mcp-text-editor

MCP.Pizza Chef: tumf

Six tools handle reading and rewriting plain text files on your own computer: pull just the lines you need, replace a range, insert at a point, add to the end, delete a stretch of lines, or start a new file. Before every change it compares a fingerprint of the original text, so an edit fails loudly instead of quietly overwriting something that moved. No account or key is involved, but it does need Python 3.13, and it can reach any file your user account can.

Coding
Files/PDF
Writing

Use This MCP server To

Change one paragraph in a long file and leave the rest alone Read only lines 40 to 80 of a huge file Add a new entry to the bottom of a notes file Delete a block of outdated lines from a document Create a new text file from scratch Edit several files at once without clobbering each other

README

MCP Text Editor Server

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A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides line-oriented text file editing capabilities through a standardized API. Optimized for LLM tools with efficient partial file access to minimize token usage.

Quick Start for Claude.app Users

To use this editor with Claude.app, add the following configuration to your prompt:

code ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "text-editor": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "mcp-text-editor"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Overview

MCP Text Editor Server is designed to facilitate safe and efficient line-based text file operations in a client-server architecture. It implements the Model Context Protocol, ensuring reliable file editing with robust conflict detection and resolution. The line-oriented approach makes it ideal for applications requiring synchronized file access, such as collaborative editing tools, automated text processing systems, or any scenario where multiple processes need to modify text files safely. The partial file access capability is particularly valuable for LLM-based tools, as it helps reduce token consumption by loading only the necessary portions of files.

Key Benefits

  • Line-based editing operations
  • Token-efficient partial file access with line-range specifications
  • Optimized for LLM tool integration
  • Safe concurrent editing with hash-based validation
  • Atomic multi-file operations
  • Robust error handling with custom error types
  • Comprehensive encoding support (utf-8, shift_jis, latin1, etc.)

mcp-text-editor FAQ

Can I use this to tidy up a long file without pasting the whole thing into chat?
Yes, that is the main point. It reads and writes only the line ranges you name, so long files stay out of the conversation.
Do I need to sign up for a key?
No. Everything runs on your own machine against your own files, with no outside account involved.
What do I need installed first?
Python 3.13 or newer. The first requirements list in the README says 3.11, but the project's own settings demand 3.13, so 3.11 will fail to install it.
Which apps does it work in?
Claude Desktop is documented, plus any other app that supports MCP servers. A one-line Smithery install is also offered.
Is it limited to one folder?
No, and this matters. There is no folder restriction, so given a full path it can read or overwrite any file your account can reach. It only blocks shortcut paths using dots or a tilde.
Does it handle files that are not in English?
Yes. You can name the file's character encoding, including Japanese Shift-JIS and Latin-1, and it assumes the common UTF-8 otherwise.
Is it still being updated?
Yes, though slowly. The most recent code change landed in March 2026.