Who is this for?
Developers building Cursor, Codex, Claude, or VS Code coding workflows.
Config path and example
Depends on your AI client
{
"mcpServers": {
"filesystem": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem", "./"]
}
}
}Installation steps
1
Start with files and GitHub
Filesystem and GitHub MCP servers usually create the fastest coding value.
2
Add docs or search
Documentation and search servers help agents answer project questions.
3
Add database only when needed
Database MCP is powerful but should be reviewed for permissions and data access.
4
Prefer low-risk install commands
Avoid shell-pipe installers unless you fully trust the source.
Common setup issues
Too many tools
Start with 2-3 servers. Too many tools can slow down workflows.
Over-broad permissions
Limit filesystem and database access to the folders or databases you need.
FAQ
What should I install first?
Start with filesystem, GitHub, and docs/search before adding databases or browser automation.