Bear MCP Server

Overview

The Bear MCP Server bridges the gap between Claude and the Bear note‑taking application. By exposing a read‑only interface to Bear’s SQLite database, it lets AI assistants query and retrieve notes, tags, and search results without risking accidental modification of your data. This is especially valuable for developers who want to harness the full context of their personal knowledge base while maintaining data integrity.

At its core, the server implements four lightweight tools: , , , and . Each tool performs a simple SELECT query against the Bear database, returning structured JSON that Claude can consume. Because all operations are non‑destructive, developers can safely embed these tools in conversational flows—such as pulling up meeting notes or searching for project‑related content—without exposing write privileges to the AI. The read‑only connection is enforced at the database driver level, ensuring that even if a malicious query slips through, the underlying SQLite file remains untouched.

For developers building AI‑powered productivity workflows, this server offers a straightforward integration path. By adding the MCP configuration to either the Claude desktop app or the VS Code extension, a single command launches the server and registers it as a trusted tool. Once registered, Claude can invoke any of the four tools through natural language prompts, turning a simple chat into an interactive knowledge‑base assistant. This eliminates the need for custom API wrappers or manual data export, saving time and reducing boilerplate.

Real‑world scenarios abound: a software engineer can ask Claude to pull the latest architecture diagram notes, a project manager can request all tasks tagged with , or an academic researcher might search for papers stored in Bear. Because the server respects Bear’s native tagging system, it also supports tag‑based navigation, allowing users to explore related content without leaving the AI conversation. The result is a seamless blend of conversational intelligence and structured note retrieval, enhancing productivity across coding, research, and personal organization.

Unique advantages include its zero‑write guarantee, which is critical for users who treat their Bear database as immutable, and its minimal dependency footprint—written in TypeScript with a single SQLite driver. The server’s design aligns perfectly with MCP’s philosophy of secure, tool‑centric interactions, making it a reliable addition to any AI assistant stack that values safety and simplicity.