MCP Filesystem + Codex-Style Server

This is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that exposes a set of tools for interacting with your local filesystem and running Codex-style developer workflows.

It supports basic file management, patch application, and shell execution inside a sandboxed directory, making it compatible with ChatGPT configured as an MCP server.

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🚀 Features & Tools

Codex-Style Tools

• shell – Execute shell commands in a sandboxed directory.
• apply_patch – Apply Codex-style multi-file patches (*** Begin Patch / *** Update File: / *** End Patch).

Filesystem Tools

• search – Search for files or list the root directory.
• fetch – Fetch file contents or list directory contents.
• write_file – Write a UTF-8 text file (creates parent dirs if needed).
• create_directory – Create a directory (with parents).
• delete_file – Delete a file or directory (recursive).

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How to use

📦 Installation

Clone this repo and make the script executable:

git clone <your-repo-url>
cd <your-repo>
chmod +x fileSystemMCP.py

Requires Python 3.9+ (tested on 3.10/3.11).

No third-party dependencies are required (uses only the Python standard library).

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▶️ Running the Server

Run the server, restricted to a chosen working directory:

pip install fastmcp
python3 fileSystemMCP.py /path/to/your/workspace

Example:

python3 fileSystemMCP.py ~/projects/demo

You’ll see:

Starting MCP server restricted to: /Users/you/projects/demo
Server URL: http://localhost:8000
SSE URL for ChatGPT: http://localhost:8000/sse/
Server started. Use Ctrl+C to stop.

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🌐 Exposing the Server to the Web

To use this as an MCP server with ChatGPT (or other cloud-based clients), you need to make it accessible from the internet. The easiest way is with ngrok:

1. Install ngrok and log in.

2. Forward your local server:

   ngrok http 8000

3. You’ll see an HTTPS forwarding URL, e.g.:

   Forwarding https://88952b488500.ngrok-free.app -> http://localhost:8000
   

   Your server is now publicly reachable at that URL.

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🔗 Linking with ChatGPT as an MCP Server

1. Open ChatGPT settings → Custom MCP Servers.

2. Add a new MCP server with:

   • Name: filesystem
   • URL: the ngrok HTTPS URL (e.g. https://88952b488500.ngrok-free.app/sse/)
   • Capabilities: leave defaults.

3. Save and enable.

ChatGPT will now handshake with your MCP server and discover all 7 tools.

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Tools

🔧 Codex-style AI tools

1. shell Execute shell commands within the allowed workspace.

   • Arguments:

     • command: string or array of strings
     • workdir: working directory (relative or absolute inside allowed root)
     • timeout: optional integer (seconds)

   • Returns: exit code, stdout, stderr, timeout flag (mirrors Codex CLI behavior).

2. apply_patch Apply a multi-file patch in the Codex *** Begin Patch / *** Update File: <path> / *** End Patch format.

   • Arguments:

     • patch: string containing one or more patch blocks

   • Returns: list of updated file paths.

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📁 Filesystem tools

3. search Search for files and directories (or list root if query is empty).

   • Arguments:

     • query: string

   • Returns: up to 20 matches with id, title, url.

4. fetch Fetch file contents or list directory contents.

   • Arguments:

     • id: file or directory path (relative or absolute inside allowed root)

   • Returns: file text (if <1 MB) or directory listing, plus metadata.

5. write_file Write a UTF-8 text file, creating parent directories if needed.

   • Arguments:

     • path: file path
     • content: string

   • Returns: confirmation with size written.

6. create_directory Create a directory (and parents) inside allowed root.

   • Arguments:

     • path: directory path

   • Returns: confirmation with path.

7. delete_file Delete a file or a directory (recursively).

   • Arguments:

     • path: path to file/directory

   • Returns: confirmation with type of deleted item.