MCP Config Generator

What Is an MCP Configuration File?

An MCP configuration file is the bridge between your AI client and the external tools it can access through the Model Context Protocol. Every MCP-compatible client — Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf, and Claude Code — reads a JSON configuration file at startup to discover which MCP servers are available, how to launch them, and what credentials to pass.

At its core, the config file is a JSON object mapping server names to their launch configurations. Each server entry specifies a command (typically npx, uvx, or docker), an array of args to pass to that command, and an optional env object for environment variables like API keys and database connection strings.

The challenge is that each AI client expects this file in a different location and sometimes in a slightly different format. Claude Desktop reads claude_desktop_config.json from your Application Support directory, while Cursor looks for .cursor/mcp.json in your home directory. VS Code takes a different approach entirely, embedding MCP server configurations within its general settings.json under a mcp.servers key. Our Config Generator handles all of these differences automatically.

How to Configure MCP for Claude Desktop

Claude Desktop is the most popular MCP client and uses a straightforward configuration format. Here is a step-by-step guide to setting up MCP servers in Claude Desktop using our Config Generator:

1. Open the Config Generator and select the Claude Desktop tab
2. Browse the popular servers list or search for the server you need
3. Click on a server to add it to your configuration
4. If the server requires API keys, expand its section and fill in the environment variables
5. Review the JSON preview on the right — it updates in real time
6. Click Download to save the file, or Copy to copy it to your clipboard
7. Save the file to ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (macOS) or %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json (Windows)
8. Restart Claude Desktop to load the new configuration

The Config Generator validates your JSON in real time, catching syntax errors and structural issues before you save. This eliminates the most common problem with manual config editing — a missing comma or bracket that silently breaks everything.

MCP Config for Cursor IDE

Cursor supports MCP servers through a dedicated configuration file at ~/.cursor/mcp.json. The format is similar to Claude Desktop — a JSON object with an mcpServers key mapping server names to their configurations.

To configure MCP in Cursor: select the Cursor tab in our Config Generator, add your desired servers, configure any required environment variables, and download the file. Save it to ~/.cursor/mcp.json and restart Cursor. Your MCP servers will appear in Cursor's tool panel, ready to use within your coding sessions.

Cursor is especially powerful with MCP servers that provide code-related capabilities: GitHub access for repository management, file system servers for project navigation, database servers for query execution, and web automation servers for testing. Our Config Generator includes pre-configured templates for all of these common use cases.

Common MCP Configuration Mistakes

After helping thousands of developers set up MCP configurations, here are the most common mistakes we see — and how to avoid them:

• Invalid JSON syntax — A missing comma between server entries, an extra trailing comma, or mismatched brackets. Our Config Generator outputs valid JSON every time.
• Wrong file location — Saving the config to the wrong directory. Each client has a specific path. Use the file location hint shown below the preview.
• Missing environment variables — Many servers require API keys to function. If a server isn't responding, check that all required env vars are set with valid values.
• Incorrect command — Using npx for a Python server that needs uvx, or vice versa. The Config Generator sets the correct command for each popular server.
• Path issues in args — File system and database servers need valid file paths. Make sure paths in your args actually exist on your machine.
• Forgetting to restart — Most MCP clients only read the config file at startup. After saving changes, restart your client for them to take effect.

Advanced MCP Configuration Patterns

Beyond basic server setup, there are several advanced configuration patterns that power users leverage:

Multi-Server Stacks

Most productive MCP setups use 3-7 servers together. A typical developer stack might include GitHub (for repository access), a file system server (for local file operations), a database server (for data queries), and a web search server (for research). Our Config Generator makes it easy to build these multi-server stacks by picking multiple servers in one session.

Environment Variable Best Practices

Store sensitive values like API keys as environment variables rather than hardcoding them in the config. Many servers support reading credentials from the env object in the config, which is more secure than embedding them in command arguments. Our Config Generator manages environment variables as a first-class feature, with visibility toggles to protect sensitive values as you work.

Config Sharing and Team Setup

The shareable config links feature generates URLs that encode your server structure without secret values. This is perfect for team onboarding: set up the ideal MCP stack once, share the link, and each team member only needs to fill in their own API keys. The configuration structure is preserved exactly while keeping credentials private.