Filesystem MCP Server

1

Add it to Claude Code

Run this in a terminal.

Run in terminal
claude mcp add filesystem-mcp-5075 -- npx github:codemaestroai/filesystem-mcp "<YOUR_PROJECT_PATH>"
README.md

Secure filesystem access for AI assistants with optimized file operations.

Filesystem MCP

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides secure filesystem access to AI assistants in Code Maestro Desktop.

What it does

This MCP server allows AI assistants to:

  • Read and write files
  • Create and navigate directories
  • Search for files
  • Edit existing files with precision
  • And more filesystem operations

All operations are restricted to the directories you explicitly allow.

Why This Fork?

We forked the original @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem to make it more efficient for AI assistants. The original package could return extremely large outputs that waste tokens and overwhelm language models.

Our improvements:

  • Smart file reading limits - Prevents reading gigantic files in full
  • Directory listing caps - Returns manageable results even in folders with thousands of files
  • Depth-limited tree traversal - Avoids getting lost in deep folder structures
  • Optimized search results - Returns relevant matches without flooding the output
  • Skip large folders - Automatically bypasses node_modules, .git, and similar directories

These changes ensure your AI assistant gets the information it needs without drowning in unnecessary data.

Quick Start

1. Open CM Desktop and click connectors

2. Click "Add" and paste the following JSON:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "Code Maestro - Filesystem MCP": {
      "transport": "stdio",
      "enabled": true,
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "github:codemaestroai/filesystem-mcp",
        "<YOUR_PROJECT_PATH>"
      ],
      "env": {},
      "url": null,
      "headers": null
    }
  }
}

3. Replace <YOUR_PROJECT_PATH> with the actual path to your project directory

Example paths:

  • Windows: "C:\\Users\\YourName\\Projects\\my-project"
  • macOS/Linux: "/home/username/projects/my-project"

You can specify multiple directories:

"args": [
  "github:codemaestroai/filesystem-mcp",
  "/path/to/project1",
  "/path/to/project2"
]

Security

  • The MCP server can ONLY access directories you explicitly specify
  • All file operations are logged
  • Attempts to access files outside allowed directories will be rejected

Note: This is a temporary solution. We're working on native file operation support in CM Desktop.

Tools (4)

read_fileReads the content of a file with smart limits to prevent excessive token usage.
write_fileWrites content to a specified file path.
list_directoryLists files and directories within a path with caps to manage large folder structures.
search_filesSearches for files within allowed directories using optimized result filtering.

Configuration

claude_desktop_config.json
{"mcpServers": {"Code Maestro - Filesystem MCP": {"transport": "stdio", "enabled": true, "command": "npx", "args": ["github:codemaestroai/filesystem-mcp", "<YOUR_PROJECT_PATH>"]}}}

Try it

List all the files in the current project directory to get an overview of the structure.
Read the contents of README.md and summarize the project's purpose.
Search for all Python files in the src directory.
Create a new file named notes.txt and add a list of project tasks to it.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key features of Filesystem MCP?

Smart file reading limits to prevent token waste. Directory listing caps for manageable output. Depth-limited tree traversal for deep folder structures. Automatic exclusion of large system folders like node_modules and .git. Strict security by restricting access to explicitly allowed directories.

What can I use Filesystem MCP for?

Allowing AI assistants to browse and understand large codebases safely. Automating documentation updates by reading and writing project files. Searching for specific configuration files across complex project structures. Managing project files without exposing the entire system to the AI.

How do I install Filesystem MCP?

Install Filesystem MCP by running: npx github:codemaestroai/filesystem-mcp <YOUR_PROJECT_PATH>

What MCP clients work with Filesystem MCP?

Filesystem MCP works with any MCP-compatible client including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, and other editors with MCP support.

Turn this server into reusable context

Keep Filesystem MCP docs, env vars, and workflow notes in Conare so your agent carries them across sessions.

Need the old visual installer? Open Conare IDE.
Open Conare