🗂️ MCP Filesystem Assistant

A beautiful AI-powered file manager built with Model Context Protocol (MCP), featuring a modern web interface, OpenAI integration, and secure filesystem operations.

🎯 What is This?

An AI assistant that can read, write, and manage your files through natural language. Built on the Model Context Protocol (MCP), it demonstrates how to:

• 🤖 Connect AI models to real tools
• 🔒 Safely manage files in a sandboxed environment
• 🎨 Build beautiful interfaces with Streamlit
• 🛠️ Create production-ready MCP servers

Perfect for learning MCP or building your own AI-powered tools!

✨ Features

💬 Natural Language Interface

Ask the AI to manage files in plain English:

• "List all files in the workspace"
• "Read notes.txt and summarize it"
• "Create a backup folder and organize my files"
• "Show me details about data.json"

🎨 Beautiful Web Interface

• Chat Tab - Talk to the AI assistant
• File Browser - Visual workspace explorer
• Quick Actions - Direct file operations without AI

🛠️ 8 Powerful Tools

🔒 Security First

• All operations sandboxed to workspace/ folder
• Path traversal protection
• Input validation on every operation

📁 Project Structure

filesystem-mcp-project/
├── host/                      # Streamlit web app
│   ├── app.py                 # Main interface
│   ├── mcp_connector.py       # Connects to MCP server
│   └── ui_components.py       # UI styling
│
├── server/                    # MCP server
│   ├── filesystem_mcp_server.py  # 8 filesystem tools
│   └── config.py              # Settings
│
├── workspace/                 # Your files live here
│   ├── notes.txt             
│   └── data.json             
│
├── requirements.txt           # Python packages
├── .env.example              # Config template
└── README.md                 # You are here!

🚀 Quick Start

1. Install

# Clone or download the project
cd filesystem-mcp-project

# Create virtual environment
python -m venv venv

# Activate it
source venv/bin/activate  # Mac/Linux
# OR
venv\Scripts\activate     # Windows

# Install dependencies
pip install -r requirements.txt

2. Configure

Create a .env file:

OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-your-key-here

Get your OpenAI API key from: https://platform.openai.com/api-keys

3. Run

Terminal 1 - Start MCP Server:

python server/filesystem_mcp_server.py

You should see:

🚀 MCP Server starting...
📁 Workspace directory: /path/to/workspace
🌐 Server running on http://127.0.0.1:8000
✅ Available tools: 8

Terminal 2 - Launch Web Interface:

streamlit run host/app.py

Browser opens at http://localhost:8501 🎉

💡 Usage Examples

Example 1: List Files

You: "What files are in the workspace?"

AI: Uses list_directory tool

📁 Directory: .

  📄 notes.txt (1.2 KB)
  📄 data.json (856 bytes)

Example 2: Create File

You: "Create a file called hello.txt with 'Hello World!'"

AI: Uses write_file tool

✅ File written successfully: hello.txt (12 characters)

Example 3: Organize Files

You: "Create a backup folder and move old files into it"

AI: Uses create_directory and move_file tools

✅ Directory created: backup
✅ File moved: old_data.txt → backup/old_data.txt

🏗️ How It Works

┌─────────────────┐
│   You (User)    │
│  Ask questions  │
└────────┬────────┘
         │
         ▼
┌─────────────────┐
│  Streamlit App  │
│  localhost:8501 │  ← Beautiful web interface
└────────┬────────┘
         │
         ▼
┌─────────────────┐
│   OpenAI API    │
│     GPT-4       │  ← AI decides which tools to use
└────────┬────────┘
         │
         ▼
┌─────────────────┐
│   MCP Server    │
│  localhost:8000 │  ← Executes file operations
└────────┬────────┘
         │
         ▼
┌─────────────────┐
│   workspace/    │
│   Your Files    │  ← Safe sandbox folder
└─────────────────┘

🔧 Configuration

Basic Settings (.env)

# Required
OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-your-key-here

# Optional (defaults shown)
MCP_SERVER_HOST=127.0.0.1
MCP_SERVER_PORT=8000

Advanced Settings (server/config.py)

# Change workspace location
WORKSPACE_DIR = Path("my_custom_folder")

# Change server port
MCP_SERVER_PORT = 9000

🐛 Troubleshooting

"Server Not Connected"

1. Check if MCP server is running (Terminal 1)
2. Click "Check Connection" button in sidebar
3. Restart both server and Streamlit

"OpenAI API Key Error"

1. Make sure .env file exists
2. Check your API key is correct
3. Restart Streamlit after updating .env

"Port Already in Use"

# Kill process on port 8000
lsof -i :8000
kill -9 <PID>

# Or change port in .env
MCP_SERVER_PORT=8001

"File Not Found"

Remember: All paths are relative to workspace/

✅ Correct:   read_file("notes.txt")
❌ Wrong:     read_file("workspace/notes.txt")
❌ Wrong:     read_file("/absolute/path/file.txt")

🛠️ Development

Add a New Tool

Edit server/filesystem_mcp_server.py:

@mcp.tool()
def search_files(query: str) -> str:
    """
    Search for files containing text.
    
    Args:
        query: Text to search for
    
    Returns:
        List of matching files
    """
    # Your implementation here
    return "Found 3 files matching 'query'"

Restart the server - that's it! The tool is automatically available.

🤝 Contributing

Contributions welcome! Here's how:

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch (git checkout -b feature/amazing)
3. Make your changes
4. Test everything works
5. Submit a pull request

🎓 Workshop Ready

This project is designed for learning and teaching:

• ✅ Clear, commented code
• ✅ Step-by-step setup
• ✅ Real-world example
• ✅ Production patterns
• ✅ Security best practices

Perfect for:

• Learning MCP architecture
• Building AI tools
• Teaching modern Python
• Prototyping ideas

Happy building! 🎉