envmcp

@griffithsbs

About envmcp

A lightweight way to use environment variables in your Cursor MCP server definitions.

#config #credentials #mcp #configuration #secret-management #secrets #environment-variables #env #cursor #cursor-ide #cursor-ai #mcp-server

Config

Add this server to your MCP-compatible client using the configuration below.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "envmcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "envmcp",
        "your-mcp-server",
        "$DATABASE_URL"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Tools

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Overview

What is envmcp?

envmcp is a command-line tool that loads environment variables from a file and substitutes $VARIABLE_NAME references in MCP server command arguments. It is designed for users of Cursor MCP servers who want to keep secrets out of configuration files.

How to use envmcp?

Prefix your MCP server command with envmcp. Use npx envmcp or install globally with npm install -g envmcp. Specify an optional custom env file with --env-file (or -e) flag. Example: npx envmcp --env-file .env my-mcp-server $DATABASE_URL. In MCP client config, change the command to npx and arguments to ["envmcp", "your-mcp-server", "$VARIABLE"].

Key features of envmcp

Loads environment variables from .env.mcp files.
Looks for .env.mcp in current, parent, and home directories.
Replaces $VARIABLE_NAME references in command arguments.
Supports comments and quoted values in env file.
Works with any MCP server command.

Use cases of envmcp

Avoid exposing database passwords in MCP client configuration.
Use different environment variables across development and production.
Securely pass API keys without storing them in version control.
Simplify switching between multiple service endpoints by changing one env file.

FAQ from envmcp

What does envmcp do?

envmcp reads a .env.mcp file, loads defined environment variables, and substitutes any $VARIABLE_NAME references in the command arguments before executing the MCP server.

How do I specify a custom environment file?

Use the --env-file <path> or -e <path> option to point to a specific file, e.g., npx envmcp --env-file /path/to/secrets.env my-mcp-server $API_KEY.

What if I need more features beyond envmcp?

The README suggests mcpipe which includes envmcp's functionality along with debugging tools and other capabilities.

Where does envmcp look for the env file?

By default, it searches for .env.mcp in the current directory, then parent directories, and finally in the home directory (~/.env.mcp). If --env-file is given, it uses that file directly.

What format does the environment file use?

Each line is a KEY=VALUE pair. Lines starting with # are comments. Values can be quoted (e.g., QUOTED_VALUE="value with spaces").

Frequently asked questions

What does envmcp do?

envmcp reads a `.env.mcp` file, loads defined environment variables, and substitutes any `$VARIABLE_NAME` references in the command arguments before executing the MCP server.

How do I specify a custom environment file?

Use the `--env-file <path>` or `-e <path>` option to point to a specific file, e.g., `npx envmcp --env-file /path/to/secrets.env my-mcp-server $API_KEY`.

What if I need more features beyond envmcp?

The README suggests [mcpipe](https://github.com/griffithsbs/mcpipe) which includes envmcp's functionality along with debugging tools and other capabilities.

Where does envmcp look for the env file?

By default, it searches for `.env.mcp` in the current directory, then parent directories, and finally in the home directory (`~/.env.mcp`). If `--env-file` is given, it uses that file directly.

What format does the environment file use?

Each line is a `KEY=VALUE` pair. Lines starting with `#` are comments. Values can be quoted (e.g., `QUOTED_VALUE="value with spaces"`).

Comments

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