MCP Filesystem

Overview

The MCP Filesystem server turns a local project directory into a live, searchable set of MCP resources. Each file that is not excluded by becomes an individual resource with its own MIME type and content, allowing AI assistants to reference, display, or edit any file in the workspace as if it were a first‑class data source. This eliminates the need for custom adapters or manual file uploads, giving developers a seamless way to integrate their source code, configuration files, and documentation directly into conversational AI workflows.

At its core, the server solves the problem of file discovery and synchronization for AI assistants. When a repository changes—whether through commits, merges, or local edits—the server automatically emits change notifications (). Clients can subscribe to these events and refresh their view of the workspace in real time, ensuring that the assistant always works with the most current state. This is particularly valuable for code review bots, documentation generators, or any scenario where the assistant must reason about the current codebase without manual intervention.

Key capabilities include:

• Resource Listing: The server exposes every non‑ignored file as a distinct MCP resource, complete with a unique identifier and MIME type derived from the file’s extension or content.
• Gitignore Awareness: By parsing , the server respects repository conventions and avoids leaking temporary or generated files into the assistant’s view.
• Change Detection: Leveraging file‑system watchers, the server notifies clients of creations, deletions, and modifications, enabling incremental updates instead of full reloads.
• Encoding Support: Text files are read with proper handling of various encodings, ensuring accurate rendering and manipulation.

Real‑world use cases abound: a developer can ask the assistant to “show me the latest ,” and the bot will fetch the exact file from the workspace; a CI pipeline can trigger an AI review that automatically pulls in changed files and highlights potential issues; or a documentation tool can pull source comments on the fly to generate up‑to‑date guides. Because the server follows MCP conventions, any client that supports resource listing and change notifications—Claude Desktop, custom web UIs, or command‑line tools—can tap into the same file ecosystem.

What sets this server apart is its lightweight, out‑of‑the‑box nature. Written in Go for speed and reliability, it requires no external services or databases; the filesystem itself is the data store. Developers can spin it up with a single binary, configure a workspace path, and immediately gain a fully‑functional, AI‑ready view of their codebase. As the project matures, planned features such as line‑number support, subscription APIs, and built‑in edit tools promise to make the experience even richer, positioning MCP Filesystem as a foundational building block for AI‑enhanced development environments.