setup-mcp.md

Guide to setting up Claude MCP on a MacBook

1. Install Node.js
   Download the latest LTS version from Node.js.
   Verify installation:

   node --version
   npm --version

2. Install Python
   macOS comes with Python pre-installed. Check your version to ensure Python is installed and up to date

   python3 --version

   If outdated, update using Homebrew:

   brew install python

3. Install Homebrew (if not installed):

   /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"

---

Install Claude Desktop

1. Download the Claude Desktop app from Claude.ai.
2. Open Claude Desktop, then go to the app menu (Claude > Check for Updates) to ensure it's up to date.

---

Configure MCP in Claude Desktop

Step 1: Edit Configuration

1. Open Claude Desktop settings: On macOS, go to Claude > Preferences > Developer > Edit Config.

2. This opens or creates a configuration file at:

   ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

3. Add the following example MCP server configuration:

   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "filesystem": {
         "command": "npx",
         "args": [
           "-y",
           "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
           "/Users/your_username/Desktop",
           "/Users/your_username/Downloads"
         ]
       }
     }
   }

   Replace /Users/your_username/... with actual paths to directories you want Claude to access.

4. Save the file and restart Claude Desktop.

---

Running Example Servers

Example 1: Filesystem MCP Server

This command launches the Filesystem MCP Server. Once running, Claude can interact with your specified folders.

1. Test the server directly in your terminal:

   npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem /Users/your_username/Desktop /Users/your_username/Downloads

2. Interact with Claude Desktop to read/write files.
   Example Queries:
   • "What files are in my Desktop folder?"
   • "Move all images from my Desktop to a new folder named 'Images'."
   • "Write a note and save it as note.txt on my Desktop."

Debugging Tips I found useful

1. Check logs:

   tail -n 20 -f ~/Library/Logs/Claude/mcp*.log

2. Ensure absolute paths in claude_desktop_config.json. For example, use /Users/jane/Desktop instead of ./Desktop to avoid configuration errors..

Next Steps

1. Explore More Servers:
   Check the MCP Servers Repository for more options like Git, Slack, and PostgreSQL servers.