How to add an MCP server to Bob Shell

Bob Shell reads its MCP servers from ~/.bob/settings/mcp.json (global) or .bob/mcp.json (project) and connects to them over stdio (a local process) and Streamable HTTP. 119,274 of the 123,032 servers we can write a config for work in it.

A local server

A local server runs on your machine, started by Bob Shell from its package. It needs Node.js installed first. For example, Azure MCP Server goes in ~/.bob/settings/mcp.json (global) or .bob/mcp.json (project):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "azure": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@azure/[email protected]", "server", "start"]
    }
  }
}

Every step for this server in Bob Shell

A remote server

A remote server runs on its publisher's machines, and Bob Shell connects to its address. Nothing needs installing. For example, Context7 goes in ~/.bob/settings/mcp.json (global) or .bob/mcp.json (project):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "context7": {
      "url": "https://mcp.context7.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Every step for this server in Bob Shell

Which servers work in Bob Shell

Bob Shell can send a key in a header, so the 3,251 servers that need one work in it.

Runs	Servers	In Bob Shell?
Local (stdio)	85,194	Works
Remote, Streamable HTTP	30,876	Works
Remote, Streamable HTTP, key in a header	3,204	Works
Remote, HTTP+SSE	3,711	No
Remote, HTTP+SSE, key in a header	47	No

If the server does not show up

Matches the official docs The configs follow Bob Shell's MCP docs, read on 2026-11-01.

Bob Shell on plug.directory · Best MCP servers for Bob Shell