MCP-CLI-HOST

What is MCP-CLI-HOST?

MCP-CLI-HOST is a command-line host application that enables Large Language Models (LLMs) to interact with external tools through the Model Context Protocol (MCP). It runs in the terminal and supports models from OpenAI, Azure OpenAI, Deepseek, and Ollama, making it suitable for developers and LLM users who want to extend AI capabilities with external tools.

How to use MCP-CLI-HOST?

Install via pip install mcp-cli-host. Set environment variables for API keys (e.g., OPENAI_API_KEY) or for Azure OpenAI (e.g., AZURE_OPENAI_DEPLOYMENT). For Ollama, install and run the Ollama service. Configure MCP servers in ~/.mcp.json or a custom path using the --config flag, then run mcpclihost -m <provider:model> to start an interactive session.

Key features of MCP-CLI-HOST

• Interactive conversations with multiple LLM models
• Support for multiple concurrent MCP servers
• Dynamic tool discovery and integration
• Configurable message history window for context management
• Tool calling capabilities for both model types
• Monitor and trace errors from server side

Use cases of MCP-CLI-HOST

• Querying a SQLite database through an LLM-powered chat interface
• Managing filesystem operations via a conversational AI assistant
• Combining multiple MCP servers (e.g., database and web scraping) in one session
• Experimenting with different LLMs (OpenAI, Deepseek, Ollama) while retaining the same tooling environment

FAQ from MCP-CLI-HOST

Which LLM models does MCP-CLI-HOST support?

It supports OpenAI, Azure OpenAI, Deepseek, and Ollama models. Use the -m flag with the format provider:model, for example deepseek:deepseek-chat or ollama:qwen2.5:3b.

How do I configure MCP servers?

Create a JSON configuration file (default ~/.mcp.json) with entries for each server, specifying the command and arguments. Use the --config flag to point to a custom location.

Does MCP-CLI-HOST work with any MCP server?

Yes, it can work with any MCP-compliant server. The README references the official MCP Servers Repository for examples.

What is the license for MCP-CLI-HOST?

This project is licensed under the Apache 2.0 License.