PHP MCP Protocol Server

The PHP MCP Protocol Server bridges the gap between Anthropic’s Claude AI and server‑side PHP code. By exposing a lightweight MCP endpoint, it lets developers run arbitrary PHP scripts and query the runtime environment directly from an AI assistant. This eliminates the need for custom integrations or manual SSH access, enabling rapid prototyping and automation within a single conversational interface.

At its core, the server implements two high‑level tools: executePhp and phpInfo. The former accepts a string of PHP code, runs it in a sandboxed process, and streams back the standard output, any errors, and the exit code. The latter returns a formatted snapshot of the current PHP configuration—including version, loaded extensions, and ini settings—allowing Claude to adapt its behavior based on the runtime context. Because these tools are built on Anthropic’s official MCP SDK, they adhere to protocol best practices such as structured error handling and automatic cleanup of temporary files.

For developers, this translates into a powerful workflow: invoke PHP logic from within Claude to generate reports, manipulate data, or perform server‑side calculations without leaving the chat. The server’s error handling and environment checks ensure that failures are reported clearly, reducing debugging friction. Additionally, the ability to query lets AI agents tailor responses based on available extensions or PHP version, enhancing compatibility and reliability.

Typical use cases include:

• Data transformation: Run PHP scripts that parse CSVs, manipulate arrays, or generate JSON for downstream services.
• Testing and debugging: Execute snippets to validate logic or inspect variable states directly from the assistant.
• Automation pipelines: Trigger PHP‑based tasks (e.g., image processing, database migrations) as part of a larger AI‑driven workflow.
• Educational tools: Allow students to experiment with PHP code in a controlled, AI‑guided environment.

Integrating the server into an existing MCP ecosystem is straightforward: once the node process starts (default port 7654), any Claude client configured to use a local MCP tool can reference . The server’s minimal footprint and reliance on standard PHP make it suitable for both local development machines and lightweight cloud containers, giving teams a fast, reproducible way to harness PHP’s capabilities through conversational AI.