SQLite MCP Server

A comprehensive Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for SQLite database operations. This server enables AI assistants to interact with SQLite databases through a standardized interface, providing safe and efficient database operations.

Features

🔍 Resources

• Database Schema: View complete database schema with all tables and structures

• Tables List: Get a list of all tables in the database

• Table Info: Detailed information about specific tables including columns, indexes, and foreign keys

🛠️ Tools

• query: Execute read-only SQL queries (SELECT statements)

• execute: Execute write operations (INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, CREATE, DROP)

• create-table: Create new tables with column definitions and constraints

• drop-table: Remove tables from the database

• describe-table: Get detailed table structure information

• list-tables: List all tables in the database

• insert-record: Insert new records with data validation

• update-record: Update existing records with WHERE conditions

• delete-record: Delete records with WHERE conditions

• transaction: Execute multiple SQL statements atomically

💬 Prompts

• analyze-schema: Generate comprehensive database schema analysis

• generate-query: Help create SQL queries based on natural language requirements

• optimize-query: Get optimization suggestions for existing SQL queries

Installation

Option 1: Install from npm (Recommended)

Install globally:

npm install -g mcp-server-sqlite

Or use with npx (no installation required):

npx mcp-server-sqlite --help

Option 2: Local Development with npm link

For local development and testing:

1. Clone this repository:

git clone https://github.com/madnh/mcp-server-sqlite.git
cd mcp-server-sqlite

2. Install dependencies and build:

npm install
npm run build

3. Link globally for development:

npm link

4. Now you can use the command globally:

mcp-server-sqlite --db ./database.db
mcp-server-sqlite --help

5. To unlink when done developing:

npm unlink -g mcp-server-sqlite

Option 3: From Source (Development Mode)

1. Follow steps 1-2 from Option 2

2. Run directly with:

npm run dev                    # Development mode
npm run build && npm start     # Production mode

Usage

Basic Usage

Via npm/npx (Recommended)

# Basic usage (creates database.db if not exists)
npx mcp-server-sqlite

# Specify database path
npx mcp-server-sqlite --db ./my-database.db

# Using long form
npx mcp-server-sqlite --database /path/to/production.db

# Get help
npx mcp-server-sqlite --help

# Check version
npx mcp-server-sqlite --version

Via environment variable

export SQLITE_DB_PATH=./my-database.db
npx mcp-server-sqlite

Development mode (from source)

npm run dev

Production mode (from source)

npm run build
npm start

Environment Configuration

Create a .env file based on .env.example:

cp .env.example .env

Configure your database path:

SQLITE_DB_PATH=./your-database.db

Example Database Setup

Create a sample database with test data:

node examples/setup-database.js

This creates example.db with sample tables and data for testing.

With Claude Desktop

Option 1: Using npx (Recommended)

Add to your Claude Desktop configuration (claude_desktop_config.json):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "sqlite": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["mcp-server-sqlite", "--db", "/path/to/your/database.db"]
    }
  }
}

Option 2: Using global installation

If you installed globally with npm install -g mcp-server-sqlite:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "sqlite": {
      "command": "mcp-server-sqlite",
      "args": ["--database", "/path/to/your/database.db"]
    }
  }
}

Option 3: Using environment variables

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "sqlite": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["mcp-server-sqlite"],
      "env": {
        "SQLITE_DB_PATH": "/path/to/your/database.db"
      }
    }
  }
}

Option 4: From source (development)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "sqlite": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/mcp-server-sqlite/dist/cli.js"],
      "env": {
        "SQLITE_DB_PATH": "/path/to/your/database.db"
      }
    }
  }
}

API Reference

Resources

schema://database

Returns the complete database schema including all tables and their SQL definitions.

tables://list

Returns a JSON list of all table names in the database.

table-info://{tableName}

Returns detailed information about a specific table including:

• Column definitions

• Indexes

• Foreign key constraints

Tools

query

Execute read-only SQL queries.

{
  sql: string; // SELECT query to execute
}

execute

Execute write operations.

{
  sql: string; // INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, CREATE, or DROP statement
}

create-table

Create a new table with structured column definitions.

{
  name: string,
  columns: Array<{
    name: string,
    type: string, // TEXT, INTEGER, REAL, BLOB
    primaryKey?: boolean,
    notNull?: boolean,
    unique?: boolean,
    defaultValue?: string
  }>,
  ifNotExists?: boolean
}

insert-record

Insert a new record into a table.

{
  table: string,
  data: Record<string, any> // Column-value pairs
}

update-record

Update existing records.

{
  table: string,
  data: Record<string, any>, // Column-value pairs to update
  where: string // WHERE clause
}

delete-record

Delete records from a table.

{
  table: string,
  where: string // WHERE clause
}

transaction

Execute multiple statements atomically.

{
  statements: string[] // Array of SQL statements
}

Prompts

analyze-schema

Generate comprehensive database analysis.

{
  includeData?: boolean // Include sample data in analysis
}

generate-query

Generate SQL queries from natural language requirements.

{
  requirement: string, // What you want to query
  tables?: string[] // Specific tables to focus on
}

optimize-query

Get query optimization suggestions.

{
  query: string, // SQL query to optimize
  executionContext?: string // Additional context
}

Database Features

Safety & Security

• SQL Injection Protection: Uses parameterized queries

• Query Validation: Validates SQL statements before execution

• Read/Write Separation: Separate tools for read-only vs write operations

• Transaction Support: Atomic execution of multiple statements

Performance Optimizations

• Connection Pooling: Efficient database connection management

• WAL Mode: Write-Ahead Logging for better performance

• Prepared Statements: Cached and optimized query execution

• Memory Optimization: Configured for optimal memory usage

Supported SQLite Features

• All standard SQL data types (TEXT, INTEGER, REAL, BLOB)

• Primary keys, foreign keys, unique constraints

• Indexes and query optimization

• Views and complex queries

• Transactions and ACID compliance

• PRAGMA statements for configuration

Examples

Query Data

SELECT u.username, COUNT(o.id) as order_count, SUM(o.total_amount) as total_spent
FROM users u
LEFT JOIN orders o ON u.id = o.user_id
GROUP BY u.id, u.username
ORDER BY total_spent DESC;

Create Table

{
  "name": "customers",
  "columns": [
    {"name": "id", "type": "INTEGER", "primaryKey": true},
    {"name": "name", "type": "TEXT", "notNull": true},
    {"name": "email", "type": "TEXT", "unique": true},
    {"name": "created_at", "type": "DATETIME", "defaultValue": "CURRENT_TIMESTAMP"}
  ]
}

Insert Record

{
  "table": "customers",
  "data": {
    "name": "John Doe",
    "email": "john@example.com"
  }
}

Transaction

{
  "statements": [
    "BEGIN TRANSACTION",
    "INSERT INTO orders (user_id, total_amount) VALUES (1, 99.99)",
    "INSERT INTO order_items (order_id, product_id, quantity, price) VALUES (last_insert_rowid(), 1, 2, 49.99)",
    "UPDATE products SET stock_quantity = stock_quantity - 2 WHERE id = 1",
    "COMMIT"
  ]
}

Development

Local Development with npm link

The recommended way to develop and test locally:

# Setup for development
npm install
npm run build
npm link

# Now test your changes globally
mcp-server-sqlite --db ./example.db

# After making changes, rebuild and test
npm run build
mcp-server-sqlite --version

# Clean up when done
npm unlink -g mcp-server-sqlite

Scripts

• npm run build: Build TypeScript to JavaScript

• npm run dev: Run in development mode with auto-reload

• npm start: Run the compiled server

• npm run stdio: Run server with stdio transport

• npm link: Link package globally for development testing

• npm pack --dry-run: Preview what will be published

Project Structure

mcp-server-sqlite/
├── src/
│   └── index.ts          # Main server implementation
├── examples/
│   ├── sample-data.sql   # Sample database schema and data
│   └── setup-database.js # Database setup script
├── dist/                 # Compiled JavaScript (after build)
├── package.json
├── tsconfig.json
├── README.md
└── .env.example

Error Handling

The server provides comprehensive error handling:

• SQL Syntax Errors: Clear error messages for malformed queries

• Constraint Violations: Detailed information about constraint failures

• Connection Issues: Graceful handling of database connection problems

• Permission Errors: Safe handling of unauthorized operations

Limitations

• File System Access: Server can only access databases in allowed paths

• Resource Limits: Large result sets may be truncated for performance

• Concurrent Access: Uses SQLite's built-in locking mechanisms

• Schema Changes: Some DDL operations may require server restart

Contributing

1. Fork the repository

2. Create a feature branch

3. Make your changes

4. Add tests if applicable

5. Submit a pull request

License

MIT License - see LICENSE file for details.

Support

For issues and questions:

• Check the examples/ directory for usage patterns

• Review the SQLite documentation for SQL syntax

• Open an issue on the project repository