Popular MCP Servers
Module: MCP Servers | Lesson: 3 of 4 | Time: ~10 minutes
What You Will Learn
- What the Filesystem MCP server does
- How the GitHub MCP server works
- Other popular servers: Postgres, Brave Search, Puppeteer
Prerequisites
- Completed Configuring MCP Servers
The MCP Server Ecosystem
There is a growing ecosystem of MCP servers, each adding different capabilities to Claude Code. In this lesson, we will tour the most popular ones so you know what is available and when each one is useful.
Filesystem Server
What it does: Gives Claude access to files and directories outside your current project.
By default, Claude Code can only work with files inside the folder where you launched it. The Filesystem server lets Claude read and browse files in other locations on your machine.
When to use it: When you need Claude to reference files in a different project, read configuration files from another directory, or work across multiple folders.
claude mcp add filesystem -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem C:\Users\YourName\Projects
Tools it provides: read_file, write_file, list_directory, move_file, search_files, and more.
GitHub Server
What it does: Connects Claude to the GitHub API so it can interact with repositories, issues, pull requests, and more.
When to use it: When you want Claude to create issues, review pull requests, check CI status, or manage your GitHub repositories — all without leaving the conversation.
claude mcp add github -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-github
The GitHub server requires a Personal Access Token. You will need to set the GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN environment variable or include it in your server config.
Tools it provides: create_issue, list_issues, create_pull_request, get_pull_request, list_repos, create_branch, and many more.
Brave Search Server
What it does: Gives Claude the ability to search the web using the Brave Search API.
When to use it: When Claude needs to look up documentation, find solutions to errors, check current information, or research a topic while helping you.
claude mcp add brave-search -- npx -y @anthropic-ai/mcp-server-brave-search
Tools it provides: web_search — Claude can search the web and read the results.
You need a free Brave Search API key to use this server. Sign up at brave.com/search/api and set the BRAVE_API_KEY environment variable.
PostgreSQL Server
What it does: Connects Claude to a PostgreSQL database so it can run queries and explore your data.
When to use it: When you are developing an application backed by PostgreSQL and want Claude to help write queries, explore the schema, debug data issues, or generate reports.
claude mcp add postgres -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-postgres "postgresql://user:password@localhost:5432/mydb"
Tools it provides: query — Claude can run SQL queries against your database.
Be careful with database access. The PostgreSQL server lets Claude run queries including writes and deletes. Consider using a read-only database user or a development database, not your production database.
Puppeteer Server
What it does: Gives Claude the ability to control a web browser. Claude can navigate to URLs, take screenshots, click elements, fill in forms, and read page content.
When to use it: When you need Claude to test a web application, scrape data from a website, or verify that a UI looks correct after changes.
claude mcp add puppeteer -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-puppeteer
Tools it provides: navigate, screenshot, click, fill, evaluate (run JavaScript in the browser), and more.
Memory Server
What it does: Gives Claude a persistent memory that survives across sessions. Claude can store and retrieve facts, notes, and context.
When to use it: When you want Claude to remember things between conversations — like your preferences, project decisions, or important context that you do not want to repeat every time.
claude mcp add memory -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-memory
Tools it provides: store_memory, retrieve_memories, search_memories.
Quick Reference Table
| Server | Main Use | Key Tools | Needs API Key? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filesystem | Access files outside the project | read, write, list, search | No |
| GitHub | Manage repos, issues, PRs | create_issue, create_pull_request | Yes (GitHub PAT) |
| Brave Search | Search the web | web_search | Yes (Brave API) |
| PostgreSQL | Query databases | query | No (uses connection string) |
| Puppeteer | Control a browser | navigate, screenshot, click | No |
| Memory | Persistent memory across sessions | store, retrieve, search | No |
Where to Find More MCP Servers
The MCP ecosystem is growing quickly. Here are the best places to discover new servers:
- Official MCP Servers Repository: github.com/modelcontextprotocol/servers — the main collection maintained by Anthropic
- npm: Search for
mcp-serveron npmjs.com to find community-built servers - MCP Directory: Community-maintained directories list servers by category
You do not need to install every server at once. Start with one or two that match your workflow. The Filesystem and GitHub servers are the most universally useful starting points.
Try It Yourself
- Pick one MCP server from the list above that sounds useful for your work
- Add it using the
claude mcp addcommand - Start Claude Code and type
/mcpto verify it is connected - Ask Claude to use one of the server's tools — for example:
- Filesystem: "List the files in my Documents folder"
- GitHub: "List my recent repositories"
- Brave Search: "Search for Node.js best practices 2025"
What You Learned
- The Filesystem server lets Claude access files outside your current project
- The GitHub server connects Claude to the GitHub API for repo management
- Brave Search gives Claude web search capability
- PostgreSQL lets Claude query your databases
- Puppeteer gives Claude browser control for testing and scraping
- The Memory server adds persistent memory across sessions
- The official MCP servers repository is the best place to discover new servers
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