Wait Timer MCP server

The MCP Wait Timer Server provides a simple "wait" tool that allows MCP clients (like Claude Desktop, Cursor, or Cline) to introduce deliberate pauses in workflows. This is particularly useful when working with operations that need time to complete their effects before proceeding to the next step.

What is the Wait Timer?

The wait tool solves a common problem with AI-driven tools: they often proceed immediately to the next step without waiting for background processes, web page rendering, or file operations to fully complete. By introducing deliberate pauses, you can ensure time-dependent operations have sufficient time to finish before continuing.

Key Use Cases

• Web Automation: Allow time for dynamic content to load after navigation
• Command Line Operations: Give background tasks time to complete
• API Interaction: Add delays between API calls for rate limiting
• Workflow Debugging: Insert pauses to observe system state during complex tasks

Installation

The server requires Node.js (version 16 or higher).

Configuring Your MCP Client

1. Locate your client's configuration file based on which application you're using
2. Add the following JSON block within the "mcpServers": {} object:

"wait-timer": {
  "command": "npx",
  "args": ["mcp-wait-timer"],
  "env": {},
  "disabled": false,
  "autoApprove": []
}

Configuration File Locations

• Claude Desktop:

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

• VS Code Extension (Cline / "Claude Code"):

  • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Code/User/globalStorage/saoudrizwan.claude-dev/settings/cline_mcp_settings.json
  • Windows: %APPDATA%\Code\User\globalStorage\saoudrizwan.claude-dev\settings\cline_mcp_settings.json
  • Linux: ~/.config/Code/User/globalStorage/saoudrizwan.claude-dev/settings/cline_mcp_settings.json

• Cursor:

  • Global: ~/.cursor/mcp.json
  • Project-Specific: .cursor/mcp.json within your project folder

• Windsurf:

  • ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json

Finishing Setup

After adding the configuration:

1. Save the file
2. Fully restart your MCP client application
3. The first time the client starts the server, npx will automatically download the mcp-wait-timer package

Using the Wait Timer

Once installed, you can simply instruct your MCP client to wait in natural language. For example:

Please wait for 10 seconds before proceeding.

The AI model should recognize this intent and call the wait tool with the appropriate duration parameter.

Wait Tool Specifications

• Input Parameter: duration_seconds (required) - A positive number specifying how long to pause in seconds

Example Instructions

• "Navigate to example.com, fill the login form, click submit, then wait for 5 seconds and capture a screenshot."
• "Run 'npm run build', wait for 15 seconds, then check if the 'dist/app.js' file exists."

For a visual demonstration of the wait timer in action, watch the demo video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TaF_j9wrWVw

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.