Forage MCP Server - install, status & alternatives [2026]

01 · Install Forage

before you install - you'll need

The README does not document required environment variables for a basic install.

Claude Code

claude mcp add isaac-levine-forage -- npx -y forage-mcp

Claude Desktop / Cursor / VS Code - add to config

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "isaac-levine-forage": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "forage-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Same JSON for Cursor. For VS Code, rename the top-level key from `mcpServers` to `servers`.

Using another client? Same JSON, different key

Claude Desktop · mcpServers

Cursor · mcpServers

VS Code · servers

Windsurf · mcpServers

Zed · context_servers

Cline · mcpServers

Roo Code · mcpServers

Continue · mcpServers

LibreChat · mcpServers

Gemini CLI · mcpServers

Codex CLI · mcp_servers

Full setup guides: every client.

02 · Evidence

Security posture

What to check before giving this server access to your agent - from the registry, GitHub, and our own probes. We don't score safety; we show what's verifiable.

runs as local process (stdio) - runs on your machine with your user's permissions

license MIT - declared in the repository

npm package forage-mcp - unscoped; check the name against the project README before installing

registry namespace io.github.isaac-levine is GitHub-verified and matches the repo owner

03 · What Forage can do

Prose above is summarized from the project's README and registry record - no invented capabilities.

What you can build

With this server connected, an agent can search for MCP servers across the Official MCP Registry, Smithery, and npm, get details on a package - downloads, README, install command, install and start an MCP server as a proxied subprocess (requires user approval), and write usage instructions to CLAUDE.md / AGENTS.md / .cursor/rules/.

The 6 tools it gives your agent

Extracted from the project's README - what forage lets an agent do.

forage_search: - Search for MCP servers across the Official MCP Registry, Smithery, and npm
forage_evaluate: - Get details on a package - downloads, README, install command
forage_install: - Install and start an MCP server as a proxied subprocess (requires user approval)
forage_learn: - Write usage instructions to CLAUDE.md / AGENTS.md / .cursor/rules/
forage_status: - List all installed and running tools
forage_uninstall: - Remove a tool and clean up rules

Latest releases

v0.1.0 · 2026-02-17

Forage v0.1.0 · Self-improving tool discovery for AI agents. Install once, and your agent can find, install, and learn to use new MCP tools on its own. · Quick Start · bash · claude mcp add forage -- npx -y forage-mcp…

04 · Who maintains Forage

forage is maintained by isaac-levine. It's the only MCP server we track from this author; the repo dates to Feb 2026.

05 · Facts

repository: github.com/isaac-levine/forage
category: automation - ranked #148 of 194 actively-maintained automation servers as of 2026-08-25.
registry: io.github.isaac-levine/forage (active, first published 2026-02-17)
packages: npm:forage-mcp

06 · Forage FAQ

Is Forage still maintained?

Yes - as of 2026-08-25, its last commit was 2026-02-21. We re-verify nightly.

What can Forage do?

With this server connected, an agent can search for MCP servers across the Official MCP Registry, Smithery, and npm, get details on a package - downloads, README, install command, install and start an MCP server as a proxied subprocess (requires user approval), and write usage instructions to CLAUDE.md / AGENTS.md / .cursor/rules/.

How do I install Forage?

Run `npx -y forage-mcp`. The README does not document required environment variables for a basic install. You can also paste the ready-made client config above.

Does Forage run locally?

Yes - it's a stdio server: it runs on your machine (via npx) with your user's permissions. Your data stays local unless the server itself calls external APIs.

07 · Alternatives to Forage

Alternatives to Forage

Maintained automation servers if Forage isn't the fit.

More automation MCP servers · Codex Tldraw MCP · Packet Tracer MCP · Mac OS MCP · Gotify RMCP · Tailscale RMCP

More TypeScript MCP servers · A11y Check · Kolada MCP Server · OECD MCP Server · Scb MCP · E Arveldaja MCP · see all