MCP Docs Server

A lightweight Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides direct access to local documentation files - a simple alternative to complex RAG pipelines for project-specific context.

Overview

This MCP server reads a single markdown file (context.md) and exposes its contents through two simple tools:

• get_context_overview(): Lists all section titles
• search_context(query): Searches content across all sections

Perfect for giving LLMs access to project documentation without the overhead of vector databases or embedding models.

Features

• Zero dependencies beyond the MCP Python SDK
• Lightning fast - direct file access, no vector search
• Simple setup - works with both GUI and CLI MCP clients
• Cross-platform - includes shell wrapper for macOS/Linux compatibility
• Robust error handling - comprehensive logging and debugging support

Installation

Prerequisites

• Python 3.11+
• MCP client (Claude Desktop, cline, etc.)

Setup

1. Clone this repository:

git clone https://github.com/unlock-mcp/mcp-docs-server.git
cd mcp-docs-server

2. Install dependencies:

pip install -r requirements.txt

3. Create your documentation file:

# Create a context.md file in the project root with your documentation
echo "# My Project Docs\n\nThis is my documentation." > context.md

Client Configuration

For Claude Desktop (GUI clients)

Use the shell wrapper for reliable execution:

1. Make the wrapper executable:

chmod +x run_context_server.sh

2. Install the server:

mcp install ./run_context_server.sh --name "docs-server"

For cline and CLI clients

Add to your MCP configuration file:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "docs-server": {
      "timeout": 60,
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "/opt/homebrew/bin/python3.11",
      "args": [
        "/path/to/mcp-docs-server/mcp_context_server.py"
      ],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}

Note: Update the Python path to match your system (which python3.11)

Development

Testing

Use the MCP development tools for easy testing:

mcp dev ./run_context_server.sh

This launches a web-based inspector for testing your server.

Debugging

The server logs to stderr for debugging. Check your MCP client's logs if you encounter issues.

Common issues:

• ENOENT errors: Use the shell wrapper or specify full Python path
• Import errors: Ensure mcp[cli]>=1.2.0 is installed
• File not found: Verify context.md exists in the project root

File Structure

mcp-docs-server/
├── mcp_context_server.py      # Main server implementation
├── run_context_server.sh      # Shell wrapper for GUI clients
├── requirements.txt           # Python dependencies
├── context.md                 # Your documentation (create this)
└── README.md                  # This file

Usage

Once configured, you can use these tools in your MCP client:

• Get overview: "What sections are available in the docs?"
• Search content: "Search for authentication in the docs"
• Specific queries: "How do I configure the database?"

Tutorial

For a complete walkthrough of building this server from scratch, including common pitfalls and solutions, see the full tutorial: Ditching RAG: Building a Local MCP Server for Your Docs

Contributing

Contributions welcome! Please feel free to submit issues and pull requests.

License

MIT License - see LICENSE file for details.

Built with ❤️ by the UnlockMCP team.