mcp-server-catalog-reference

# MCP Server Catalog Reference > Skill by [ara.so](https://ara.so) — MCP Skills collection. ## What This Project Does The **50-essential-mcp-servers** catalog is a curated reference guide for MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers that work with Claude Code, Gemini CLI, and Codex. It provides: - **50 vetted MCP servers** organized into 9 categories (core dev, databases, ops/infra, productivity, fintech, web3, trading, creator tools, reasoning) - **Install commands** for each agent (Claude Code, Codex, Gemini) - **Safety flags** for servers that handle money, production data, or irreversible actions - **Practical selection advice** to avoid tool bloat and performance degradation ## The Three Critical Rules Before recommending ANY MCP server, enforce these rules: 1. **Never recommend more than 5-7 servers** — tool bloat makes agents slower and dumber 2. **Treat every server like untrusted code** — pin versions, scope tokens read-only until proven 3. **Never enable writes to production** — point at read replicas or snapshots for databases ## Server Categories & Selection Guide ### Core Development (Category 01) **Best for:** Software engineers, full-stack developers **Top picks:** GitHub, Context7, Playwright, Filesystem, Brave Search ```bash # GitHub (official, hosted) claude mcp add github --transport http # Context7 (official, hosted or local) claude mcp add context7 --transport http # OR local claude mcp add context7 -- npx -y @context-labs/mcp-server-context7 # Playwright (official, local) claude mcp add playwright -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-playwright # Filesystem (official, local) claude mcp add filesystem -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem # Brave Search (official, local, requires API key) claude mcp add brave-search -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-brave-search ``` ### Databases & Backend (Category 02) **Best for:** Backend engineers, data teams **Top picks:** Postgres, Supabase, Neon, SQLite, Redis **⚠️ All flagged as "money or irreversible" — use read replicas** ```bash # Postgres (official archived, local) claude mcp add postgres -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-postgres # Config: Set DATABASE_URL env var to read replica # Supabase (official, hosted) claude mcp add supabase --transport http # Requires project URL and anon key with restricted permissions # Neon (official, hosted) claude mcp add neon --transport http # SQLite (community, local) claude mcp add sqlite -- npx -y @benborla29/mcp-server-sqlite # Redis (official, local) claude mcp add redis -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-redis ``` ### Ops, Infra & Cloud (Category 03) **Best for:** DevOps, SRE, platform engineers **Top picks:** Cloudflare, Vercel, AWS, Sentry **⚠️ Most flagged — can modify production infrastructure** ```bash # Cloudflare (official, hosted) claude mcp add cloudflare --transport http # Vercel (official, hosted) claude mcp add vercel --transport http # AWS (official, local) claude mcp add aws -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-aws # Requires AWS_ACCESS_KEY_ID, AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY env vars # Sentry (official, hosted, read-only) claude mcp add sentry --transport http # Kubernetes (community, local) claude mcp add kubernetes -- npx -y mcp-server-kubernetes # ⚠️ Can modify cluster state — scope RBAC carefully ``` ### Corporate Productivity (Category 04) **Best for:** Product managers, team leads, knowledge workers **Top picks:** Slack, Linear, Notion, Jira, Google Drive ```bash # Slack (community, local) claude mcp add slack -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-slack # ⚠️ Can send messages — review message drafts first # Linear (official, hosted) claude mcp add linear --transport http # Notion (official, hosted) claude mcp add notion --transport http # Jira/Confluence (official, hosted) claude mcp add jira --transport http # Google Drive (official archived, local) claude mcp add gdrive -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-gdrive # Requires Google OAuth token with drive.readonly scope ``` ### Fintech & Payments (Category 05) **Best for:** Financial applications, payment processing **⚠️ ALL servers in this category handle money — use sandbox/test mode** ```bash # Stripe (official, hosted or local) claude mcp add stripe --transport http # OR local with test key claude mcp add stripe -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-stripe # Set STRIPE_SECRET_KEY=sk_test_... (never live key) # PayPal (official, hosted) claude mcp add paypal --transport http # Use sandbox credentials only # Plaid (official, hosted) claude mcp add plaid --transport http # Use development environment # QuickBooks (community, hosted) # See vendor docs for OAuth setup ``` ### Web3 & Blockchain (Category 06) **Best for:** Blockchain developers, dApp builders **⚠️ ALL servers execute irreversible on-chain transactions — use testnets** ```bash # Base (official, hosted) claude mcp add base --transport http # Configure for Base Sepolia testnet first # Solana Agent Kit (community, local) claude mcp add solana -- npx -y solana-agent-kit-mcp # Set SOLANA_RPC_URL=https://api.devnet.solana.com # Thirdweb (official, local) claude mcp add thirdweb -- npx -y @thirdweb-dev/mcp-server # Set THIRDWEB_SECRET_KEY and network to testnet # The Graph (community, local, read-only) claude mcp add the-graph -- npx -y @graphprotocol/mcp-server # Dune (community, local, read-only) claude mcp add dune -- npx -y dune-mcp-server ``` ### Trading & Markets (Category 07) **Best for:** Traders, quant developers, market analysis **⚠️ Trading servers can place real orders — paper trade first** ```bash # Alpaca (official, local) claude mcp add alpaca -- npx -y @alpacahq/mcp-server-alpaca # Set ALPACA_API_KEY and APCA_API_BASE_URL=https://paper-api.alpaca.markets # CCXT (community, local) claude mcp add ccxt -- npx -y ccxt-mcp-server # Configure exchange with testnet=true # Polygon.io (official, local, read-only) claude mcp add polygon -- npx -y @polygon-io/mcp-server # CoinGecko (official, hosted, read-only) claude mcp add coingecko --transport http # TradingView (community, local, read-only) claude mcp add tradingview -- npx -y tradingview-mcp ``` ### Creator Tools (Category 08) **Best for:** Video editors, designers, content creators **Top picks:** Higgsfield, Figma, ElevenLabs, YouTube ```bash # Higgsfield (official, hosted) claude mcp add higgsfield --transport http # DaVinci Resolve (community, local) claude mcp add davinci -- npx -y davinci-resolve-mcp # Figma (official, hosted or local) claude mcp add figma --transport http # ElevenLabs (official, local) claude mcp add elevenlabs -- npx -y @elevenlabs/mcp-server # Set ELEVENLABS_API_KEY env var # YouTube (community, local) claude mcp add youtube -- npx -y youtube-mcp-server # Requires YouTube Data API key ``` ### Reasoning & Memory (Category 09) **Best for:** Complex workflows, multi-step reasoning **Official Anthropic servers for extended thinking** ```bash # Sequential Thinking (official, local) claude mcp add sequential-thinking -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-sequential-thinking # Memory (official, local) claude mcp add memory -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-memory ``` ## Configuration Pattern All three major agents use similar JSON config. Example for Claude Code's `claude_desktop_config.json`: ```json { "mcpServers": { "github": { "transport": { "type": "http", "url": "https://github-mcp.glitch.me" } }, "postgres": { "command": "npx", "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-postgres"], "env": { "DATABASE_URL": "postgresql://user:pass@read-replica.host:5432/db" } }, "stripe": { "command": "npx", "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-stripe"], "env": { "STRIPE_SECRET_KEY": "${STRIPE_TEST_KEY}" } } } } ``` ### Codex Equivalent (`~/.codex/config.toml`) ```toml [mcp.github] transport = "http" url = "https://github-mcp.glitch.me" [mcp.postgres] command = "npx" args = ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-postgres"] [mcp.postgres.env] DATABASE_URL = "postgresql://user:pass@read-replica.host:5432/db" ``` ### Gemini CLI Equivalent (`~/.gemini/settings.json`) ```json { "mcpServers": { "github": { "transport": "http", "url": "https://github-mcp.glitch.me" } } } ``` ## Selection Decision Tree Use this logic when recommending servers: ``` 1. What's the user's primary role? - Software dev → Core dev (01) + Database (02) - DevOps/SRE → Ops/infra (03) + Database (02) - Product/PM → Productivity (04) - Trader/quant → Trading (07) + Markets data - Blockchain dev → Web3 (06) + Development (01) - Content creator → Creator tools (08) 2. How many servers do they already have? - 0-2: Recommend up to 3 more - 3-5: Recommend 1-2 targeted additions - 6+: STOP — suggest removing before adding 3. Does the server handle money/irreversible actions? - YES: Warn explicitly, suggest sandbox/testnet, confirm human-in-loop - NO: Proceed with install 4. Is there an official version? - YES: Always prefer official over community - NO: Check if community server is actively maintained ``` ## Safety Checklist for Dangerous Servers Before installing servers flagged "money or irreversible": ### Databases (Postgres, Supabase, Neon, Redis) ```bash # ✅ GOOD: Read replica DATABASE_URL="postgresql://readonly:pass@replica.host/db" # ❌ BAD: Production primary with write access DATABASE_URL="postgresql://admin:pass@prod-primary.host/db" ``` ### Fintech (Stripe, PayPal, Plaid) ```bash # ✅ GOOD: Test mode STRIPE_SECRET_KEY="sk_test_..." PAYPAL_MODE="sandbox" # ❌ BAD: Live keys STRIPE_SECRET_KEY="sk_live_..." ``` ### Web3 (Base, Thirdweb, Solana) ```bash # ✅ GOOD: Testnet SOLANA_RPC_URL="https://api.devnet.solana.com" BASE_NETWORK="base-sepolia" # ❌ BAD: Mainnet without confirmation SOLANA_RPC_URL="https://api.mainnet-beta.solana.com" ``` ### Trading (Alpaca, CCXT) ```bash # ✅ GOOD: Paper trading APCA_API_BASE_URL="https://paper-api.alpaca.markets" CCXT_EXCHANGE_SANDBOX="true" # ❌ BAD: Live trading without testing APCA_API_BASE_URL="https://api.alpaca.markets" ``` ## Common Patterns ### Pattern 1: Dev Stack (5 servers) ```bash claude mcp add github --transport http claude mcp add context7 --transport http claude mcp add postgres -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-postgres claude mcp add sentry --transport http claude mcp add playwright -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-playwright ``` ### Pattern 2: Content Creator Stack (5 servers) ```bash claude mcp add higgsfield --transport http claude mcp add figma --transport http claude mcp add elevenlabs -- npx -y @elevenlabs/mcp-server claude mcp add youtube -- npx -y youtube-mcp-server claude mcp add davinci -- npx -y davinci-resolve-mcp ``` ### Pattern 3: Web3 Builder Stack (5 servers, testnet-safe) ```bash claude mcp add github --transport http claude mcp add base --transport http # Configure for Sepolia claude mcp add the-graph -- npx -y @graphprotocol/mcp-server claude mcp add dune -- npx -y dune-mcp-server claude mcp add context7 --transport http ``` ### Pattern 4: Product/PM Stack (5 servers) ```bash claude mcp add linear --transport http claude mcp add notion --transport http claude mcp add slack -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-slack claude mcp add gdrive -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-gdrive claude mcp add github --transport http ``` ## Troubleshooting ### Server Not Appearing in Tool List ```bash # 1. Verify config syntax cat ~/.config/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json | jq . # 2. Check server can start independently npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-postgres # 3. Restart agent completely # Claude Code: Cmd+Q and reopen # Codex: codex restart ``` ### Agent Getting Slow/Confused ```bash # Count your servers jq '.mcpServers | keys | length' ~/.config/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json # If > 7: Remove least-used servers # Keep only what you used this week ``` ### Permission/Auth Errors ```bash # For hosted servers: Re-authenticate claude mcp remove github claude mcp add github --transport http # Triggers OAuth # For local servers: Check env vars are set npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-stripe # Will fail if STRIPE_SECRET_KEY missing ``` ### Server Version Conflicts ```bash # Pin to specific version claude mcp add postgres -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-postgres@1.2.3 # Check installed version npm list -g @modelcontextprotocol/server-postgres ``` ### Dangerous Action Attempted ```bash # If agent tries to execute money/irreversible action: # 1. STOP immediately # 2. Review the exact command/API call # 3. Verify environment is test/sandbox # 4. If prod: Remove server or switch to read-only # Example: Switch Stripe to test claude mcp remove stripe # Edit config to use sk_test_ key claude mcp add stripe -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-stripe ``` ## Quick Reference: Server Safety Matrix