claude-plugins/claude-code/skills/mcp-config/examples.md

Real-World MCP Configuration Examples

Complete plugin configurations for common integration scenarios.

GitHub Integration Plugin

Full-featured GitHub integration with authentication:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "github": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer ${GITHUB_TOKEN}",
        "Accept": "application/vnd.github.v3+json"
      }
    }
  }
}

Required Environment Variables:

• GITHUB_TOKEN - Personal access token with repo permissions

Plugin Structure:

github-plugin/
├── .claude-plugin/plugin.json
├── .mcp.json
└── README.md

Database Tools Plugin

Multi-database support with PostgreSQL and Redis:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "postgres": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@bytebase/dbhub", "--dsn", "${DATABASE_URL}"],
      "env": {
        "PGPASSWORD": "${DB_PASSWORD}"
      }
    },
    "redis": {
      "command": "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/servers/redis-server",
      "env": {
        "REDIS_URL": "${REDIS_URL:-redis://localhost:6379}",
        "REDIS_DB": "${REDIS_DB:-0}"
      }
    }
  }
}

Required Environment Variables:

• DATABASE_URL - PostgreSQL connection string (e.g., postgresql://user:pass@host:5432/db)
• DB_PASSWORD - Database password
• REDIS_URL - Redis connection string (optional, defaults to localhost)
• REDIS_DB - Redis database number (optional, defaults to 0)

Multi-Environment API Plugin

Supports staging and production environments:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "api": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "${API_BASE_URL:-https://api.example.com}/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer ${API_TOKEN}",
        "X-Environment": "${ENVIRONMENT:-production}",
        "X-Version": "v2",
        "X-Client-ID": "${CLIENT_ID}"
      }
    }
  }
}

Environment Configuration:

Production:

export API_BASE_URL="https://api.example.com"
export API_TOKEN="prod_token_here"
export ENVIRONMENT="production"
export CLIENT_ID="client_prod_id"

Staging:

export API_BASE_URL="https://staging.api.example.com"
export API_TOKEN="staging_token_here"
export ENVIRONMENT="staging"
export CLIENT_ID="client_staging_id"

Monitoring and Observability Plugin

Integrates with Sentry and custom logging:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "sentry": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://mcp.sentry.dev/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer ${SENTRY_TOKEN}"
      }
    },
    "logs": {
      "command": "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/servers/log-aggregator",
      "args": ["--endpoint", "${LOG_ENDPOINT}"],
      "env": {
        "LOG_LEVEL": "${LOG_LEVEL:-info}",
        "LOG_FORMAT": "json"
      }
    }
  }
}

Cloud Services Plugin

AWS, Azure, and GCP integrations:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "aws": {
      "command": "aws-mcp-server",
      "env": {
        "AWS_REGION": "${AWS_REGION:-us-east-1}",
        "AWS_PROFILE": "${AWS_PROFILE:-default}"
      }
    },
    "azure": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "${AZURE_ENDPOINT}/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer ${AZURE_TOKEN}",
        "Subscription-ID": "${AZURE_SUBSCRIPTION_ID}"
      }
    },
    "gcp": {
      "command": "gcloud",
      "args": ["mcp", "serve", "--project", "${GCP_PROJECT_ID}"]
    }
  }
}

Local Development Tools Plugin

File watchers, linters, and formatters:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "file-watcher": {
      "command": "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/servers/watcher",
      "args": ["--watch", "${WATCH_PATH:-.}", "--ignore", "node_modules"]
    },
    "linter": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "eslint", "--format", "json", "--stdin"],
      "env": {
        "ESLINT_USE_FLAT_CONFIG": "true"
      }
    },
    "formatter": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "prettier", "--stdin-filepath", "file.js"]
    }
  }
}

Windows Version:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "linter": {
      "command": "cmd",
      "args": ["/c", "npx", "-y", "eslint", "--format", "json", "--stdin"]
    }
  }
}

Testing and CI/CD Plugin

Integrates with test runners and deployment tools:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "test-runner": {
      "command": "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/servers/test-server",
      "args": ["--config", "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/test-config.json"],
      "env": {
        "TEST_ENV": "${TEST_ENV:-development}",
        "COVERAGE_THRESHOLD": "${COVERAGE_THRESHOLD:-80}"
      }
    },
    "deployment": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "${DEPLOY_ENDPOINT}/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer ${DEPLOY_TOKEN}",
        "X-Pipeline-ID": "${PIPELINE_ID}"
      }
    }
  }
}

Documentation Generator Plugin

Generates and maintains documentation:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "docs-generator": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/servers/docs-gen.js"],
      "env": {
        "DOCS_OUTPUT": "${DOCS_OUTPUT:-./docs}",
        "DOCS_FORMAT": "${DOCS_FORMAT:-markdown}",
        "INCLUDE_EXAMPLES": "true"
      }
    }
  }
}

Custom Protocol Handler Plugin

For proprietary internal systems:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "internal-system": {
      "command": "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/bin/internal-mcp-server",
      "args": [
        "--endpoint", "${INTERNAL_ENDPOINT}",
        "--cert", "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/certs/client.pem",
        "--key", "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/certs/client-key.pem"
      ],
      "env": {
        "INTERNAL_API_KEY": "${INTERNAL_API_KEY}",
        "TLS_VERIFY": "true",
        "REQUEST_TIMEOUT": "${REQUEST_TIMEOUT:-30000}"
      }
    }
  }
}

Microservices Communication Plugin

Service mesh integration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "service-mesh": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "${MESH_GATEWAY_URL}/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer ${MESH_TOKEN}",
        "X-Service-Name": "${SERVICE_NAME}",
        "X-Namespace": "${NAMESPACE:-default}"
      }
    },
    "service-discovery": {
      "command": "consul",
      "args": ["mcp", "serve", "-address", "${CONSUL_ADDRESS}"]
    }
  }
}

Tips for Real-World Configurations

1. Always document required environment variables in your plugin's README
2. Provide sensible defaults using ${VAR:-default} syntax
3. Use ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT} for bundled servers and assets
4. Group related servers in a single plugin
5. Test with both local and remote transports before distribution
6. Include environment variable validation in your MCP servers
7. Provide example configurations for common deployment scenarios

Common Configuration Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Hardcoded credentials

{
  "env": {"API_KEY": "sk_live_abc123"}  // Never do this!
}

✅ Environment variables

{
  "env": {"API_KEY": "${API_KEY}"}
}

---

❌ Absolute paths

{
  "command": "/Users/yourname/projects/plugin/server.js"  // Won't work for others
}

✅ Plugin-relative paths

{
  "command": "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/server.js"
}

---

❌ Missing Windows compatibility

{
  "command": "npx",  // Fails on Windows
  "args": ["-y", "package"]
}

✅ Windows-compatible

{
  "command": "cmd",
  "args": ["/c", "npx", "-y", "package"]
}

See Also

• Main MCP Configuration Guide
• Configuration Reference
• MCP Protocol Documentation