# YDB MCP
---
[](https://github.com/ydb-platform/ydb-mcp/blob/main/LICENSE)
[](https://badge.fury.io/py/ydb-mcp)
[Model Context Protocol server](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/) for [YDB](https://ydb.tech). It allows to work with YDB databases from any [LLM](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_language_model) that supports MCP. This integration enables AI-powered database operations and natural language interactions with your YDB instances.
## Usage
### Via uvx
[uvx](https://docs.astral.sh/uv/concepts/tools/), which is an allias for `uv run tool`, allows you to run various python applications without explicitly installing them. Below are examples of how to configure YDB MCP using `uvx`.
#### Example: Using Anonymous Authentication
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"ydb": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"ydb-mcp",
"--ydb-endpoint", "grpc://localhost:2136",
"--ydb-database", "/local"
]
}
}
}
```
### Via pipx
[pipx](https://pipx.pypa.io/stable/) allows you to run various applications from PyPI without explicitly installing each one. However, it must be [installed](https://pipx.pypa.io/stable/#install-pipx) first. Below are examples of how to configure YDB MCP using `pipx`.
#### Example: Using Anonymous Authentication
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"ydb": {
"command": "pipx",
"args": [
"run", "ydb-mcp",
"--ydb-endpoint", "grpc://localhost:2136",
"--ydb-database", "/local"
]
}
}
}
```
### Via pip
YDB MCP can be installed using `pip`, [Python's package installer](https://pypi.org/project/pip/). The package is [available on PyPI](https://pypi.org/project/ydb-mcp/) and includes all necessary dependencies.
```bash
pip install ydb-mcp
```
To get started with YDB MCP, you'll need to configure your MCP client to communicate with the YDB instance. Below are example configuration files that you can customize according to your setup and then put into MCP client's settings. Path to the Python interpreter might also need to be adjusted to the correct virtual environment that has the `ydb-mcp` package installed.
#### Example: Using Anonymous Authentication
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"ydb": {
"command": "python3",
"args": [
"-m", "ydb_mcp",
"--ydb-endpoint", "grpc://localhost:2136",
"--ydb-database", "/local"
]
}
}
}
```
### Authentication
Regardless of the usage method (`uvx`, `pipx` or `pip`), you can configure authentication for your YDB installation. To do this, pass special command line arguments.
#### Using Login/Password Authentication
To use login/password authentication, specify the `--ydb-auth-mode`, `--ydb-login`, and `--ydb-password` arguments:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"ydb": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"ydb-mcp",
"--ydb-endpoint", "grpc://localhost:2136",
"--ydb-database", "/local",
"--ydb-auth-mode", "login-password",
"--ydb-login", "",
"--ydb-password", ""
]
}
}
}
```
#### Using Access Token Authentication
To use access token authentication, specify the `--ydb-auth-mode` and `--ydb-access-token` arguments:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"ydb": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"ydb-mcp",
"--ydb-endpoint", "grpc://localhost:2136",
"--ydb-database", "/local",
"--ydb-auth-mode", "access-token",
"--ydb-access-token", "qwerty123"
]
}
}
}
```
#### Using Service Account Authentication
To use service account authentication, specify the `--ydb-auth-mode` and `--ydb-sa-key-file` arguments:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"ydb": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"ydb-mcp",
"--ydb-endpoint", "grpc://localhost:2136",
"--ydb-database", "/local",
"--ydb-auth-mode", "service-account",
"--ydb-sa-key-file", "~/sa_key.json"
]
}
}
}
```
## Available Tools
YDB MCP provides the following tools for interacting with YDB databases:
- `ydb_query`: Run a SQL query against a YDB database
- Parameters:
- `sql`: SQL query string to execute
- `ydb_query_with_params`: Run a parameterized SQL query with JSON parameters
- Parameters:
- `sql`: SQL query string with parameter placeholders
- `params`: JSON string containing parameter values
- `ydb_explain_query`: Explain a SQL query (returns the execution plan)
- Parameters:
- `sql`: SQL query string to explain
- `ydb_explain_query_with_params`: Explain a parameterized SQL query
- Parameters:
- `sql`: SQL query string with parameter placeholders
- `params`: JSON string containing parameter values
- `ydb_list_directory`: List directory contents in YDB
- Parameters:
- `path`: YDB directory path to list
- `ydb_describe_path`: Get detailed information about a YDB path (table, directory, etc.)
- Parameters:
- `path`: YDB path to describe
- `ydb_status`: Get the current status of the YDB connection
## Building Custom MCP Servers
`YDBMCPServer` is designed to be subclassed. You can add your own tools on top of an established YDB connection and, optionally, disable the built-in generic tools to expose only the queries your application needs.
### Why build a custom server?
- **Security** — restrict the LLM to a fixed set of read-only queries instead of exposing arbitrary SQL execution.
- **Domain specificity** — give the model tools that match your business logic rather than raw database primitives.
- **Simplicity** — fewer tools means less ambiguity for the model.
### Available methods
Override or call these in your subclass:
| Method | Description |
|--------|-------------|
| `await self.execute(sql, params=None)` | Run a SQL query. Returns `list[dict]`, each dict has `"columns"` and `"rows"`. |
| `await self.explain(sql, params=None)` | Return the query execution plan as a `dict`. |
| `await self.list_directory(path)` | List a YDB directory. Returns `dict` with `"path"` and `"items"`. |
| `await self.describe_path(path)` | Describe a YDB path (table schema, directory, etc.). Returns a `dict`. |
The `params` argument is a plain `dict`. Keys without a `$` prefix get it added automatically. To specify an explicit YDB type, use a `(value, "TypeName")` tuple — e.g. `{"id": (42, "Int64")}`.
### Controlling generic tools
Use the `generic_tools` class attribute to control which built-in tools are registered:
| Value | Effect |
|---|---|
| `set(YDBGenericTool)` | All built-in tools (default) |
| `set()` | No built-in tools — only your own |
| `{YDBGenericTool.QUERY, YDBGenericTool.STATUS}` | Only the listed tools |
`YDBGenericTool` is a string enum — available values: `QUERY`, `QUERY_WITH_PARAMS`, `EXPLAIN`, `EXPLAIN_WITH_PARAMS`, `STATUS`, `LIST_DIRECTORY`, `DESCRIBE_PATH`.
### Example
```python
# my_server.py
from ydb_mcp import YDBMCPServer, YDBGenericTool, serialize_ydb_response
class OrdersServer(YDBMCPServer):
"""Minimal read-only MCP server for the orders service."""
generic_tools = {YDBGenericTool.STATUS} # keep status check for diagnostics
def __init__(self, **kwargs):
super().__init__(**kwargs)
@self.tool()
async def get_order(order_id: str) -> str:
"""Fetch a single order by ID."""
rows = await self.execute(
"SELECT * FROM orders WHERE id = $id",
{"id": order_id},
)
return serialize_ydb_response(rows)
@self.tool()
async def list_recent_orders(limit: int = 10) -> str:
"""Return the most recent orders."""
rows = await self.execute(
"SELECT * FROM orders ORDER BY created_at DESC LIMIT $limit",
{"limit": limit},
)
return serialize_ydb_response(rows)
if __name__ == "__main__":
OrdersServer(
endpoint="grpc://localhost:2136",
database="/local",
).run()
```
Run it directly:
```bash
python my_server.py
```
Or wire it up as an MCP server in your client config:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"orders": {
"command": "python",
"args": ["my_server.py"]
}
}
}
```
## Development
The project uses [Make](https://www.gnu.org/software/make/) as its primary development tool, providing a consistent interface for common development tasks.
### Available Make Commands
The project includes a comprehensive Makefile with various commands for development tasks. Each command is designed to streamline the development workflow and ensure code quality:
- `make all`: Run clean, lint, and test in sequence (default target)
- `make clean`: Remove all build artifacts and temporary files
- `make test`: Run all tests using pytest
- Can be configured with environment variables:
- `LOG_LEVEL` (default: WARNING) - Control test output verbosity (DEBUG, INFO, WARNING, ERROR)
- `make unit-tests`: Run only unit tests with verbose output
- Can be configured with environment variables:
- `LOG_LEVEL` (default: WARNING) - Control test output verbosity (DEBUG, INFO, WARNING, ERROR)
- `make integration-tests`: Run only integration tests with verbose output
- Can be configured with environment variables:
- `YDB_ENDPOINT` (default: grpc://localhost:2136)
- `YDB_DATABASE` (default: /local)
- `MCP_HOST` (default: 127.0.0.1)
- `MCP_PORT` (default: 8989)
- `LOG_LEVEL` (default: WARNING) - Control test output verbosity (DEBUG, INFO, WARNING, ERROR)
- `make run-server`: Start the YDB MCP server
- Can be configured with environment variables:
- `YDB_ENDPOINT` (default: grpc://localhost:2136)
- `YDB_DATABASE` (default: /local)
- Additional arguments can be passed using `ARGS="your args"`
- `make lint`: Run all linting checks (flake8, mypy, black, isort)
- `make format`: Format code using black and isort
- `make install`: Install the package in development mode
- `make dev`: Install the package in development mode with all development dependencies
### Test Verbosity Control
By default, tests run with minimal output (WARNING level) to keep the output clean. You can control the verbosity of test output using the `LOG_LEVEL` environment variable:
```bash
# Run all tests with debug output
make test LOG_LEVEL=DEBUG
# Run integration tests with info output
make integration-tests LOG_LEVEL=INFO
# Run unit tests with warning output (default)
make unit-tests LOG_LEVEL=WARNING
```
Available log levels:
- `DEBUG`: Show all debug messages, useful for detailed test flow
- `INFO`: Show informational messages and above
- `WARNING`: Show only warnings and errors (default)
- `ERROR`: Show only error messages