iTerm MCP

MCP Server

Integrate iTerm2 with AI for real‑time terminal control

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About

iTerm MCP is a lightweight Model Context Protocol server that lets AI models inspect and manipulate your iTerm2 session, enabling natural language interaction with terminal output, REPLs, and control characters.

Capabilities

Resources

Access data sources

Tools

Execute functions

Prompts

Pre-built templates

Sampling

AI model interactions

Main Image

The iTerm MCP server bridges the gap between a developer’s terminal session and an AI assistant, allowing the model to see, interpret, and act on a live iTerm 2 window. Rather than sending raw command strings to an external shell, the server exposes a lightweight set of tools that let the assistant read specific portions of terminal output and write commands directly to the active session. This focused interaction reduces token usage: a model only needs to request the last few lines of output instead of parsing an entire log, which is especially valuable for long‑running processes that generate extensive console data.

For developers integrating AI into their workflow, this server adds a powerful “live terminal” capability. A model can be asked to troubleshoot a build failure, debug an API call, or walk through the steps of a deployment pipeline while the user watches each command execute in real time. The ability to send control characters (Ctrl‑C, Ctrl‑Z) and manage REPL sessions means the assistant can pause, resume, or cancel processes just like a human operator. This level of interaction turns the terminal from a passive output stream into an interactive control surface that the AI can manipulate safely and transparently.

Key features include:

Selective output reading – the assistant requests only the relevant lines, keeping prompts concise and responsive.
Full terminal manipulation – through , , and the model can launch commands, interact with interactive prompts, or control running programs.
Minimal dependencies – built on Node 18+ and distributable via , the server can be dropped into Claude Desktop or any MCP‑compatible client with a single configuration entry.
Safety transparency – the server deliberately imposes no execution restrictions, placing responsibility on the user to monitor activity and intervene when necessary.

Typical use cases span debugging complex build scripts, automating repetitive shell tasks, or orchestrating multi‑step deployments where the AI can verify each step’s output before proceeding. By exposing a controlled terminal interface, iTerm MCP enables developers to embed AI into their day‑to‑day command line workflows, turning the assistant from a passive helper into an active participant in terminal-based development and operations.