How to Set Up MCP Servers in Claude Code: Complete Guide

# macOS
~/.config/claude-code/settings.json

# Linux
~/.config/claude-code/settings.json

# Windows
%APPDATA%\claude-code\settings.json

# Project-specific (any platform)
./.mcp.json  (in your project root)

# Add an MCP server from npm
claude mcp add @shodh/memory-mcp

# Add with custom configuration
claude mcp add @shodh/memory-mcp --env SHODH_API_URL=http://localhost:3030

# List configured servers
claude mcp list

# Remove a server
claude mcp remove @shodh/memory-mcp

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "shodh-memory": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@shodh/memory-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "SHODH_API_URL": "http://127.0.0.1:3030",
        "SHODH_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here",
        "SHODH_USER_ID": "claude-code"
      }
    },
    "github": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-github"],
      "env": {
        "GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN": "ghp_xxxxxxxxxxxx"
      }
    },
    "filesystem": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem", "/path/to/allowed/dir"]
    }
  }
}

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "project-memory": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@shodh/memory-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "SHODH_API_URL": "http://127.0.0.1:3030",
        "SHODH_USER_ID": "my-project"
      }
    }
  }
}

# Option A: Using pre-built binary (recommended)
# Download from: https://github.com/varun29ankuS/shodh-memory/releases

# macOS/Linux
chmod +x shodh-memory-server
./shodh-memory-server

# Windows
shodh-memory-server.exe

# Option B: From source
git clone https://github.com/varun29ankuS/shodh-memory
cd shodh-memory
cargo run --release

# Server starts on http://127.0.0.1:3030 by default

curl http://127.0.0.1:3030/health
# Response: {"status":"ok"}

# Using the CLI
claude mcp add @shodh/memory-mcp \
  --env SHODH_API_URL=http://127.0.0.1:3030 \
  --env SHODH_API_KEY=your-api-key \
  --env SHODH_USER_ID=claude-code

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "shodh-memory": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@shodh/memory-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "SHODH_API_URL": "http://127.0.0.1:3030",
        "SHODH_API_KEY": "sk-shodh-dev-4f8b2c1d9e3a7f5b6d2c8e4a1b9f7d3c",
        "SHODH_USER_ID": "claude-code"
      }
    }
  }
}

# Exit Claude Code (Ctrl+C or type /exit)
# Then restart
claude

> Remember that I prefer dark mode and use Vim keybindings
[Claude uses the remember tool to store this preference]

> What are my preferences?
[Claude uses the recall tool to search memories]

> Give me a summary of what you know about me
[Claude uses context_summary to get categorized memories]

Observation  — General observations and facts
Decision     — Choices made and their rationale
Learning     — New knowledge acquired
Error        — Mistakes to avoid
Discovery    — Findings from exploration
Pattern      — Recurring behaviors identified
Context      — Session or project context
Task         — Work items and todos
CodeEdit     — Code changes made
FileAccess   — Files accessed
Search       — Search queries performed
Command      — Commands executed
Conversation — Notable conversation points

> Explore this codebase and remember the key architectural decisions

[Claude explores and stores memories like:]
- "This project uses Next.js 14 with App Router"
- "Authentication is handled by NextAuth with GitHub OAuth"
- "Database is PostgreSQL accessed via Prisma ORM"
- "Tests use Vitest with React Testing Library"

# Next session, same project:
> What's the tech stack here?

[Claude recalls from memory without re-exploring]

> Remember: I prefer functional components over class components,
> use TypeScript strict mode, and always add JSDoc comments to public APIs

[Claude stores as Decision type memories]

# Later, when writing code:
> Create a new React component for user profiles

[Claude automatically applies remembered preferences]

> The tests are failing with "Cannot find module '@/lib/auth'"

[After investigation]
> Remember: path aliases in this project require tsconfig paths
> to be mirrored in vitest.config.ts

[Claude stores as Error type memory]

# Future similar issues are caught faster

# Check if server is running
curl http://127.0.0.1:3030/health

# Check Claude Code logs
claude --verbose

# Verify configuration
cat ~/.config/claude-code/settings.json | jq .

# Ensure npx can run the package
npx -y @shodh/memory-mcp --help

# If using a local server, check firewall rules
# On macOS, you may need to allow incoming connections

import { Server } from "@modelcontextprotocol/sdk/server/index.js";
import { StdioServerTransport } from "@modelcontextprotocol/sdk/server/stdio.js";

const server = new Server({
  name: "my-custom-server",
  version: "1.0.0",
}, {
  capabilities: {
    tools: {},
  },
});

// Define a tool
server.setRequestHandler("tools/list", async () => ({
  tools: [{
    name: "my_tool",
    description: "Does something useful",
    inputSchema: {
      type: "object",
      properties: {
        query: { type: "string", description: "The input" }
      },
      required: ["query"]
    }
  }]
}));

// Handle tool calls
server.setRequestHandler("tools/call", async (request) => {
  if (request.params.name === "my_tool") {
    const query = request.params.arguments.query;
    return { content: [{ type: "text", text: `Processed: ${query}` }] };
  }
});

// Start server
const transport = new StdioServerTransport();
await server.connect(transport);