ctxfile — Claude Code MCP server: what it does, how to install
Captures working files, git status, and session decisions into a local snapshot shared across your coding agents. Useful when switching between CLI tools and editor chats.
claude mcp add ctxfile -e NOTION_TOKEN=<NOTION_TOKEN> -- npx -y ctxfileWhat ctxfile does
Switching between tools like Claude Code and Cursor usually wipes your active context. The ctxfile server gathers priority files, plans, and git history into a unified payload via the get_context tool. When switching environments, save_session and continue_thread hand over the working log without manual recaps.
The core engine operates entirely on your machine without external network traffic. It scans repo files in read-only mode and scrubs private keys, tokens, and .env values before building the snapshot.
Runtime demands are strict: Node 20 is required on Unix systems, and Windows setups need Node 22 or higher. Optional external integrations like Notion only trigger when you supply explicit environment credentials.
What it helps with
- Hand off active project context between terminal tools and IDE agents
- Resume unfinished coding sessions without re-explaining past decisions
- Strip credentials and sensitive keys before feeding files to an agent
- Track cross-agent tasks and review open items in a shared thread
Example prompts for the agent
- Call get_context to inspect our working state
- Run save_session to summarize what we changed so another agent can continue
- Fetch open items for this thread using list_tasks
How to install ctxfile
Platform CLI
claude mcp add ctxfile -e NOTION_TOKEN=<NOTION_TOKEN> -- npx -y ctxfileReplace <…> with your own values
Platform CLI
codex mcp add ctxfile --env NOTION_TOKEN=<NOTION_TOKEN> -- npx -y ctxfileReplace <…> with your own values
Config file
{
"mcpServers": {
"ctxfile": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"ctxfile"
],
"env": {
"NOTION_TOKEN": "<NOTION_TOKEN>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values
Config file
{
"servers": {
"ctxfile": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"ctxfile"
],
"env": {
"NOTION_TOKEN": "<NOTION_TOKEN>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values
Platform CLI
gemini mcp add -e NOTION_TOKEN=<NOTION_TOKEN> ctxfile npx -y ctxfileReplace <…> with your own values
Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to add an MCP server to Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, Gemini CLI and more
Questions about ctxfile
How to install ctxfile in Claude Code?
Run claude mcp add ctxfile -e NOTION_TOKEN=<NOTION_TOKEN> -- npx -y ctxfile in your terminal. You can omit the Notion token flag if you do not plan to connect Notion workspace notes.
What does ctxfile do?
It packs your project files, git log, and conversational history into a structured object accessible by any local MCP client. This lets different agents pick up the same task without losing progress.
What are the prerequisites for running ctxfile?
You need Node.js 20 or newer on macOS and Linux, while Windows environments require Node.js 22 or later.
