naming Consistency4/5

Most tools follow a consistent verb-based naming pattern (create, insert, view, undo_edit), but 'string_replace' deviates slightly by using a compound term instead of a simple verb like 'replace'. This minor inconsistency is still readable and doesn't hinder usability significantly.

Tool Count5/5

With 5 tools, this server is well-scoped for basic file editing operations. Each tool earns its place by covering essential functions like creation, insertion, replacement, undo, and viewing, making it neither too sparse nor overloaded for its domain.

Completeness4/5

The tool set covers core file editing workflows well, including create, modify (insert and replace), undo, and view. A minor gap is the lack of a delete or rename tool, which agents might need for full file management, but the existing tools allow effective editing without dead ends.

Maintenance

ActivityInactive
ResponsivenessSyncing

Resources

Unclaimed servers have limited discoverability.

Looking for Admin?

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