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MCP Basics Server

Local mcp server

Installation

Add the following to your MCP client configuration file.

Configuration

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "caroline-davis-mcp-basics": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": [
        "/path/to/mcp-basics/index.js"
      ]
    }
  }
}

You run a centralized MCP server to provide common development tools across your Cline projects. This server lets you access formatting, translation, and other utilities from a single place, so you don’t have to install tools separately in every project.

How to use

Configure your MCP client to connect to the local MCP server, then call tools by name from any Cline project. You can invoke the mcp-formatter to format code, the mcp-translator to migrate JavaScript to TypeScript, or other tools you add to the server. Each tool runs in the directory you specify or in your current project directory by default. Use natural language prompts like: "Use the mcp-formatter tool to format this code" or "Run the mcp-translator tool to convert JavaScript to TypeScript". Tools return stdout, stderr, and a status indicating success or failure.

How to install

git clone https://github.com/caroline-davis/mcp-basics.git
cd mcp-basics
npm install
# Optional: test the server locally
node index.js

Configuration for local MCP server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "Local MCP Basics": {
      "disabled": false,
      "timeout": 60,
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/mcp-basics/index.js"]
    }
  }
}

Project structure and starting the server

The server is designed to run locally. Start it in the directory where you cloned the project, then keep the process running so the MCP client can communicate with it.

Using and extending tools

The server exposes tools defined in the tool configuration. You can add new tools by extending the tool list, and they become available to all Cline projects without restarting the editor. For example, you can register a linter or a formatter so that you can call them through the MCP client in any project.

Security and hosting notes

This MCP server runs locally and does not require external API keys or authentication. All tools execute within your local development environment.

Available tools

mcp-formatter

Formats code using a standard formatter so code style remains consistent across projects.

mcp-translator

Migrates JavaScript code to TypeScript to help modernize codebases.

mcp-linter

Runs linting to fix issues and enforce coding standards.