Markmap MCP server

The Markmap MCP Server is a tool that converts Markdown text into interactive mind maps with just one click. Built on the Model Context Protocol (MCP) and powered by the markmap open source project, it creates rich, interactive mind maps that can be exported in various image formats.

Installation Options

Using Smithery

For Claude Desktop users, you can install the Markmap MCP Server automatically via Smithery:

npx -y @smithery/cli install @jinzcdev/markmap-mcp-server --client claude

Using NPM

You can install and run the server globally using npm:

# Install globally
npm install @jinzcdev/markmap-mcp-server -g

# Run the server
npx -y @jinzcdev/markmap-mcp-server

# Specify a custom output directory
npx -y @jinzcdev/markmap-mcp-server --output /path/to/output/directory

Prerequisites

• Node.js v20 or above

Configuration

To use Markmap with your MCP client, add the following configuration to your MCP client configuration file:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "markmap": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@jinzcdev/markmap-mcp-server"],
      "env": {
        "MARKMAP_DIR": "/path/to/output/directory"
      }
    }
  }
}

Environment Variables

The server supports the following environment variables:

• MARKMAP_DIR: Sets the output directory for generated mind maps (defaults to system temp directory if not specified)

Note: When both the --output command line argument and the MARKMAP_DIR environment variable are specified, the command line argument takes priority.

Using the Tool

Converting Markdown to Mind Maps

The server provides the markdown-to-mindmap tool which accepts these parameters:

• markdown: The Markdown content to convert (required)
• open: Whether to automatically open the generated mind map in your browser (optional, defaults to false)

The tool returns a JSON response containing the filepath to the generated mind map:

{
  "content": [
    {
      "type": "text",
      "text": "JSON_DATA_OF_MINDMAP_FILEPATH"
    }
  ]
}

Key Features

• Markdown Conversion: Transforms Markdown text into interactive mind maps
• Multiple Export Formats: Export mind maps as PNG, JPG, or SVG images
• Interactive Elements: Zoom, expand/collapse nodes, and more interactive features
• One-Click Markdown Copy: Easily copy the original Markdown content
• Browser Preview: Option to automatically open generated mind maps in your browser

How to install this MCP server

For Claude Code

To add this MCP server to Claude Code, run this command in your terminal:

claude mcp add-json "markmap" '{"type":"stdio","command":"npx","args":["-y","@jinzcdev/markmap-mcp-server"],"env":{"MARKMAP_DIR":"/path/to/output/directory"}}'

See the official Claude Code MCP documentation for more details.

For Cursor

There are two ways to add an MCP server to Cursor. The most common way is to add the server globally in the ~/.cursor/mcp.json file so that it is available in all of your projects.

If you only need the server in a single project, you can add it to the project instead by creating or adding it to the .cursor/mcp.json file.

Adding an MCP server to Cursor globally

To add a global MCP server go to Cursor Settings > Tools & Integrations and click "New MCP Server".

When you click that button the ~/.cursor/mcp.json file will be opened and you can add your server like this:

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "markmap": {
            "type": "stdio",
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@jinzcdev/markmap-mcp-server"
            ],
            "env": {
                "MARKMAP_DIR": "/path/to/output/directory"
            }
        }
    }
}

Adding an MCP server to a project

To add an MCP server to a project you can create a new .cursor/mcp.json file or add it to the existing one. This will look exactly the same as the global MCP server example above.

How to use the MCP server

Once the server is installed, you might need to head back to Settings > MCP and click the refresh button.

The Cursor agent will then be able to see the available tools the added MCP server has available and will call them when it needs to.

You can also explicitly ask the agent to use the tool by mentioning the tool name and describing what the function does.

For Claude Desktop

To add this MCP server to Claude Desktop:

1. Find your configuration file:

• macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
• Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json
• Linux: ~/.config/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

2. Add this to your configuration file:

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "markmap": {
            "type": "stdio",
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@jinzcdev/markmap-mcp-server"
            ],
            "env": {
                "MARKMAP_DIR": "/path/to/output/directory"
            }
        }
    }
}

3. Restart Claude Desktop for the changes to take effect