Claude Config Management

Manages configuration files for Claude Desktop and Claude Code, including MCP server setup, project settings, and developer options.

Quick Start

Configuration File Locations

Claude Desktop (macOS):

• Config: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
• Logs: ~/Library/Logs/Claude/
• Developer settings: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/developer_settings.json

Claude Desktop (Windows):

• Config: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json
• Logs: %APPDATA%\Claude\Logs\

Claude Code (Project-specific):

• Settings: .claude/settings.json
• Plugin marketplace: .claude-plugin/marketplace.json

Claude Desktop Configuration

Basic Structure

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "server-name": {
      "command": "command-to-run",
      "args": ["arg1", "arg2"],
      "env": {
        "VAR_NAME": "value"
      }
    }
  }
}

Adding an MCP Server

Python Server:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "weather": {
      "command": "uv",
      "args": [
        "--directory",
        "/absolute/path/to/weather",
        "run",
        "server.py"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Node.js Server:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "filesystem": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
        "/Users/username/Documents"
      ]
    }
  }
}

With Environment Variables:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "database": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-postgres"],
      "env": {
        "POSTGRES_CONNECTION_STRING": "postgresql://localhost/mydb",
        "DB_PASSWORD": "${DATABASE_PASSWORD}"
      }
    }
  }
}

Important Notes

• Always use absolute paths - Working directory may be undefined
• Windows paths: Use forward slashes or double backslashes
• Restart required: Restart Claude Desktop after configuration changes
• Environment variables: Limited by default (USER, HOME, PATH)

Claude Code Project Settings

.claude/settings.json

{
  "enabledPlugins": ["plugin-name"],
  "extraKnownMarketplaces": {
    "team-tools": {
      "source": {
        "source": "github",
        "repo": "company/claude-plugins"
      }
    }
  }
}

Team Configuration

Automatically install marketplaces when team members trust the folder:

{
  "extraKnownMarketplaces": {
    "company-tools": {
      "source": {
        "source": "github",
        "repo": "company/plugins"
      }
    },
    "project-tools": {
      "source": {
        "source": "git",
        "url": "https://git.company.com/project-plugins.git"
      }
    }
  }
}

Developer Settings

Enable Chrome DevTools

macOS:

echo '{"allowDevTools": true}' > ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/developer_settings.json

Open DevTools: Command-Option-Shift-i

Windows:

echo '{"allowDevTools": true}' > "$env:APPDATA\Claude\developer_settings.json"

Environment Variables

Override or Add Variables

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "myserver": {
      "command": "mcp-server-myapp",
      "env": {
        "MYAPP_API_KEY": "secret_key_value",
        "CUSTOM_VAR": "custom_value",
        "PATH": "/custom/path:${PATH}"
      }
    }
  }
}

Using System Environment Variables

Reference with ${VAR_NAME}:

{
  "env": {
    "API_KEY": "${MY_API_KEY}",
    "DB_HOST": "${DATABASE_HOST}"
  }
}

Common Configurations

Filesystem Access

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "filesystem": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
        "/Users/username/Projects"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Database Connection

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "postgres": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-postgres"],
      "env": {
        "POSTGRES_CONNECTION_STRING": "${DATABASE_URL}"
      }
    }
  }
}

Custom Python Server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "custom-tools": {
      "command": "uv",
      "args": [
        "--directory",
        "/absolute/path/to/server",
        "run",
        "server.py"
      ],
      "env": {
        "API_KEY": "${TOOLS_API_KEY}",
        "DEBUG": "false"
      }
    }
  }
}

Validation

Validate JSON Syntax

# Claude Desktop config
jq empty ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

# Claude Code settings
jq empty .claude/settings.json

Check MCP Server Config

# Extract server names
jq -r '.mcpServers | keys[]' ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

# Check specific server
jq '.mcpServers["server-name"]' ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

Troubleshooting

MCP Server Not Loading

Checks:

1. Validate JSON syntax
2. Verify command paths are absolute
3. Check environment variables are set
4. Review logs: ~/Library/Logs/Claude/mcp*.log
5. Restart Claude Desktop

Logs Location

# View all MCP logs (macOS)
tail -n 20 -f ~/Library/Logs/Claude/mcp*.log

# View specific server logs
tail -f ~/Library/Logs/Claude/mcp-server-SERVERNAME.log

# General MCP connection logs
tail -f ~/Library/Logs/Claude/mcp.log

Common Issues

Issue: Working directory undefined

• Solution: Always use absolute paths

Issue: Environment variables not available

• Solution: Explicitly set in env object

Issue: Windows path errors

• Solution: Use forward slashes: C:/Users/name/path

Issue: Server not starting

• Solution: Test command independently
• Check server logs
• Verify all dependencies installed

Configuration Workflows

Adding a New MCP Server

1. Install server (if needed)

   npm install -g @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem
   # or
   cd ~/my-server && uv sync
   

2. Get full paths

   which npx  # /usr/local/bin/npx
   pwd        # /Users/name/my-server
   

3. Add to config

   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "my-server": {
         "command": "/usr/local/bin/npx",
         "args": ["-y", "server-package"]
       }
     }
   }
   

4. Restart Claude Desktop

5. Verify in logs

   tail -f ~/Library/Logs/Claude/mcp-server-my-server.log
   

Setting Up Team Project

1. Create settings file

   mkdir -p .claude
   

2. Add marketplaces

   {
     "extraKnownMarketplaces": {
       "team-tools": {
         "source": {
           "source": "github",
           "repo": "company/plugins"
         }
       }
     }
   }
   

3. Commit to repository

   git add .claude/settings.json
   git commit -m "feat: add Claude Code team configuration"
   

4. Team members trust folder

   • Marketplaces auto-install when trusted

Best Practices

Security

• Never commit credentials to config files
• Use environment variables for secrets
• Set minimal permissions for MCP servers
• Review third-party servers before adding

Organization

• Group related servers logically
• Use descriptive server names
• Document required environment variables
• Maintain separate configs for different environments

Maintenance

• Regularly update MCP servers
• Review logs for errors
• Test servers after updates
• Document custom server configurations

Next Steps

• See REFERENCE.md for complete configuration schema
• See EXAMPLES.md for real-world configuration examples