MCP server for TheBrain 15: search by meaning, graph traversal and batch writes over the local API
To add thebrain to Claude, run the install command below or copy the ready-made config for Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor and VS Code further down. Restart your client after adding it and its tools show up in your next conversation. It needs 7 environment variables, listed below.
Install
npx -y thebrain-mcp-server@0.3.0Environment variables
THEBRAIN_API_KEYSet in your MCP configTHEBRAIN_BASE_URLSet in your MCP configTHEBRAIN_DATA_DIRSet in your MCP configTHEBRAIN_ALLOW_DESTRUCTIVESet in your MCP configTHEBRAIN_EMBEDDING_MODELSet in your MCP configTHEBRAIN_EMBEDDING_DTYPESet in your MCP configTHEBRAIN_TIMEOUT_MSSet in your MCP configInstall with your client
claude mcp add thebrain --env THEBRAIN_API_KEY=<YOUR_THEBRAIN_API_KEY> --env THEBRAIN_BASE_URL=<YOUR_THEBRAIN_BASE_URL> --env THEBRAIN_DATA_DIR=<YOUR_THEBRAIN_DATA_DIR> --env THEBRAIN_ALLOW_DESTRUCTIVE=<YOUR_THEBRAIN_ALLOW_DESTRUCTIVE> --env THEBRAIN_EMBEDDING_MODEL=<YOUR_THEBRAIN_EMBEDDING_MODEL> --env THEBRAIN_EMBEDDING_DTYPE=<YOUR_THEBRAIN_EMBEDDING_DTYPE> --env THEBRAIN_TIMEOUT_MS=<YOUR_THEBRAIN_TIMEOUT_MS> -- npx -y thebrain-mcp-server@0.3.0
Run this in a terminal to add the server to Claude Code.
What this does
thebrain exposes a set of tools to Claude over the Model Context Protocol. After you add it to claude_desktop_config.json (snippet above) and restart Claude Desktop, those tools become callable inside any conversation.
Requirements
This server needs the following environment variables to be set before it can run:
THEBRAIN_API_KEY THEBRAIN_BASE_URL THEBRAIN_DATA_DIR THEBRAIN_ALLOW_DESTRUCTIVE THEBRAIN_EMBEDDING_MODEL THEBRAIN_EMBEDDING_DTYPE THEBRAIN_TIMEOUT_MS
Set these via the env object in your MCP config (see claude_desktop_config.json snippet above).
Frequently asked questions
How do I install thebrain?
Run the Claude Code command in the install section to add thebrain to Claude Code, or copy the ready-made config for your client from the install section on this page. Restart your client afterwards and the tools appear in your next conversation.
Which clients work with thebrain?
This page carries setup and config for Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor and VS Code. Any other MCP client that accepts a standard server config can connect to thebrain as well.
Does thebrain need an API key?
Yes. Before it can run, set these environment variables: THEBRAIN_API_KEY, THEBRAIN_BASE_URL, THEBRAIN_DATA_DIR, THEBRAIN_ALLOW_DESTRUCTIVE, THEBRAIN_EMBEDDING_MODEL, THEBRAIN_EMBEDDING_DTYPE, THEBRAIN_TIMEOUT_MS. They go in the env block of your MCP config.
Imported from the Official MCP Registry. The details above come from the registry entry; the maker can claim this listing to correct them, add docs, and see its traffic.
Is this your MCP server?
Claim this listing to see its traffic, fix details yourself, and skip the review queue on future updates.
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