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MCP Uplink 🚀

npm version License: MIT Node.js

The official CLI for MCP Uplink - Cloud MCP Hosting for AI Agents

Your AI Agents: Faster, Cheaper, Safer

Connect Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf and any MCP-compatible AI client to the MCP Uplink cloud platform.


Problem

Solution

🔥 Too many tokens

Only load the tools you need. Reduce context by 60%.

💸 High API costs

Fewer tokens = lower costs. Calculate savings at mcp-calculator

🤖 LLM hallucinations

Less noise = more accurate responses. Specialized agents perform better.

🔐 Security concerns

Zero Trust: Your credentials NEVER leave your machine.

⚙️ Infrastructure headaches

We manage MCP servers. You focus on building.


🎯 3 Pillars for Optimal AI Agents

1. 🧠 Intelligent Tool Filtering

Reduce your context window by only exposing the tools your agent actually needs.

❌ Native MCP: Sends ALL 50+ tool definitions → Heavy load, confused LLM
✅ MCP Uplink: Only sends 5 tools you need → Fast, focused, accurate

Result: 60% less tokens, fewer hallucinations, better responses.

2. 🔐 Dual-Layer Security

Layer 1: Zero Trust Architecture

  • Your API keys and tokens stay in YOUR local .env file

  • Secrets are transmitted in-memory via encrypted HTTPS headers

  • We NEVER store your credentials - we're just a secure proxy

Layer 2: Tool Blocking

  • Block dangerous tools like delete, drop, modify

  • Prevent catastrophic accidents where an agent deletes your database

3. 💰 Maximum Performance, Minimum Cost

  • Less noise = faster and more accurate LLM responses

  • Agents respond instantly with higher quality answers

  • Managed infrastructure = no DevOps overhead for you


📦 Installation

No installation required! Just use npx:

npx mcp-uplink connect --url https://mcp-uplink.com/api/mcp/slack

Or install globally for faster startup:

npm install -g mcp-uplink

🚀 Quick Start

Claude Desktop Configuration

Add this to your claude_desktop_config.json:

OS

Path

Mac

~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

Windows

%APPDATA%/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

Linux

~/.config/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "slack": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "mcp-uplink",
        "connect",
        "--url", "https://mcp-uplink.com/api/mcp/slack"
      ],
      "env": {
        "MCP_API_KEY": "your-mcp-uplink-api-key",
        "MCP_ENABLED_TOOLS": "send_message,list_channels",
        "SLACK_BOT_TOKEN": "xoxb-your-slack-token",
        "SLACK_TEAM_ID": "T0123456789"
      }
    }
  }
}

Cursor / VS Code / Windsurf

Same configuration format - just add to your MCP settings.


⚙️ CLI Options

Option

Description

-u, --url <url>

Required. MCP Uplink endpoint URL

-k, --api-key <key>

Platform API key (or set MCP_API_KEY env var)

--enabled-tools <list>

Comma-separated list of tools to enable

--no-forward-env

Disable environment variable forwarding

--env-prefix <prefix>

Only forward env vars with this prefix

Environment Variables

Variable

Description

MCP_API_KEY

Your MCP Uplink API key

MCP_ENABLED_TOOLS

Tools to enable (e.g., send_message,list_users)

MCP_SERVER_URL

Default server URL

MCP_ENV_PREFIX

Prefix filter for env vars


🔒 Security Architecture

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  YOUR MACHINE (Secure)                                      │
│  ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐   │
│  │  .env file                                           │   │
│  │  SLACK_BOT_TOKEN=xoxb-xxx (never leaves here)        │   │
│  └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘   │
│                           │                                 │
│                           ▼                                 │
│  ┌──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐   │
│  │  mcp-uplink CLI (local process)                      │   │
│  │  - Captures env vars in-memory                       │   │
│  │  - Encrypts via HTTPS header (X-Mcp-Env)             │   │
│  └──────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘   │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                            │
                            ▼ HTTPS (encrypted)
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│  MCP UPLINK CLOUD                                           │
│  - Receives request                                         │
│  - Decrypts env vars IN-MEMORY ONLY                         │
│  - Executes MCP tool                                        │
│  - Immediately forgets credentials (no storage)             │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘

Key Security Features:

  • Ephemeral Secrets: Never stored, only used in-memory

  • HTTPS Transport: All data encrypted in transit

  • Blacklist Filtering: System vars (PATH, SHELL) are never forwarded

  • Tool Blocking: Prevent dangerous operations


📊 How It Works

sequenceDiagram
    participant Claude as Claude Desktop
    participant Bridge as mcp-uplink (local)
    participant Cloud as MCP Uplink Cloud
    participant MCP as MCP Server

    Claude->>Bridge: tools/list
    Bridge->>Cloud: POST /api/mcp/slack (+ X-Mcp-Env header)
    Cloud->>MCP: Execute with filtered tools
    MCP-->>Cloud: Tool definitions
    Cloud-->>Bridge: Filtered response
    Bridge-->>Claude: Only enabled tools


📄 License

MIT © MCP Uplink

-
security - not tested
A
license - permissive license
-
quality - not tested

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