Watch: set up mcp servers
No sound. Each step is captioned on screen and also written out in the guide below.
AI Tools
MCP Config Builder & Checker
Write MCP server configs for Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, and Codex, check the one you have, and find servers in the official MCP Registry.
Set up MCP servers locally
Runs locally in your browser. Configs often hold API keys. They're built and checked on your device, not uploaded, saved, or shared.
For
Servers
.mcp.json
Or add from a terminal
Paste .mcp.json, claude_desktop_config.json, .cursor/mcp.json, .vscode/mcp.json, or the [mcp_servers] part of ~/.codex/config.toml.
Result
Paste a config to check it.
The server list loads when you open this tab.
Set up a server in three steps
- 01Pick your app
Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, or Codex. Each reads a slightly different file.
- 02Add servers
Find one in the registry, or enter its command or URL yourself.
- 03Copy the config
Paste it into the file shown, or run the terminal command, then restart the app.
What the checker catches
- Wrong shape: invalid JSON,
serversvsmcpServers, a missingtype. - Won't start: arguments inside
command,npxwithout-y, relative paths. - Leaks: real API keys written into the file, and placeholders left in.
- Wrong variables:
${env:NAME}where the app expects${NAME}, and the reverse.
Frequently asked questions
Is my config uploaded?
No. Configs are built and checked in your browser. The registry list is a copy kept on bytesbench.com, so searching it doesn't send anything to another site.
Why do the apps need different files?
They read the same idea in slightly different shapes. VS Code lists servers under servers and needs a type; Claude Code, Claude Desktop, and Cursor use mcpServers; Codex uses TOML. They also refer to environment variables differently: ${NAME} in Claude Code, ${env:NAME} in Cursor, and ${input:id} prompts in VS Code.
How should I store API keys?
Keep them out of files you share or commit. With "Read secrets from environment variables" on, the config refers to a variable and you set the key in your environment. VS Code asks for it and stores it securely instead. Claude Desktop can't read variables, so keep its file private.
Are servers in the registry safe?
The official MCP Registry lists servers published by their authors; it doesn't review their code. A local server runs with your permissions, so check its source and publisher before adding it. Package versions are pinned, so what you checked is what runs.
How current is the server list?
It's a copy of the official MCP Registry, refreshed regularly. The date is shown above the list.