AI Agent for Desktop Commander
Seamlessly search, update, manage files, and run terminal commands on your local machine with AI-powered automation. Desktop Commander MCP centralizes all your development tools in one intuitive chat, enabling efficient code execution, advanced file operations, and process management—without the costs of API tokens. Empower your workflow with instant data analysis, code editing, and integrated session management for developers, analysts, and power users.
Unified Terminal & File Management
Control your entire development environment from one AI-powered interface. Run terminal commands, manage sessions, and interact with processes across multiple platforms—macOS, Windows, and Linux. Perform advanced file operations, from reading and editing to moving and searching, all within a secure, chat-driven workflow.
- Smart Terminal Control.
- Execute, monitor, and manage terminal sessions with interactive input and output streaming.
- Advanced Filesystem Operations.
- Read, write, move, search, and analyze files with support for negative offset reading and batch operations.
- Dynamic Configuration.
- Instantly change server settings without restarts and manage allowed directories, shells, and more.
- Comprehensive Security.
- Control access, block commands, and restrict file operations to designated directories for safety.
In-Memory Code & Data Analysis
Run Python, Node.js, or R code instantly in memory without file saves. Analyze CSV or JSON data on the fly, and interact with SSH, databases, or development servers with just a prompt. Drive your development and analytics faster with direct, AI-guided execution.
- Execute Code Instantly.
- Run Python, Node.js, or R code in memory for rapid prototyping and analysis.
- Data-Driven Insights.
- Analyze CSV and JSON files instantly, leveraging AI to extract actionable insights.
- Remote Process Interaction.
- Maintain SSH sessions or connect to databases and servers from the same chat interface.
Surgical Code Editing & Audit Logging
Make precise, pattern-based code changes using intelligent text replacement tools. Track every action with robust audit logging, including character-level diffs, log rotation, and detailed session information for enhanced traceability and compliance.
- Surgical Text Replacement.
- Perform targeted code edits, pattern-based replacements, and multi-file rewrites with fuzzy search fallback.
- Comprehensive Logging.
- Automatically log every tool call, edit, and process with detailed arguments, timestamps, and diffs.
- Version & Session Management.
- Rotate logs, manage process sessions, and maintain a clear audit trail for every action.
MCP INTEGRATION
Available Desktop Commander MCP Integration Tools
The following tools are available as part of the Desktop Commander MCP integration:
- get_config
Get the complete server configuration as JSON, including blocked commands, default shell, directories, and limits.
- set_config_value
Set a specific configuration value by key, such as updating blocked commands, default shell, or telemetry.
- start_process
Start programs or terminal commands with smart detection of readiness for input.
- interact_with_process
Send commands or interact with running programs and receive their responses.
- read_process_output
Read output from active, running processes for real-time monitoring and feedback.
- force_terminate
Force terminate a running terminal session immediately.
- list_sessions
List all active terminal sessions and their statuses.
- list_processes
List all currently running processes on the system with detailed information.
- kill_process
Terminate a running process by its process ID (PID).
- read_file
Read contents from local files or URLs, supporting pagination and negative offsets.
- read_multiple_files
Read the contents of multiple files at once for batch operations.
- write_file
Write or append contents to files, supporting rewrite and append modes with line limits.
- create_directory
Create a new directory or ensure an existing one is present.
- list_directory
Get a detailed listing of files and directories at a given path.
- move_file
Move or rename files and directories within the filesystem.
- search_files
Find files by name using case-insensitive substring matching.
- search_code
Search for text or code patterns within files using ripgrep-powered search.
- get_file_info
Retrieve detailed metadata about a file or directory.
- edit_block
Apply targeted text replacements to files with enhanced prompting, diffs, and multi-occurrence support.
- get_usage_stats
Get usage statistics for insight into your server and tool usage.
- give_feedback_to_desktop_commander
Open a feedback form in your browser to provide input to the Desktop Commander team.
Supercharge Claude Desktop with AI-Powered Automation
Seamlessly search, manage files, edit code, and run terminal commands—all inside Claude Desktop, without API costs. Try Desktop Commander MCP for next-level developer productivity.
What is Desktop Commander MCP
Desktop Commander MCP is an open-source tool designed to extend the capabilities of AI assistants, especially Anthropic's Claude Desktop, by providing direct access to your computer’s terminal, file system, and development tools—all within a chat interface. With Desktop Commander, users can execute terminal commands, manage processes, edit files, automate tasks, and even run code (Python, Node.js, R) directly from Claude. The platform is cross-compatible with Windows, macOS, and Linux and is tailored for developers, DevOps, data analysts, technical writers, designers, and assistants. Unlike traditional coding tools, Desktop Commander integrates all these capabilities into a single chat, making it easier to work with large codebases, automate workflows, and handle documentation, all while keeping data securely on your local machine. The product is trusted by thousands of developers and is offered as a free, open-source solution for individuals, with commercial licenses available for enterprises.
Capabilities
What we can do with Desktop Commander MCP
With Desktop Commander MCP, users can leverage Claude Desktop to interact with their entire operating system through natural language. This includes running terminal commands, editing and searching files, managing processes, automating DevOps workflows, analyzing datasets, and even creating documentation or design assets. It’s ideal for developers who want to streamline coding, DevOps engineers needing automation, data analysts working with large datasets, technical writers updating documentation, and designers handling design files—all while maintaining strict control over local security and permissions.
- Terminal & Process Management
- Execute and manage long-running terminal commands, processes, and scripts natively from chat.
- File System & Code Editing
- Search, read, write, and edit files across your local system or remote servers, with smart file handling.
- DevOps Automation
- Configure environments, deploy with Ansible/Terraform, manage Docker, and explore remote logs via SSH.
- Instant Data Analysis
- Analyze CSV, Excel, and database data with Python or R in-memory, generate reports and visualizations.
- Documentation & Design
- Create, update, and optimize project docs, generate release notes, convert Figma files, and manage design assets.
What is Desktop Commander MCP
AI agents benefit greatly from Desktop Commander MCP by gaining the ability to interact with your entire operating system in a secure, conversational way. This unlocks advanced workflows such as automated coding, file management, DevOps tasks, data analysis, and content generation—all from within a chat interface. The platform’s fine-grained security controls and local data processing ensure that sensitive information stays private, making it ideal for both individuals and organizations looking to enhance productivity and automation with AI-powered agents.