MCP CLI client

What is MCP CLI client?

MCP CLI client is a command-line program that runs LLM prompts and implements the Model Context Protocol (MCP) client side. It works in any terminal environment and is intended for developers and power users who want to interact with MCP-compatible servers and various LLM providers (OpenAI, Groq, or local models via llama.cpp).

How to use MCP CLI client?

Install via pip install mcp-client-cli, then create a JSON configuration file at ~/.llm/config.json (or $PWD/.llm/config.json) specifying your LLM provider and MCP servers. Run prompts with llm "your question", pipe input from files or commands, use prompt templates with llm p, or continue conversations with llm c. Clipboard support is available via the cb command.

Key features of MCP CLI client

• Integrates any MCP-compatible server (fetch, search, etc.)
• Supports multiple LLM providers (OpenAI, Groq, local via llama.cpp)
• Accepts text and image input via piping or clipboard
• Offers prompt templates for common tasks (review, commit, YouTube)
• Allows tool confirmation prompts and --no-confirmations flag
• Can continue previous conversations with c prefix

Use cases of MCP CLI client

• Ask questions and get answers enhanced with web search or database tools
• Analyze code or images by piping files into the prompt
• Generate commit messages or code reviews using predefined templates
• Summarize YouTube videos by providing the URL
• Automate tasks in bash scripts with --no-intermediates flag

FAQ from MCP CLI client

What is MCP?

MCP stands for Model Context Protocol, a standard for connecting LLMs with external servers. This client implements the MCP client side.

Which LLM providers are supported?

You can use OpenAI, Groq, or any OpenAI-compatible API endpoint (like OpenRouter), as well as local models via llama.cpp.

How do I configure the client?

Create a JSON config file at ~/.llm/config.json with your LLM provider settings and a list of MCP servers. Environment variables LLM_API_KEY or OPENAI_API_KEY can also be used.

What are the system requirements for clipboard support?

On macOS: pbpaste (built-in) for text, optionally pngpaste for images; Linux: requires xclip; Windows: uses built-in PowerShell. WSL can access Windows clipboard via `powers