what is mcp-client-ref?
The mcp-client-ref is a terminal-based client designed to test Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers, utilizing the Textual TUI library for a user-friendly interface.
how to use mcp-client-ref?
To use the mcp-client-ref, install the necessary dependencies and run the client script with the path to the MCP servers configuration file as an argument. Use the command: uv run scripts/client.py <mcp_servers_config_path>
.
key features of mcp-client-ref?
- Terminal-based user interface for testing MCP servers.
- Ability to connect to multiple MCP servers defined in a JSON configuration file.
- Debugging capabilities through an inspector screen.
use cases of mcp-client-ref?
- Testing and debugging MCP servers in a terminal environment.
- Connecting to different models by configuring the client code.
- Inspecting server responses and performance.
FAQ from mcp-client-ref?
- What is the MCP servers config file?
The MCP servers config file is a JSON file that lists the MCP servers the client connects to, following the format used by the Claude Desktop app.
- Can I use different models with this client?
Yes! The client uses the Claude Haiku model by default, but you can configure it to use different models in the client code.
- Is there any specific environment setup required?
Yes, you need to keep the ANTHROPIC_API_KEY in the .env file to connect to the LLM APIs.
mcp-client-ref
A model context protocol client that runs in the terminal. Thanks to the Textual TUI library.
Installation
To run the client, install the dependencies and run scripts/client.py
. Pass the path to the MCP servers config file as an argument.
uv sync
uv run scripts/client.py <mcp_servers_config_path>
- The MCP servers config file is a JSON file that lists the MCP servers you want the client to connect to. It follows the format used by the
Claude Desktop
app. - The client uses the Claude Haiku model by default, so you'll need to keep the
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY
in the.env
file. It uses the magentic library to connect to the LLM APIs; you can configure a different model to use in the client code.
MCP server inspector
You can debug/test the servers by opening up the inspector screen using the command palette in the app.