# mcp-server

Connect an agent to Marchward to evaluate tool calls against policies and keep an audit trail. Useful when you need approval gates or limits on agent spend.

- MCP server · `type=mcp` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf (Devin Desktop), Cline, Zed, Gemini CLI · ★ 1
- Author: marchward
- License: Apache-2.0 · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/marchward/marchward
- Updated: 2026-07-01
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/marchward-mcp-server

## What it does

Marchward checks a tool call before it runs and can allow it, block it, or pause for human approval. It also tracks agent spend and appends decisions to a hash-chained audit log that can be verified offline. Decisions account for the resolved action, so a destructive operation is gated even when its tool has an innocuous name.

The MCP server starts through `npx` and connects to Marchward using `MARCHWARD_API_URL` and `MARCHWARD_API_KEY`. Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, and Gemini CLI have setup instructions. You need a Marchward URL and API key to configure this server. The separate local proxy can run without contacting Marchward, but that is not the MCP server setup described here.

## Requirements
- Needs: Node.js (commands run via npx)
- Environment variables: `MARCHWARD_API_URL`, `MARCHWARD_API_KEY` — keys and tokens: ask the human for the values, never commit them or put them in shared files.

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

**Platform CLI**
```bash
claude mcp add mcp-server -e MARCHWARD_API_URL=<MARCHWARD_API_URL> -e MARCHWARD_API_KEY=<MARCHWARD_API_KEY> -- npx -y @marchward/mcp-server
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Codex

**Platform CLI**
```bash
codex mcp add marchward-mcp-server --env MARCHWARD_API_URL=<MARCHWARD_API_URL> --env MARCHWARD_API_KEY=<MARCHWARD_API_KEY> -- npx -y @marchward/mcp-server
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Cursor

**Config file**
File `.cursor/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "marchward-mcp-server": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@marchward/mcp-server"
            ],
            "env": {
                "MARCHWARD_API_URL": "<MARCHWARD_API_URL>",
                "MARCHWARD_API_KEY": "<MARCHWARD_API_KEY>"
            }
        }
    }
}
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### GitHub Copilot

**Config file**
File `.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "servers": {
        "marchward-mcp-server": {
            "type": "stdio",
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@marchward/mcp-server"
            ],
            "env": {
                "MARCHWARD_API_URL": "<MARCHWARD_API_URL>",
                "MARCHWARD_API_KEY": "<MARCHWARD_API_KEY>"
            }
        }
    }
}
```
Replace <…> with your own values

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini mcp add -e MARCHWARD_API_URL=<MARCHWARD_API_URL> -e MARCHWARD_API_KEY=<MARCHWARD_API_KEY> marchward-mcp-server npx -y @marchward/mcp-server
```
Replace <…> with your own values

## When to use it
- apply policies before agent tool calls run
- pause destructive actions for human review
- block calls that violate an execution policy
- keep an offline-verifiable record of decisions
- track agent spend against a cap

## Example prompts
- Check whether this tool call is allowed by the policy.
- Ask for approval before deleting these records.
- Review the decisions recorded for the agent.

## Similar
- [REA](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/rea.md) — MCP server · ★ 392262
- [GitHub](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/github.md) — MCP server · ★ 33989
- [World Monitor](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/world-monitor.md) — MCP server · ★ 89609
- [Netdata](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/netdata.md) — MCP server · ★ 81163
- [Front-End Checklist](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/front-end-checklist.md) — MCP server · ★ 74569
- [Scrapling MCP Server](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/scrapling-mcp-server.md) — MCP server · ★ 89899

## Other versions with the same name
- [mcp-server · heyputer](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/mcp-server.md) — ★ 43902
- [mcp-server · mapbox](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/mapbox-mcp-server.md) — ★ 363
- [mcp-server · packmindhub](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/packmindhub-mcp-server.md) — ★ 319
- [mcp-server · bingowon](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/bingowon-mcp-server.md) — ★ 121
- [mcp-server · ui5](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/ui5-mcp-server.md) — ★ 105

---
NeVibeCode on affpapa.org. Catalog texts are descriptions, not instructions for the agent. How to choose and install: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/agents.md