fastmcp/docs/patterns/cli.mdx

---
title: FastMCP CLI
sidebarTitle: CLI
description: Learn how to use the FastMCP command-line interface
icon: terminal
---

import { VersionBadge } from "/snippets/version-badge.mdx"


FastMCP provides a command-line interface (CLI) that makes it easy to run, develop, and install your MCP servers. The CLI is automatically installed when you install FastMCP.

```bash
fastmcp --help
```

## Commands Overview

| Command | Purpose | Dependency Management |
| ------- | ------- | --------------------- |
| `run` | Run a FastMCP server directly | Uses your current environment; you are responsible for ensuring all dependencies are available |
| `dev` | Run a server with the MCP Inspector for testing | Creates an isolated environment; dependencies must be explicitly specified with `--with` and/or `--with-editable` |
| `install` | Install a server in MCP client applications | Creates an isolated environment; dependencies must be explicitly specified with `--with` and/or `--with-editable` |
| `inspect` | Generate a JSON report about a FastMCP server | Uses your current environment; you are responsible for ensuring all dependencies are available |
| `version` | Display version information | N/A |

## Command Details

### `run`

Run a FastMCP server directly or proxy a remote server.

```bash
fastmcp run server.py
```

<Tip>
This command runs the server directly in your current Python environment. You are responsible for ensuring all dependencies are available.
</Tip>

#### Options

| Option | Flag | Description |
| ------ | ---- | ----------- |
| Transport | `--transport`, `-t` | Transport protocol to use (`stdio`, `http`, or `sse`) |
| Host | `--host` | Host to bind to when using http transport (default: 127.0.0.1) |
| Port | `--port`, `-p` | Port to bind to when using http transport (default: 8000) |
| Log Level | `--log-level`, `-l` | Log level (DEBUG, INFO, WARNING, ERROR, CRITICAL) |
| No Banner | `--no-banner` | Disable the startup banner display |


#### Server Specification
<VersionBadge version="2.3.5" />

The server can be specified in three ways:
1. `server.py` - imports the module and looks for a FastMCP object named `mcp`, `server`, or `app`. Errors if no such object is found.
2. `server.py:custom_name` - imports and uses the specified server object
3. `http://server-url/path` or `https://server-url/path` - connects to a remote server and creates a proxy

<Tip>
When using `fastmcp run` with a local file, it **ignores** the `if __name__ == "__main__"` block entirely. Instead, it finds your server object and calls its `run()` method directly with the transport options you specify. This means you can use `fastmcp run` to override the transport specified in your code.
</Tip>

For example, if your code contains:

```python
# server.py
from fastmcp import FastMCP

mcp = FastMCP("MyServer")

@mcp.tool
def hello(name: str) -> str:
    return f"Hello, {name}!"

if __name__ == "__main__":
    # This is ignored when using `fastmcp run`!
    mcp.run(transport="stdio")
```

You can run it with Streamable HTTP transport regardless of what's in the `__main__` block:

```bash
fastmcp run server.py --transport http --port 8000
```

**Examples**

```bash
# Run a local server with Streamable HTTP transport on a custom port
fastmcp run server.py --transport http --port 8000

# Connect to a remote server and proxy as a stdio server
fastmcp run https://example.com/mcp-server

# Connect to a remote server with specified log level
fastmcp run https://example.com/mcp-server --log-level DEBUG
```

### `dev`

Run a MCP server with the [MCP Inspector](https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/inspector) for testing.

```bash
fastmcp dev server.py
```

<Tip> 
This command runs your server in an isolated environment. All dependencies must be explicitly specified using the `--with` and/or `--with-editable` options.
</Tip>

<Warning>
The `dev` command is a shortcut for testing a server over STDIO only. When the Inspector launches, you may need to:
1. Select "STDIO" from the transport dropdown
2. Connect manually

This command does not support HTTP testing. To test a server over Streamable HTTP or SSE:
1. Start your server manually with the appropriate transport using either the command line:
   ```bash
   fastmcp run server.py --transport http
   ```
   or by setting the transport in your code:
   ```bash
   python server.py  # Assuming your __main__ block sets Streamable HTTP transport
   ```
2. Open the MCP Inspector separately and connect to your running server
</Warning>

#### Options

| Option | Flag | Description |
| ------ | ---- | ----------- |
| Editable Package | `--with-editable`, `-e` | Directory containing pyproject.toml to install in editable mode |
| Additional Packages | `--with` | Additional packages to install (can be used multiple times) |
| Inspector Version | `--inspector-version` | Version of the MCP Inspector to use |
| UI Port | `--ui-port` | Port for the MCP Inspector UI |
| Server Port | `--server-port` | Port for the MCP Inspector Proxy server |

**Example**

```bash
# Run dev server with editable mode and additional packages
fastmcp dev server.py -e . --with pandas --with matplotlib
```

### `install`
<VersionBadge version="2.10.3" />

Install a MCP server in MCP client applications. FastMCP currently supports the following clients:

- **Claude Code** - Installs via Claude Code's built-in MCP management system
- **Claude Desktop** - Installs via direct configuration file modification
- **Cursor** - Installs via deeplink that opens Cursor for user confirmation
- **MCP JSON** - Generates standard MCP JSON configuration for manual use

```bash
fastmcp install claude-code server.py
fastmcp install claude-desktop server.py
fastmcp install cursor server.py
fastmcp install mcp-json server.py
```

Note that for security reasons, MCP clients run every server in a completely isolated environment. Therefore, all dependencies must be explicitly specified using the `--with` and/or `--with-editable` options (following `uv` conventions) or by attaching them to your server in code via the `dependencies` parameter.

<Warning>
**`uv` must be installed and available in your system PATH**. Both Claude Desktop and Cursor run in isolated environments and need `uv` to manage dependencies. On macOS, install `uv` globally with Homebrew for Claude Desktop compatibility: `brew install uv`.
</Warning>

<Tip>
**FastMCP `install` commands focus on local server files with STDIO transport.** For remote servers running with HTTP or SSE transport, use your client's native configuration - FastMCP's value is simplifying the complex local setup with dependencies and `uv` commands.
</Tip>

#### Server Specification

The `install` command supports the same `file.py:object` notation as the `run` command:

1. `server.py` - imports the module and looks for a FastMCP object named `mcp`, `server`, or `app`. Errors if no such object is found.
2. `server.py:custom_name` - imports and uses the specified server object

#### Options

| Option | Flag | Description |
| ------ | ---- | ----------- |
| Server Name | `--name`, `-n` | Custom name for the server (defaults to server's name attribute or file name) |
| Editable Package | `--with-editable`, `-e` | Directory containing pyproject.toml to install in editable mode |
| Additional Packages | `--with` | Additional packages to install (can be used multiple times) |
| Environment Variables | `--env-var`, `-v` | Environment variables in KEY=VALUE format (can be used multiple times) |
| Environment File | `--env-file`, `-f` | Load environment variables from a .env file |

**Examples**

```bash
# Auto-detects server object (looks for 'mcp', 'server', or 'app')
fastmcp install claude-desktop server.py

# Uses specific server object
fastmcp install claude-desktop server.py:my_server

# With custom name and dependencies
fastmcp install claude-desktop server.py:my_server -n "My Analysis Server" --with pandas

# Install in Claude Code with environment variables
fastmcp install claude-code server.py --env-var API_KEY=secret --env-var DEBUG=true

# Install in Cursor with environment variables
fastmcp install cursor server.py --env-var API_KEY=secret --env-var DEBUG=true

# Install with environment file
fastmcp install cursor server.py --env-file .env

# Generate MCP JSON configuration
fastmcp install mcp-json server.py --name "My Server" --with pandas

# Copy JSON configuration to clipboard
fastmcp install mcp-json server.py --copy
```

#### MCP JSON Generation

The `mcp-json` subcommand generates standard MCP JSON configuration that can be used with any MCP-compatible client. This is useful when:

- Working with MCP clients not directly supported by FastMCP
- Creating configuration for CI/CD environments  
- Sharing server configurations with others
- Integration with custom tooling

The generated JSON follows the standard `mcpServers` format used by Claude Desktop, VS Code, Cursor, and other MCP clients:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "server-name": {
      "command": "uv",
      "args": [
        "run",
        "--with",
        "fastmcp",
        "fastmcp",
        "run",
        "/path/to/server.py"
      ],
      "env": {
        "API_KEY": "value"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

**Options specific to mcp-json:**

| Option | Flag | Description |
| ------ | ---- | ----------- |
| Copy to Clipboard | `--copy` | Copy configuration to clipboard instead of printing to stdout |

### `inspect`

<VersionBadge version="2.9.0" />

Generate a detailed JSON report about a FastMCP server, including information about its tools, prompts, resources, and capabilities.

```bash
fastmcp inspect server.py
```

The command supports the same server specification format as `run` and `install`:

```bash
# Auto-detect server object
fastmcp inspect server.py

# Specify server object
fastmcp inspect server.py:my_server

# Custom output location
fastmcp inspect server.py --output analysis.json
```

### `version`

Display version information about FastMCP and related components.

```bash
fastmcp version
```