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This guide covers how to set up the Context7 MCP server locally for development and testing.

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Getting Started

Clone the project and install dependencies: 
git clone https://github.com/upstash/context7.git
cd context7
pnpm i
Build: 
pnpm run build
Run the server: 
node packages/mcp/dist/index.js

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CLI Arguments

context7-mcp accepts the following CLI flags:
FlagDescriptionDefault
--transport <stdio|http>Transport to use. Use http for remote HTTP server or stdio for local integration.stdio
--port <number>Port to listen on when using http transport.3000
--api-key <key>API key for authentication (or set CONTEXT7_API_KEY env var).-
Get your API key by creating an account at context7.com/dashboard.

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Examples

HTTP transport on port 8080: 
node packages/mcp/dist/index.js --transport http --port 8080
Stdio transport with API key: 
node packages/mcp/dist/index.js --transport stdio --api-key YOUR_API_KEY

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Environment Variables

You can use the CONTEXT7_API_KEY environment variable instead of passing the --api-key flag. This is useful for:
  • Storing API keys securely in .env files
  • Integration with MCP server setups that use dotenv
  • Tools that prefer environment variable configuration
The --api-key CLI flag takes precedence over the environment variable when both are provided.

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Using .env File

# .env
CONTEXT7_API_KEY=your_api_key_here

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MCP Configuration with Environment Variable

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "context7": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@upstash/context7-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "CONTEXT7_API_KEY": "YOUR_API_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

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Local Development Configuration

When developing locally, use this configuration to run from source: 
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "context7": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["tsx", "/path/to/folder/context7/src/index.ts", "--api-key", "YOUR_API_KEY"]
    }
  }
}

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Testing with MCP Inspector

Test your setup using the MCP Inspector: 
npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/inspector npx @upstash/context7-mcp
This opens an interactive inspector to verify Context7 tools are working correctly.