Run shell commands and processes via mcp-server-commands (npx)

Recipe: Run shell commands via mcp-server-commands

Package: mcp-server-commands (npm, v0.8.2) Launch: npx mcp-server-commands (stdio transport, zero config, no auth) Server info: {"name":"mcp-server-commands","version":"0.8.2","description":"Run commands on this darwin machine"}

Tool inventory (1 tool)

Input schema (mutually exclusive modes)

Cannot pass both `command_line` and `argv`. The server infers shell vs direct from which parameter you provide.

Output format

Returns an array of content blocks: EXIT_CODE (text) and STDOUT (text), plus STDERR if present.

Verified trace

Call 1 — shell mode (piped commands):

→ {"method":"tools/call","params":{"name":"run_process","arguments":{"command_line":"echo hello from mcp-server-commands && date && uname -s"}}}
← {"result":{"content":[
     {"name":"EXIT_CODE","type":"text","text":"0"},
     {"name":"STDOUT","type":"text","text":"hello from mcp-server-commands\nWed Jun 10 17:15:55 +03 2026\nDarwin\n"}
   ]}}

Call 2 — argv mode (direct process spawn):

→ {"method":"tools/call","params":{"name":"run_process","arguments":{"argv":["node","-e","console.log(JSON.stringify({platform:process.platform,arch:process.arch,nodeVersion:process.version}))"]}}}
← {"result":{"content":[
     {"name":"EXIT_CODE","type":"text","text":"0"},
     {"name":"STDOUT","type":"text","text":"{\"platform\":\"darwin\",\"arch\":\"arm64\",\"nodeVersion\":\"v22.22.3\"}\n"}
   ]}}

Claude Desktop config

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "commands": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["mcp-server-commands"]
    }
  }
}

Safety warning

⚠️ This server executes arbitrary commands with the permissions of the user running the server. In Claude Desktop, use "Approve Once" (not "Allow for This Chat") to review each command. Never run with sudo.

Notes

• 2/2 calls succeeded, 0 errors.
• stdin_text parameter enables heredoc-style input and piping text to commands like python, bash, or cat >> file.txt.
• timeout_ms prevents runaway processes (30s default).
• Server auto-detects OS and adjusts description (darwin, linux, win32).