# mcp2cli — Turn MCP Servers into CLI Tools, Zero Codegen

> Convert any MCP server, OpenAPI spec, or GraphQL endpoint into a full CLI at runtime. Saves 96-99% of tokens wasted on tool schemas every turn.

## Install

Merge the JSON below into your `.mcp.json`:

## Quick Use

1. Install via uv: `uv tool install mcp2cli`
2. Run: `mcp2cli --server your-mcp-server`
3. All MCP tools become CLI commands instantly

Or run directly without installing:
```bash
uvx mcp2cli --help
```

---

## Intro

mcp2cli is a developer tool that turns any MCP server, OpenAPI spec, or GraphQL endpoint into a command-line interface at runtime — no code generation needed. With 1,900+ GitHub stars and MIT license, it saves 96–99% of the tokens wasted on tool schemas every turn by using usage-aware tool ranking. Works with Claude Code, Cursor, and any MCP-compatible AI tool.

Best for: developers who use multiple MCP servers and want to reduce token overhead. Works with: Claude Code, Cursor, any MCP client. Setup time: under 1 minute.

---

## mcp2cli — Runtime CLI from Any API

### Key Features

- **Zero Codegen**: No code generation step — MCP tools become CLI commands instantly
- **Multi-Protocol**: Supports MCP servers (stdio/SSE), OpenAPI specs, and GraphQL endpoints
- **Token Savings**: Usage-aware tool ranking saves 96–99% of tokens wasted on schema overhead
- **Built-in OAuth**: OAuth support across all API types
- **Bake Mode**: Save connection configurations for repeated use
- **Output Filtering**: jq support and TOON encoding for LLM-efficient output
- **Caching**: Customizable TTL caching for repeated queries

### Installation

```bash
# Option 1: Direct execution (no install)
uvx mcp2cli --help

# Option 2: Global install
uv tool install mcp2cli

# Option 3: pip
pip install mcp2cli
```

### Usage Examples

```bash
# Connect to an MCP server
mcp2cli --server my-mcp-server

# Use with OpenAPI spec
mcp2cli --openapi https://api.example.com/openapi.json

# Use with GraphQL
mcp2cli --graphql https://api.example.com/graphql

# Bake a connection for reuse
mcp2cli bake my-server --server my-mcp-server
```

### How It Works

mcp2cli introspects the target API at runtime, discovers all available tools/endpoints, and generates CLI commands dynamically. The usage-aware ranking system tracks which tools you use most and prioritizes them, dramatically reducing the token cost of tool schemas in every conversation turn.

### FAQ

**Q: What is mcp2cli?**
A: mcp2cli is a CLI tool that converts MCP servers, OpenAPI specs, and GraphQL endpoints into command-line interfaces at runtime without code generation, saving 96–99% of tokens on tool schemas.

**Q: Is mcp2cli free?**
A: Yes, mcp2cli is free and open source under the MIT license.

**Q: How do I install mcp2cli?**
A: Run `uv tool install mcp2cli` or `pip install mcp2cli`, or use directly with `uvx mcp2cli`.

---

## Source & Thanks

> Created by [Stephan Fitzpatrick](https://github.com/knowsuchagency). Licensed under MIT.
>
> [mcp2cli](https://github.com/knowsuchagency/mcp2cli) — ⭐ 1,900+

Thank you for building a tool that makes MCP servers accessible from the command line.

---

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## Quick Use

1. Install: `uv tool install mcp2cli`
2. Run: `mcp2cli --server your-mcp-server`
3. Every MCP tool instantly becomes a CLI command

Or run it directly (no install):
```bash
uvx mcp2cli --help
```

---

## Intro

mcp2cli is a developer tool that turns any MCP server, OpenAPI spec, or GraphQL endpoint into a command-line interface at runtime — no code generation needed. With 1,900+ GitHub stars and an MIT license, it saves 96–99% of token overhead per conversation through usage-aware tool ordering. Works with Claude Code, Cursor, and other MCP-compatible tools.

---

## mcp2cli — Runtime CLI Generation for Any API

### Core Features

- **Zero code generation**: MCP tools become CLI commands on the fly
- **Multi-protocol support**: MCP servers (stdio/SSE), OpenAPI specs, and GraphQL endpoints
- **Token savings**: usage-aware ordering saves 96–99% of schema token overhead
- **Built-in OAuth**: OAuth auth for all API types
- **Bake mode**: save connection configs for reuse

---

## Source & Thanks

> Created by [Stephan Fitzpatrick](https://github.com/knowsuchagency). Licensed under MIT.
>
> [mcp2cli](https://github.com/knowsuchagency/mcp2cli) — ⭐ 1,900+


---
Source: https://tokrepo.com/en/workflows/mcp2cli-turn-mcp-servers-into-cli-tools-zero-codegen-54b79071
Author: MCP Hub