Source profileQuality 67/100Review permissions

github/awesome-copilot/skills/mcp-cli/SKILL.md

mcp-cli

Interface for MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers via CLI. Use when you need to interact with external tools, APIs, or data sources through MCP servers, list available MCP servers/tools, or call MCP tools from command line.

Source repository stars
37,126
Declared platforms
0
Static risk flags
1
Last source update
2026-07-28
Source checked
2026-07-28
DecisionCompatibilityInstallWorkflowPermissionsEvidenceSource

Decision brief

What it does—and where it fits

Access MCP servers through the command line. MCP enables interaction with external systems like GitHub, filesystems, databases, and APIs.

Best for

  • Use when you need to interact with external tools, APIs, or data sources through MCP servers, list available MCP servers/tools, or call MCP tools from command line.

Not for

  • Tasks that require unconfirmed production actions or broad system permissions.
  • Environments where the pinned source and install steps cannot be inspected.

Compatibility matrix

Platform support, with evidence labels

PlatformStatusEvidenceWhat to check
CodexNot declaredNo explicit evidencePortability before use
Claude CodeNot declaredNo explicit evidencePortability before use
CursorNot declaredNo explicit evidencePortability before use
Gemini CLINot declaredNo explicit evidencePortability before use
Open the compatibility checker

Installation

Inspect first. Install second.

The source command is displayed only when detected. A safe inspection prompt is always available so your agent can explain every action before execution.

Source-detected install commandSource
npx skills add https://github.com/github/awesome-copilot --skill "skills/mcp-cli"
Safe inspection promptEditorial

Inspect the Agent Skill "mcp-cli" from https://github.com/github/awesome-copilot/blob/9933dcad5be5caeb288cebcd370eeeb2fc2f1685/skills/mcp-cli/SKILL.md at commit 9933dcad5be5caeb288cebcd370eeeb2fc2f1685. List every install step, command, network request, credential, file read/write, external action, and rollback step. Explain whether it fits my task. Do not install or execute anything until I approve.

Workflow

What the source asks the agent to do

  1. 01

    Workflow

    1. Discover: mcp-cli → see available servers and tools 2. Explore: mcp-cli → see tools with parameters 3. Inspect: mcp-cli / → get full JSON input schema 4. Execute: mcp-cli / '' → run with arguments

    Discover: mcp-cli → see available servers and toolsExplore: mcp-cli → see tools with parametersInspect: mcp-cli / → get full JSON input schema
  2. 02

    Commands

    Add -d to include descriptions (e.g., mcp-cli filesystem -d)

    Add -d to include descriptions (e.g., mcp-cli filesystem -d)
  3. 03

    Examples

    Review the “Examples” section in the pinned source before continuing.

    Review and apply the “Examples” source section.
  4. 04

    List all servers and tool names

    Review the “List all servers and tool names” section in the pinned source before continuing.

    Review and apply the “List all servers and tool names” source section.

Permission review

Static risk signals and limitations

Runs scripts

medium · line 22

The documentation asks the agent to run terminal commands or scripts.

**Execute**: `mcp-cli <server>/<tool> '<json>'` → run with arguments

Evidence record

Why each signal appears

EvidenceSourceComputedTestedEditorial
SignalValueEvidence typeMeaning
Quality score67/100ComputedDocumentation, specificity, maintenance, and trust rules
Repository stars37,126SourceRepository attention, not individual Skill quality
Compatibility0 platformsSourceDeclared in the catalog source record
Usage guideautomated source guideEditorialGenerated or reviewed according to the visible evidence level

Pinned source

Provenance and original SKILL.md

Repository
github/awesome-copilot
Skill path
skills/mcp-cli/SKILL.md
Commit
9933dcad5be5caeb288cebcd370eeeb2fc2f1685
License
MIT
Collected
2026-07-28
Default branch
main
View the original SKILL.md

MCP-CLI

Access MCP servers through the command line. MCP enables interaction with external systems like GitHub, filesystems, databases, and APIs.

Commands

CommandOutput
mcp-cliList all servers and tool names
mcp-cli <server>Show tools with parameters
mcp-cli <server>/<tool>Get tool JSON schema
mcp-cli <server>/<tool> '<json>'Call tool with arguments
mcp-cli grep "<glob>"Search tools by name

Add -d to include descriptions (e.g., mcp-cli filesystem -d)

Workflow

  1. Discover: mcp-cli → see available servers and tools
  2. Explore: mcp-cli <server> → see tools with parameters
  3. Inspect: mcp-cli <server>/<tool> → get full JSON input schema
  4. Execute: mcp-cli <server>/<tool> '<json>' → run with arguments

Examples

# List all servers and tool names
mcp-cli

# See all tools with parameters
mcp-cli filesystem

# With descriptions (more verbose)
mcp-cli filesystem -d

# Get JSON schema for specific tool
mcp-cli filesystem/read_file

# Call the tool
mcp-cli filesystem/read_file '{"path": "./README.md"}'

# Search for tools
mcp-cli grep "*file*"

# JSON output for parsing
mcp-cli filesystem/read_file '{"path": "./README.md"}' --json

# Complex JSON with quotes (use heredoc or stdin)
mcp-cli server/tool <<EOF
{"content": "Text with 'quotes' inside"}
EOF

# Or pipe from a file/command
cat args.json | mcp-cli server/tool

# Find all TypeScript files and read the first one
mcp-cli filesystem/search_files '{"path": "src/", "pattern": "*.ts"}' --json | jq -r '.content[0].text' | head -1 | xargs -I {} sh -c 'mcp-cli filesystem/read_file "{\"path\": \"{}\"}"'

Options

FlagPurpose
-j, --jsonJSON output for scripting
-r, --rawRaw text content
-dInclude descriptions

Exit Codes

  • 0: Success
  • 1: Client error (bad args, missing config)
  • 2: Server error (tool failed)
  • 3: Network error

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