# 🛠️ MCP Tools

A local [Model Context Protocol (MCP)](https://modelcontextprotocol.io) server that exposes custom tools to Claude Desktop, enabling Claude to interact with your local environment directly.

---

## 📋 Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have the following installed:

- [Node.js](https://nodejs.org/) v18 or higher
- [npm](https://www.npmjs.com/) v9 or higher
- [Claude Desktop](https://claude.ai/download) (latest version)

---

## 🚀 Setup

### 1. Install Dependencies

Open a terminal, navigate to the project folder, and install:

```bash
cd <project-path>
npm install
```

### 2. Build the Project

Compile the TypeScript source:

```bash
npm run build
```

This will generate the compiled output in the `dist/` folder (typically `dist/index.js`).

### 3. Configure Claude Desktop

Claude Desktop needs to know about your MCP server. Open (or create) the config file at:

```
%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json
```

> **Tip:** You can open this quickly by pressing `Win + R`, typing `%APPDATA%\Claude`, and pressing Enter.

Paste the following configuration:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mcp-tools": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": [
        "<project-path>/dist/index.js"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

> **Note:** Replace `<project-path>` with the actual path to your project folder (e.g. `C:\\Users\\username\\Desktop\\mcp-tools`). If you already have other MCP servers in your config, add `"mcp-tools"` as a new entry inside `"mcpServers"` — don't replace the entire file.

### 4. Restart Claude Desktop

Fully quit and relaunch Claude Desktop so it picks up the new config.

> On Windows, make sure to right-click the system tray icon and choose **Quit** — just closing the window may leave it running in the background.

---

## ✅ Verify the Connection

Once Claude Desktop restarts:

1. Open a new chat
2. Click the **🔧 Tools** icon (hammer icon) in the bottom-left of the input box
3. You should see your `mcp-tools` tools listed and available

If the tools don't appear, see [Troubleshooting](#-troubleshooting) below.

---

## 💬 Using the Tools

Once connected, you can ask Claude to use your tools naturally in conversation. For example:

```
"Can you use the mcp-tools to..."
```

Claude will automatically detect when a tool is relevant and invoke it on your behalf.

---

## 🔄 Making Changes

If you modify any source files, rebuild and restart Claude Desktop:

```bash
npm run build
```

Then fully restart Claude Desktop for the changes to take effect.

---

## 🐛 Troubleshooting

### Tools not showing up in Claude Desktop

- Double-check the path in `claude_desktop_config.json` matches your actual project location exactly (watch for single vs double backslashes)
- Make sure `npm run build` completed without errors and `dist/index.js` exists
- Fully quit and relaunch Claude Desktop (check system tray)
- Open Claude Desktop logs via **Help → Open Logs Folder** to look for MCP errors

### Build errors

```bash
# Make sure dependencies are installed
npm install

# Check your Node version (needs v18+)
node --version
```

### Config file not found

If `%APPDATA%\Claude\` doesn't exist yet, create the folder and the `claude_desktop_config.json` file manually.

---

## 📂 Project Structure

```
mcp-tools/
├── src/
│   └── index.ts          # Main MCP server entry point
├── dist/                 # Compiled output (generated by build)
│   └── index.js
├── package.json
├── tsconfig.json
└── README.md
```

---

## 🔨 Build Commands Reference

Different ways to compile the TypeScript source depending on your setup:

```bash
# Recommended — bundle with esbuild (fastest, most compatible)
npx esbuild src/index.ts --bundle --platform=node --format=cjs --target=node18 --outfile=dist/index.js

# Alternative — compile with tsc directly
npx tsc index.ts --module commonjs --target ES2020 --esModuleInterop true --outDir dist
```

---

# Useful References

https://simplescraper.io/blog/how-to-mcp#core-server-setup-with-express


https://vercel.com/kb/guide/mcp-server-with-weather-tool-express


## 📜 License

MIT