MCP Starter Config for Claude Desktop

A claude_desktop_config.json wiring up filesystem, fetch, and git MCP servers with scoped access.

File location

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

Config

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "filesystem": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem", "/Users/me/projects"]
    },
    "fetch": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["mcp-server-fetch"]
    },
    "git": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["mcp-server-git", "--repository", "/Users/me/projects/my-repo"]
    }
  }
}

Steps

1. Install Node.js (for npx) and uv (for uvx).
2. Save the config and fully restart Claude Desktop.
3. Only list directories you want the model to access; the filesystem server is restricted to the paths you pass.
4. Check logs (~/Library/Logs/Claude/mcp*.log on macOS) if a server fails to start.

Failure modes

• Invalid JSON in the config silently disables all servers; validate it.
• npx/uvx not on the app's PATH makes servers fail to start; use absolute paths.
• Granting broad directories exposes more files than intended.

Markdown version: /blueprints/mcp-claude-desktop-config.md

Related blueprints