MCP File Server

Overview

The MCP File Server is a Node.js‑based Model Context Protocol server that exposes a secure, standardized interface for performing file system operations. By implementing the MCP specification, it allows AI assistants such as Claude or developer tools like Cursor to interact with a file system in a controlled, auditable manner without exposing raw shell access. This solves the common problem of integrating file manipulation into conversational AI workflows while preserving security boundaries and maintaining a clear audit trail.

At its core, the server offers a suite of file‑centric tools: enumerates directory contents, retrieves file data, persists new or updated content, and removes files or directories. Two additional tools— and —enable dynamic scoping of all file operations to a user‑chosen root path. This means an assistant can switch the working directory on the fly, avoiding server restarts or manual configuration changes. The Git integration adds a powerful layer of version control; the tool lets the assistant execute arbitrary Git commands within the current base directory, supporting multiple shells (PowerShell, Bash, CMD) and providing instant feedback on repository state.

Developers benefit from the server’s modular architecture. Separate services handle configuration, logging, file operations, Git commands, and tool registration, making the codebase easy to extend or replace components. Security is baked in: path normalization prevents directory traversal, command validation blocks injection attacks, and every operation is logged to a dedicated file for auditability. This ensures that even when an AI assistant can modify the file system, it does so within a well‑defined and monitored boundary.

Typical use cases include building AI‑powered code editors, automated documentation generators, or data pipelines that require reading from or writing to disk. In a team setting, an assistant can help developers navigate project files, fetch logs, or run Git workflows—all within a single chat session. For data scientists, the server can expose datasets stored on disk, allowing the assistant to load, preprocess, or analyze files without leaving the conversational interface.

In summary, the MCP File Server turns a local file system into a first‑class AI tool. It bridges the gap between conversational agents and persistent storage, providing secure, auditable, and flexible file operations that fit naturally into modern AI‑augmented development workflows.