How to add an MCP server to oterm

oterm reads its MCP servers from config.json in oterm's data folder (~/Library/Application Support/oterm on macOS, ~/.local/share/oterm on Linux, %APPDATA%\oterm on Windows) and connects to them over stdio (a local process), Streamable HTTP and HTTP+SSE. 123,051 of the 123,051 servers we can write a config for work in it.

A local server

A local server runs on your machine, started by oterm from its package. It needs Node.js installed first. For example, Azure MCP Server goes in config.json in oterm's data folder (~/Library/Application Support/oterm on macOS, ~/.local/share/oterm on Linux, %APPDATA%\oterm on Windows):

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

Every step for this server in oterm

A remote server

A remote server runs on its publisher's machines, and oterm connects to its address. Nothing needs installing. For example, Context7 goes in config.json in oterm's data folder (~/Library/Application Support/oterm on macOS, ~/.local/share/oterm on Linux, %APPDATA%\oterm on Windows):

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

Every step for this server in oterm

Which servers work in oterm

oterm can send a key in a header, so the 3,252 servers that need one work in it.

RunsServersIn oterm?
Local (stdio)85,195Works
Remote, Streamable HTTP30,893Works
Remote, Streamable HTTP, key in a header3,205Works
Remote, HTTP+SSE3,711Works
Remote, HTTP+SSE, key in a header47Works

If the server does not show up

Matches the official docs The configs follow oterm's MCP docs, read on 2026-10-31.

oterm on plug.directory · Best MCP servers for oterm