# json-mcp-lite [![Json Mcp Lite on AI Agents Listing](https://aiagentslisting.com/json-mcp-lite/badge.svg?claim=eccb9c1211fea68d927f7a2cb69a52e7)](https://aiagentslisting.com/mcp/json-mcp-lite) Turn a JSON file into an **MCP server** in one command, so Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor or any stdio MCP client can browse and search your data. Give it a catalogue, an FAQ, a price list or a docs index, and it creates three read-only tools: | Tool | What it does | |---|---| | `_list` | List records, with `limit` / `offset` paging | | `_search` | Keyword search; every word must match, case-insensitive | | `_get` | One record by its id field | MIT licence. Node.js 20+. Two dependencies: the official `@modelcontextprotocol/sdk` and `zod`. ## Try it ```bash git clone https://github.com/scoretracker4321/json-mcp-lite cd json-mcp-lite && npm install npm start # serves examples/products.json on stdio npm test ``` ## Use it with Claude Desktop or Cursor ```json { "mcpServers": { "products": { "command": "node", "args": [ "/abs/path/json-mcp-lite/src/server.js", "--file", "/abs/path/products.json", "--name", "products", "--id", "sku", "--search", "title,description" ] } } } ``` Claude Code: ```bash claude mcp add products -- node /abs/path/json-mcp-lite/src/server.js --file /abs/path/products.json --name products --id sku ``` Then ask: *"Which teas are under ₹400 and in stock?"* or *"Show me product MUG-001."* ## Options | Flag | Default | Meaning | |---|---|---| | `--file` | (required) | The JSON file | | `--path` | root | Dot path to the array inside the file, e.g. `data.items` | | `--name` | `records` | Tool name prefix: `products` → `products_list`, … | | `--id` | `id` | Field used by `_get` | | `--search` | all fields | Comma-separated fields that `_search` looks in | ## Need more than a JSON file? **json-mcp-lite** is the free, local, single-file part of [**MCP Server Kit**](https://checkout.dodopayments.com/buy/pdt_0NnmvXPBAvJBJC3NqGDJq?quantity=1) ($29, one-time). The Kit adds: - **Any REST API → MCP tools** from its OpenAPI 3 spec: one typed tool per operation, auth injected from env, read-only filter, include/exclude lists - **Remote hosting** over Streamable HTTP (stateless, proxy-friendly), not only stdio - **API-key auth** and **per-key rate limits**, CORS, `/health` and `/tools` endpoints - **Several sources in one server**, set up in one YAML/JSON config file - **Docker** image, an Express router to mount inside your own app, and deploy guides | | json-mcp-lite | MCP Server Kit | |---|---|---| | JSON file → list/search/get | ✅ | ✅ | | stdio (Claude Desktop, Cursor, Claude Code) | ✅ | ✅ | | OpenAPI / REST API → tools | | ✅ | | Remote HTTP server | | ✅ | | API keys + rate limits | | ✅ | | Multiple sources, config file | | ✅ | | Docker + deploy docs | | ✅ | | Email support | | ✅ | ## Licence MIT. Built by Brain Grain (support@braingrain.in).