read_fileLABSCO SUMMARY
Ten file operations over your choice of stdio, HTTP or SSE.
The diff preview on edits and the recursive tree are the parts worth having — an agent can inspect a change before committing to it. Take the README's own warning seriously: there is no path restriction, so the server reaches anything the account running it can reach. Scope it with a dedicated user and OS permissions.
What it is
A Java implementation of the filesystem MCP server, built as one shared tool library behind three transports: a standalone stdio application, an HTTP servlet and an SSE servlet.
What you get
- read_file and read_multiple_files pull the contents of one file or a batch in a single call
- write_file creates or overwrites; edit_file makes line-based edits and can show the diff before applying
- list_directory and directory_tree give a flat listing with type indicators or a recursive JSON tree
- search_files walks a directory recursively for glob matches, with exclude patterns
- get_file_info returns size, timestamps and permissions; create_directory and move_file cover the rest
Requirements
A current Java runtime and the built artifact — the project builds with Gradle, and can also compile to a native executable with GraalVM. The stdio build runs as a standalone application; the HTTP and SSE builds are WAR files you deploy into a servlet container. No account or key.
Setup effort
Build from source — git clone https://github.com/brunorozendo/mcp-server-filesystem
USE CASES
01
Reading a set of related files in one go
Fetch several files in a single call instead of a round trip each, then read the one that matters in full.
02
Making a careful edit you want to check first
Ask for the diff before the change is written, review it, then apply the same edit for real.
03
Finding files by pattern in a big tree
Search recursively for a glob while excluding build and vendor directories, or take the whole tree as JSON.
04
Moving or renaming things after a refactor
Relocate files and directories and confirm the result from their metadata rather than re-listing everything.
10 tools
Listed in project docs. Your client may show a different list.
read_multiple_fileswrite_fileedit_filecreate_directorylist_directorydirectory_treemove_filesearch_filesget_file_infoBEFORE YOU INSTALL
What to know first
Tools you get
10 tools named in the project's documentation.
Requires
- Java 25
- Gradle 9.x, for building from source
Where it runs
The documented client runs the server on your machine.
INSTALLATION
Connect your client
Server setup
TERMINAL
git clone https://github.com/brunorozendo/mcp-server-filesystem
cd mcp-server-filesystem
./gradlew clean buildMCP Clients
Claude Desktop
CLAUDE DESKTOP · JSON
{
"mcpServers": {
"filesystem": {
"command": "java",
"args": [
"-jar",
"<YOUR_PATH_TO_STDIO_1_0>"
]
}
}
}<YOUR_PATH_TO_STDIO_1_0> is the full path of stdio/build/libs/stdio-1.0.0.jar inside your clone, which ./gradlew clean build creates. java has to be Java 25.
