Smithery CLI — MCP Server Registry & Installer

What it is

Smithery CLI is a command-line tool for searching, installing, and managing MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers from Smithery's registry. The registry contains thousands of community-contributed MCP servers covering databases, APIs, developer tools, and cloud services.

The tool targets developers who use MCP-compatible AI clients (Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor) and want to quickly add new tool integrations without manual configuration.

How it saves time or tokens

Manually configuring MCP servers requires finding the right package, setting up environment variables, and editing JSON config files. Smithery CLI automates the entire process: one command searches the registry, installs the server, and configures your MCP client.

How to use

1. Install Smithery CLI: npx @smithery/cli (no global install needed).
2. Search for servers: npx @smithery/cli search postgres.
3. Install a server: npx @smithery/cli install @smithery/postgres-mcp --client claude.

Example

# Search the Smithery registry
npx @smithery/cli search 'github'

# Install a server for Claude Code
npx @smithery/cli install @smithery/github-mcp --client claude

# List installed servers
npx @smithery/cli list

# Remove a server
npx @smithery/cli uninstall @smithery/github-mcp

Related on TokRepo

• MCP GitHub Integration -- GitHub MCP server for AI code assistants
• MCP PostgreSQL Integration -- PostgreSQL MCP server for database access

Common pitfalls

• Some MCP servers require environment variables (API keys, database URLs). Smithery prompts for these during installation, but verify they are set correctly if the server fails to start.
• The registry is community-contributed. Check server quality and maintenance status before relying on it for production workflows.
• MCP client configuration files differ between Claude Code, Claude Desktop, and Cursor. Smithery handles this, but manual edits may override Smithery-managed entries.