React Development Assistant MCP server

React MCP is a server implementation that enables Claude AI to interact with React applications through the Model Context Protocol. It creates a bridge between Claude and the React ecosystem, allowing Claude to create new apps, run development servers, manage files, install packages, and execute terminal commands.

Installation

Via Smithery

The easiest way to install React MCP for Claude Desktop is automatically via Smithery:

npx -y @smithery/cli install @Streen9/react-mcp --client claude

Manual Installation

Alternatively, you can install manually:

1. Clone the repository
2. Install dependencies:

npm install

Configuration

Add this to your claude_desktop_config:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "react-mcp": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": [
        "C:/Users/kalip/OneDrive/Desktop/react-mcp/index.js"
      ]
    }
  }
}

The server runs on the stdio transport, allowing it to be used with Desktop Claude app as a Model Context Protocol tool.

Available Tools

Creating React Applications

The create-react-app tool creates a new React application:

{
  "name": "my-app",
  "template": "typescript",
  "directory": "/path/to/base/directory"
}

Parameters:

• name (required): Name of the React app
• template (optional): Template to use (e.g., typescript, cra-template-pwa)
• directory (optional): Base directory to create the app in (defaults to home directory)

Running React Applications

The run-react-app tool runs a React application in development mode:

{
  "projectPath": "/path/to/react/project"
}

Parameters:

• projectPath (required): Path to the React project folder

Running Terminal Commands

The run-command tool executes terminal commands:

{
  "command": "npm list",
  "directory": "/path/to/directory"
}

Parameters:

• command (required): Command to execute
• directory (optional): Directory to run the command in (defaults to current directory)

Managing Processes

Getting Process Output

The get-process-output tool retrieves output from a running or completed process:

{
  "processId": "process-123"
}

Parameters:

• processId (required): ID of the process to get output from

Stopping Processes

The stop-process tool stops a running process:

{
  "processId": "process-123"
}

Parameters:

• processId (required): ID of the process to stop

Listing Processes

The list-processes tool shows all running processes without any parameters.

File Operations

Editing Files

The edit-file tool creates or edits a file:

{
  "filePath": "/path/to/file.js",
  "content": "// Your content here"
}

Parameters:

• filePath (required): Path to the file to edit
• content (required): Content to write to the file

Reading Files

The read-file tool reads file contents:

{
  "filePath": "/path/to/file.js"
}

Parameters:

• filePath (required): Path to the file to read

Package Management

Installing Packages

The install-package tool installs npm packages:

{
  "packageName": "react-router-dom",
  "directory": "/path/to/project",
  "dev": false
}

Parameters:

• packageName (required): Name of the package to install (can include version)
• directory (optional): Directory of the project (defaults to current directory)
• dev (optional): Whether to install as a dev dependency

Checking Installation Status

The check-installation-status tool checks the status of a package installation:

{
  "processId": "process-123"
}

Parameters:

• processId (required): ID of the installation process to check

Logging

The server maintains detailed logs in the logs directory:

• react-mcp-logs.json: Structured JSON logs
• react-mcp-logs.txt: Human-readable text logs

How to add this MCP server to 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 > MCP and click "Add new global MCP server".

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

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "cursor-rules-mcp": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "cursor-rules-mcp"
            ]
        }
    }
}

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 explictly ask the agent to use the tool by mentioning the tool name and describing what the function does.