Cleric

Cleric is a lightweight desktop companion that streamlines the management of Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers for Claude Desktop. In environments where developers frequently toggle between multiple AI back‑ends—such as local LLMs, cloud services, or custom tooling—Cleric removes the tedium of editing JSON files and restarting applications. By centralizing server configurations in a single, user‑friendly interface, it reduces the risk of misconfiguration and accelerates iteration cycles.

At its core, Cleric maintains two synchronized configuration files. The personal server list () acts as a master record, preserving every MCP endpoint you have ever added. The second file () reflects the active servers that Claude Desktop is currently using. Whenever you enable or disable a server, Cleric updates both files automatically and ensures that any manual edits made directly in Claude Desktop are imported back into the personal list on the next launch. This bidirectional sync guarantees consistency across sessions and eliminates manual backups.

Key capabilities include real‑time editing, server removal (from either the personal list or Claude Desktop), and inline documentation of server details. The toolbar offers a quick “MCP Inspector” command, which launches a diagnostic terminal session to test connectivity and latency. Recent updates have shifted from launching the inspector directly to displaying a copy‑able command, simplifying cross‑platform support while preserving powerful debugging tools. Cleric also features a light theme and built‑in version checks, providing a polished experience without sacrificing performance.

Developers can leverage Cleric in several real‑world scenarios. For instance, a data scientist iterating on prompt engineering might switch between a local GPT‑4 model and an Azure deployment to benchmark responses; Cleric lets them toggle servers with a single click. A product team integrating a custom NLP service can add the MCP endpoint once and share the configuration with teammates via the personal JSON file. In continuous integration pipelines, scripts can invoke Cleric’s CLI (via the inspector command) to validate server availability before running tests. The result is a consistent, auditable workflow that keeps MCP configurations out of source control and in the hands of those who need them.

In summary, Cleric transforms MCP server management from a fragile manual process into an intuitive, reliable workflow. By preserving configurations, synchronizing with Claude Desktop, and providing instant diagnostic access, it empowers developers to focus on building smarter AI assistants rather than wrestling with configuration files.