Everything MCP server

Last verified: 2026-09

Reference server that exercises the whole MCP protocol.

Official reference Developer tools No API key Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, Claude Code, VS Code

What it does

Reference server that exercises prompts, resources, tools, and sampling. For people writing an MCP host or debugging a client. Not a daily-driver tool.

It sits in Developer tools: Split this category in two.

Good for

Verify a new MCP host actually implements resources, prompts, and tools.
Reproduce a client bug with a known-good server.
Teach yourself the protocol without pointing at a real API.
Remove it from the default config after the test.

Tools

echo / add / and protocol demos — Used to test the client, not to do work.

Config (Claude Desktop / Cursor / Windsurf)

Paste the JSON below. Same mcpServers shape. Replace placeholder paths and secrets. Windows paths look like C:\\Users\\you\\project, not /path/to. Host-side steps →

Claude Desktop

OS	Config file
macOS	`~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`
Windows	`%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json` (usually `C:\Users\<you>\AppData\Roaming\Claude\`)
Linux	`~/.config/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`

Cursor

Scope	macOS / Linux	Windows
This project	`.cursor/mcp.json` in the repo root
This user	`~/.cursor/mcp.json`	`%USERPROFILE%\.cursor\mcp.json`

Windsurf

OS	Config file
macOS / Linux	`~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json`
Windows	`%USERPROFILE%\.codeium\windsurf\mcp_config.json`

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "everything": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-everything"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Windsurf remote MCP: use serverUrl instead of url if the block below is HTTP.

One-liner: npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-everything

Secrets it wants: none

Source repo →

How to get started

Install only in a test profile.
Walk the client's tool list and resource list.
Remove it from the default config when you are done.

Access risk

Low, but do not leave demo tools in a config that also has GitHub write tokens.

When to skip it

Skip it unless you are building or debugging an MCP client.

Instead: Sequential Thinking.

OfficialSequential ThinkingA scratchpad that forces the model to break work into steps.

Vs alternatives

Server	Official?	Needs a secret?	Best for
Everything	Yes	No	Reference server that exercises the whole MCP protocol.
Sequential Thinking	Yes	No	A scratchpad that forces the model to break work into steps.

More in Developer tools

OfficialGitRead a local git repo: log, diff, status. OfficialGitHubRepos, issues, PRs, and file contents on GitHub. OfficialGitLabProjects, issues, and merge requests on GitLab. OfficialSentryList and inspect Sentry issues.

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FAQ

Should this be in my daily config?

No. It is a protocol gym. It does not help you ship.

Does it need secrets?

No.

Why is it in Developer tools?

Because that is where people look when a host misbehaves.

Is it safe?

It is a test server. Still, do not treat random tool output as production data.