Smithery — MCP Server Registry and Installer
Discover, install, and manage MCP servers from a curated registry. Smithery provides one-command setup for 200+ MCP servers with Claude Code and Cursor integration.
What it is
Smithery is a registry and CLI tool for discovering and installing MCP servers. It maintains a curated catalog of MCP servers -- database connectors, API integrations, file system tools, and more -- that you can browse, search, and install with a single command. Smithery handles the configuration for Claude Code, Cursor, and other MCP-compatible clients automatically.
Smithery targets developers who use AI coding assistants and want to extend them with MCP integrations without manually configuring each server.
How it saves time or tokens
Setting up an MCP server manually involves finding the package, installing dependencies, writing a JSON config block, and debugging connection issues. Smithery automates the entire process: search for a server, run one install command, and the server is configured and ready. For teams using multiple MCP servers, this saves significant setup and maintenance time.
How to use
- Search for MCP servers:
npx @smithery/cli search "database"
- Install a server for your client:
npx @smithery/cli install @modelcontextprotocol/server-postgres --client claude
- The server is automatically configured in your MCP client settings. Start using it immediately.
Example
# Install multiple MCP servers
npx @smithery/cli install @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem --client claude
npx @smithery/cli install @modelcontextprotocol/server-github --client claude
npx @smithery/cli install @modelcontextprotocol/server-sqlite --client claude
# List installed servers
npx @smithery/cli list
# Update all servers
npx @smithery/cli update
After installation, your AI assistant can access the filesystem, GitHub repos, and SQLite databases through MCP tools.
Related on TokRepo
- MCP Integrations -- GitHub MCP server for repository access
- AI Tools for Coding -- Developer tools and extensions
Common pitfalls
- Some MCP servers require environment variables (API keys, database URLs). Smithery prompts for these during install but missing values cause silent failures.
- MCP server updates may introduce breaking changes. Pin versions in production environments and test updates in development first.
- Not all MCP servers in the registry are actively maintained. Check the last update date and issue count before installing unfamiliar servers.
Frequently Asked Questions
Smithery supports Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, and other MCP-compatible clients. The --client flag determines which configuration file Smithery writes to during installation.
Yes. Smithery is free to use. The CLI and registry are open source. MCP servers in the registry may have their own licensing terms.
Yes. Smithery accepts community contributions. You can submit your MCP server to the registry following the contribution guidelines on the Smithery website.
Run the update command to check for and install newer versions of your installed MCP servers. Smithery tracks installed versions and compares against the registry.
Smithery runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux. It requires Node.js 18 or later. The npx command handles installation without a global install.
Citations (3)
- Smithery Website— MCP server registry and installer
- MCP Specification— Model Context Protocol specification
- Anthropic MCP Docs— MCP server development guide
Related on TokRepo
Source & Thanks
Created by Smithery.
smithery.ai — MCP server registry, 200+ servers