mindmap MCP Server

Use This MCP server To

Turn my rough outline into a mind map Preview a mind map right inside the chat Save a mind map as a file I can open later See the shape of a long document at a glance Sketch a plan visually before writing it up

README

Mindmap MCP Server

mindmap_mcp

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for converting Markdown content to interactive mindmaps.

Installation

pip install mindmap-mcp-server

Or using uvx:

uvx mindmap-mcp-server

Or using docker safer and easier.

Attention

Three installation methods have been successfully tested on macOS and Linux.

For Windows users experiencing issues with npx for this MCP, consider using the Docker method. Alternatively, if you use Visual Studio Code, the "Markmap" extension offers a potentially simpler solution than navigating command-line tools.

If you're experiencing unresolved issues, you can use my recent system prompt as a Mindmap Assistant instead of using this MCP server.

Using my system prompt instead of using this MCP server

You are a specialized assistant that generates HTML code for interactive markdown-based mind maps (markmaps). When a user sends you content, respond with a complete HTML document that displays their content as a markmap visualization.
If artifact tool is turned on, you can use the artifact.

Follow these requirements:
1. Use the markmap-autoloader library (version 0.18 or latest stable version)
2. Format the HTML exactly according to the template below
3. Replace the demo content in the template with the user's content, preserving their hierarchical structure
4. Maintain the markmap configuration options (maxWidth: 300, colorFreezeLevel: 2)
5. If the user doesn't provide markdown formatting (# for headings), format their content appropriately with main topics using # and subtopics using ##

Template to follow:

<!DOCTYPE html>
<html lang="en">
  <head>
    <meta charset="UTF-8" />
    <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge" />
    <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1.0" />
    <title>Markmap</title>
    <style>
      svg.markmap {
        width: 100%;
        height: 100vh;
      }
    </style>
    <script src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/npm/markmap-autoloader@0.18"></script>
  </head>
  <body>
    <div class="markmap">
      <script type="text/template">
        ---
        markmap:
          maxWidth: 300
          colorFreezeLevel: 2
        ---

        # markmap

        ## Links

        - <https://markmap.js.org/>
        - [GitHub](https://github.com/markmap/markmap)

        ## Related

        - [coc-markmap](https://github.com/markmap/coc-markmap)
        - [gatsby-remark-markmap](https://github.com/markmap/gatsby-remark-markmap)

        ## Features

        - links
        - **inline** ~~text~~ *styles*
        - multiline
          text
        - `inline code`
        - Katex - $x = {-b \pm \sqrt{b^2-4ac} \over 2a}$
        - This is a very very very very very very very very very very very very very very very long line.
      </script>
    </div>
  </body>
</html>

Visualization options: (If formulas or symbols don’t display correctly, download the HTML file and open it in a browser.)

View the mindmap in artifacts (if available):
Render the HTML file as a mindmap:

Prerequisites

This package requires Node.js to be installed when using command python or uvx to run the server.

Usage

With Claude Desktop or other MCP clients

Add this server to your claude_desktop_config.json:

using `uvx`:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mindmap": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["mindmap-mcp-server", "--return-type", "html"]
    }
  }
}

or

recommended:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mindmap": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["mindmap-mcp-server", "--return-type", "filePath"]
    }
  }
}

we use --return-type to specify the return type of the mindmap content, you can choose html or filePath according to your needs.
html will return the entire HTML content of the mindmap, which you can preview in your AI client's artifact;

return_html_content

html_preview

filePath will save the mindmap to a file and return the file path,which you can open in your browser. It can save your tokens !

generate_file

file_to_open

using `python`:

Using a specific Python file in this repository:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mindmap": {
      "command": "python",
      "args": ["/path/to/your/mindmap_mcp_server/server.py", "--return-type", "html"]
    }
  }
}

or

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mindmap": {
      "command": "python",
      "args": ["/path/to/your/mindmap_mcp_server/server.py", "--return-type", "filePath"]
    }
  }
}

we use --return-type to specify the return type of the mindmap content, you can choose html or filePath according to your needs. see using `uvx` for more details.

using `docker`:

First, you pull the image:

docker pull ychen94/mindmap-converter-mcp

Second, set the server:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mindmap-converter": {
      "command": "docker",
      "args": ["run", "--rm", "-i", "-v", "/path/to/output/folder:/output", "ychen94/mindmap-converter-mcp:latest"]
    }
  }
}

⚠️ Replace /path/to/output/folder with an actual path on your system where you want to save mind maps, such as /Users/username/Downloads on macOS or C:\\Users\\username\\Downloads on Windows.

Tools Provided in the docker container The server provides the following MCP tools:

markdown-to-mindmap-content
Converts Markdown to an HTML mind map and returns the entire HTML content.
You don't use the args: -v and /path/to/output/folder:/output in the command docker.
Parameters:
• markdown (string, required): The Markdown content to convert
• toolbar (boolean, optional): Whether to show the toolbar (default: true)
Best for: Simple mind maps where the HTML content size isn't a concern. And you can use artifact in your AI client to preview the mindmap.
markdown-to-mindmap-file
Converts Markdown to an HTML mind map and saves it to a file in the mounted directory.
Parameters:
• markdown (string, required): The Markdown content to convert
• filename (string, optional): Custom filename (default: auto-generated timestamp name)
• toolbar (boolean, optional): Whether to show the toolbar (default: true)
Best for: Complex mind maps or when you want to save the tokens for later use.
you can open the html file in your browser to view the mindmap. Also you can use the iterm-mcp-server or other terminals' mcp servers to open the file in your browser without interrupting your workflow.

Troubleshooting

File Not Found
If your mind map file isn't accessible:
1 Check that you've correctly mounted a volume to the Docker container
2 Ensure the path format is correct for your operating system
3 Make sure Docker has permission to access the directory

Docker Command Not Found
1 Verify Docker is installed and in your PATH
2 Try using the absolute path to Docker

Server Not Appearing in Claude
1 Restart Claude for Desktop after configuration changes
2 Check Claude logs for connection errors
3 Verify Docker is running

Advanced Usage
Using with Other MCP Clients
This server works with any MCP-compatible client, not just Claude for Desktop. The server implements the Model Context Protocol (MCP) version 1.0 specification.

Features

This server provides a tool for converting Markdown content to mindmaps using the markmap-cli library:

Convert Markdown to interactive mindmap HTML
Option to create offline-capable mindmaps
Option to hide the toolbar
Return either HTML content or file path

Example

In Claude, you can ask:

"give a mindmap for the following markdown code, using a mindmap tool:

# Project Planning
## Research
### Market Analysis
### Competitor Review
## Design
### Wireframes
### Mockups
## Development
### Frontend
### Backend
## Testing
### Unit Tests
### User Testing

"

if you want to save the mindmap to a file, and then open it in your browser using the iTerm MCP server:

"give a mindmap for the following markdown input_code using a mindmap tool, after that,use iterm to open the generated html file. input_code:

markdown content

"

"Think about the process of putting an elephant into a refrigerator, and provide a mind map. Open it with a terminal."

see the result

aiworkflow

mindmapinbrowser

and more

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License. For more details, please see the LICENSE file in this project repository

If this project is helpful to you, please consider giving it a Star ⭐️

The advancement of technology ought to benefit all individuals rather than exploit the general populace.

mindmap-mcp-server FAQ

Is this still maintained?

No. The last change was May 2025, over a year ago. It still runs, but nothing has been fixed since, and the author offers a plain writing prompt as a fallback.

Do I need a key or an account?

No. The conversion happens on your own computer and nothing is sent away.

How hard is setup?

Developer level. Node.js has to be present even if you install the server through Python tools, and Windows users are steered towards the Docker version.

Can I use this to visualize a long document?

Yes, provided the document is in Markdown or you paste the outline in. It builds one interactive map from that text.

Can it export a PNG or a PDF of the map?

No. You get an interactive page or a saved file, and turning that into a picture is left to you in the browser.

Which apps does it work in?

Claude Desktop and VS Code are documented. In Claude Desktop the map can be previewed directly if you choose the page option.

Is there an alternative if it will not run?

The author points Windows users to the Markmap editor extension for VS Code and includes a writing prompt that produces the same kind of map with nothing installed.