MCP servers

MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers add tools to agent mode: a browser, GitHub, databases, Google Drive and more. The Atlas connects to your servers when agent mode starts and offers their tools to the AI.

Presets

atlas mcp add filesystem
atlas mcp add github

Preset	Server	Asks for
`filesystem`	`@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem`, limited to the current folder
`github`	GitHub remote server (`api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/`)	GitHub token
`browser`	`@playwright/mcp` (Playwright)
`memory`	`@modelcontextprotocol/server-memory`
`sequential-thinking`	`@modelcontextprotocol/server-sequential-thinking`
`sqlite`	`mcp-server-sqlite-npx`	Database file path
`postgres`	`@henkey/postgres-mcp-server`	Connection string
`gdrive`	`@piotr-agier/google-drive-mcp`	Run its `auth` command once (printed after adding)

Local presets run through npx -y, so Node.js must be on PATH. Secrets are typed hidden.

Add your own server

# Local server: everything after -- is the command
atlas mcp add mydb -- npx -y some-mcp-server --flag
atlas mcp add mydb -e API_KEY=abc -e REGION=eu -- node server.js
atlas mcp add mydb --cwd ./tools -- python server.py

# Remote server (Streamable HTTP, with SSE fallback)
atlas mcp add docs --url https://example.com/mcp
atlas mcp add api --url https://example.com/mcp -H "Authorization=Bearer abc"

Headers and env pairs are KEY=VALUE; headers also accept Key: Value. Server names use lowercase letters, digits, _ and - (up to 32 characters).

Manage servers

atlas mcp list              # servers, status and tool count
atlas mcp tools github      # connect and list a server's tools
atlas mcp disable github    # keep it, but do not start it
atlas mcp enable github
atlas mcp remove github     # or: atlas mcp rm github

In the chat, /mcp shows each server’s status and tools.

Tool names are shown as mcp__<server>__<tool>. Values of env variables and headers are never printed; tokens in URLs and arguments are masked.

Import from Claude Desktop

atlas mcp import claude

Reads Claude Desktop’s claude_desktop_config.json, shows the servers it found, and asks before adding them. Names that already exist are skipped. The Claude Desktop file is never changed.

Approval

Config file

Servers are stored in ~/.the-atlas/mcp.json, in the same mcpServers format as Claude Desktop:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "filesystem": { "command": "npx", "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem", "/path/to/project"] },
    "docs": { "url": "https://example.com/mcp", "headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer ..." } },
    "old": { "command": "node", "args": ["server.js"], "disabled": true }
  }
}

Local servers start in the project folder unless they set cwd. Connecting times out after 15 seconds and a tool call after 2 minutes. A broken mcp.json is reported but does not stop the chat.