Filesystem MCP - install, status & alternatives [2026]

01 · Install Filesystem MCP

Claude Code

claude mcp add j0hanz-filesystem-mcp -- npx -y @j0hanz/filesystem-mcp

Claude Desktop / Cursor / VS Code - add to config

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "j0hanz-filesystem-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@j0hanz/filesystem-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 · container (OCI image) - can be sandboxed away from your filesystem

license MIT - declared in the repository

npm package @j0hanz/filesystem-mcp - published under the repo owner's npm scope (@j0hanz)

registry namespace io.github.j0hanz is GitHub-verified and matches the repo owner

03 · What Filesystem MCP 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 read multiple text files in one request, get metadata for multiple files/directories in one request, and generate a unified diff between two files. Output feeds directly into apply_patch.

Capability map

Tools grouped from the project's README - what Filesystem MCP lets an agent do.

read & search

2 tools - e.g. Read multiple text files in one request.; Bulk search-and-replace across files matching a glob. Replaces all occurrences per file. Always dryRun: true first.

read_many · search_and_replace

Stat

1 tool - e.g. Get metadata for multiple files/directories in one request.

stat_many

Calculate

1 tool - e.g. Calculate SHA-256 hash of a file or directory.

calculate_hash

Diff

1 tool - e.g. Generate a unified diff between two files. Output feeds directly into apply_patch.

diff_files

Apply

1 tool - e.g. Apply a unified diff patch to one or more files. Single-file: throws on failure. Multi-file: best-effort per file with results[]. Workflow: diff_files -> apply_

apply_patch

Latest releases

v1.19.1 · 2026-04-11

v1.19.0 · 2026-04-11

v1.18.0 · 2026-04-11

04 · Who maintains Filesystem MCP

Filesystem MCP is maintained by j0hanz. We track 9 MCP servers from j0hanz - 9 actively maintained, 27 combined GitHub stars, oldest repo from Dec 2025. Full record: all servers from j0hanz.

filesystem-context 🔍 Read-only MCP server for secure filesystem exploration, searching, and analysis ★ 13

05 · Facts

repository: github.com/j0hanz/filesystem-mcp
website: https://github.com/j0hanz/filesystem-mcp#readme
category: filesystem - actively maintained as of 2026-08-25.
registry: io.github.j0hanz/filesystem-mcp (active, first published 2026-02-10 · 50 versions)
packages: npm:@j0hanz/filesystem-mcp · oci:ghcr.io/j0hanz/filesystem-mcp:1.19.1

06 · Filesystem MCP FAQ

Is Filesystem MCP still maintained?

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

What can Filesystem MCP do?

With this server connected, an agent can read multiple text files in one request, get metadata for multiple files/directories in one request, and generate a unified diff between two files. Output feeds directly into apply_patch.

How do I install Filesystem MCP?

Run `npx -y @j0hanz/filesystem-mcp`. You can also paste the ready-made client config above.

Does Filesystem MCP 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 Filesystem MCP

Alternatives to Filesystem MCP

Maintained filesystem servers if Filesystem MCP isn't the fit.

More filesystem MCP servers · Fcop · Virtual Filesystem · Devtools · Octofs

More TypeScript MCP servers · Roku MCP · Moxie Docs · PullPush Reddit · Scan MCP · Fortnox · see all