tfmcp MCP Server

How to use

Start tfmcp as an MCP server to enable AI assistants to interact with your Terraform environment. Run the server locally, or use Docker for containerized deployment. You can then connect your MCP client (such as Claude Desktop) to issue Terraform-related actions through natural language prompts or structured tool calls. Use the available tools to analyze configurations, plan, apply when permitted, manage state, and inspect provider data and dependencies.

How to install

Prerequisites you need before installing tfmcp: Rust toolchain, Terraform CLI, and optionally Docker for containerized deployment. You also need an MCP client capable of communicating with an MCP server.

# From Crates.io (recommended for quick start)
cargo install tfmcp

# From source (builds from the repository)
# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/nwiizo/tfmcp
cd tfmcp

# Build and install
cargo install --path .

Using Docker

You can run tfmcp inside a container to avoid local Rust/tooling setup. Build the image and run it directly.

# Build the Docker image
docker build -t tfmcp .

# Run the container (default MCP server mode)
docker run -it tfmcp

# Run with a specific command and options (example for analysis)
docker run -it tfmcp analyze --dir /app/terraform

# Mount your Terraform project directory
docker run -it -v /path/to/your/terraform:/app/terraform tfmcp --dir /app/terraform

# Set environment variables (example)
docker run -it -e TFMCP_LOG_LEVEL=debug tfmcp

Integrating with Claude Desktop

If you use Claude Desktop, install tfmcp and point Claude to run the MCP server. You can also containerize tfmcp with Docker for Claude integration.

# Install tfmcp
cargo install tfmcp

# Locate the executable path
which tfmcp
```

Configure Claude with the following JSON snippet, replacing paths as needed:
```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "tfmcp": {
      "command": "/path/to/your/tfmcp",
      "args": ["mcp"],
      "env": {
        "HOME": "/Users/yourusername",
        "PATH": "/usr/local/bin:/usr/bin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/sbin",
        "TERRAFORM_DIR": "/path/to/your/terraform/project"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

If you prefer Docker, configure Claude to invoke the container with a mounted Terraform directory and run the MCP server inside the container.

Production notes and sample setup

tfmcp includes a safety-first security system with configurable policies, audit logging, and access controls. Review and tailor safety settings before enabling dangerous operations like apply or destroy. You can enable demo mode for safety during exploration, and configure audit logging to track all actions.

Environment and security configuration

Key environment variables you can set to customize tfmcp behavior in production include: TERRAFORM_DIR to specify the Terraform project directory, TFMCP_LOG_LEVEL to control logging verbosity, and TFMCP_DEMO_MODE to enable a mode with extra safety checks. For security, you can disable dangerous operations by default and require manual approval for apply/destroy.

export TERRAFORM_DIR=/path/to/your/terraform/project
export TFMCP_LOG_LEVEL=info
export TFMCP_DEMO_MODE=false
export TFMCP_ALLOW_DANGEROUS_OPS=false
export TFMCP_ALLOW_AUTO_APPROVE=false
export TFMCP_MAX_RESOURCES=50
export TFMCP_AUDIT_ENABLED=true
export TFMCP_AUDIT_LOG_SENSITIVE=false
```

Auditing is written to the default audit path unless you override it, and you should review the audit logs regularly.

Troubleshooting tips

If the MCP client cannot connect, verify that you started the tfmcp server correctly and that the configured command and path are correct. For Docker users, ensure volume mounts and permissions are set so the MCP server can access your Terraform directory. If you encounter missing methods, verify you are using the correct MCP endpoint and that your client is configured to call the available tools.

Notes on tooling and examples

tfmcp exposes a comprehensive set of tools for Terraform operations, analysis, and module/provider browsing. These tools cover core Terraform actions, workspace and state management, code formatting, graph generation, provider/module information, and security-focused checks. Use them through your MCP client to keep Terraform workflows auditable and well-governed.

Sample MCP connection configuration

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "tfmcp": {
      "command": "tfmcp",
      "args": ["mcp"]
    }
  }
}

init_terraform

Initialize Terraform working directory from the MCP server, preparing backend, provider plugins, and initial state scaffolding.

get_terraform_plan

Generate an execution plan and present the proposed changes before applying.

analyze_plan

Analyze the plan with risk scoring and actionable recommendations.

apply_terraform

Apply Terraform configuration to realize the planned changes (requires appropriate permissions).

destroy_terraform

Destroy Terraform-managed resources (restricted by safety settings).

validate_terraform

Validate Terraform configuration syntax for correctness.

validate_terraform_detailed

Provide a detailed validation with guidelines and best practices.

get_terraform_state

Show the current Terraform state for inspection.

analyze_state

Analyze the state with drift detection and health metrics.

list_terraform_resources

List all resources managed by the current Terraform project.

set_terraform_directory

Change the active Terraform project directory at runtime.

terraform_workspace

Manage Terraform workspaces with list, show, new, select, and delete operations.

terraform_import

Import existing resources into the Terraform state and configuration.

terraform_taint

Taint or untaint resources to control recreation behavior.

terraform_refresh

Refresh the Terraform state to sync with real-world infrastructure.

terraform_fmt

Format Terraform code to standard style.

terraform_graph

Generate a dependency graph for the Terraform configuration.

terraform_output

Retrieve Terraform output values for downstream usage.

terraform_providers

Get provider information, including lock file parsing details.

search_terraform_providers

Search available Terraform providers in registries.

get_provider_info

Fetch details about a specific Terraform provider.

get_provider_docs

Retrieve provider documentation for quick reference.

search_terraform_modules

Search for Terraform modules in registries.

get_module_details

Get details about a specific Terraform module.

get_latest_module_version

Retrieve the latest version of a module.

get_latest_provider_version

Retrieve the latest version of a provider.

get_security_status

Run security scans with secret detection and policy checks.

analyze_terraform

Analyze the Terraform configuration for best practices.

analyze_module_health

Assess module health with cohesion/coupling metrics and refactoring suggestions.

get_resource_dependency_graph

Visualize resource dependencies with explicit and implicit links.

suggest_module_refactoring

Provide refactoring suggestions to improve module quality.