# OpenFormatDB

Identify file formats, look up software that can handle them, and check their documentation status. Useful before building a parser from scratch.

- MCP server · `type=mcp` · Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Windsurf (Devin Desktop), Cline, Zed, Gemini CLI
- Author: Openformatdb
- License: AGPL-3.0 · policy=link-only · description only; the file stays with the author
- Source: https://github.com/Openformatdb/openformatdb/tree/HEAD/packages/mcp
- Updated: 2026-10-24
- HTML: https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/openformatdb

## What it does

OpenFormatDB covers over 14,000 formats. An agent can submit file signatures, an extension, or a MIME type, then retrieve format records or find open-source conversion paths. For identification, the agent reads the bytes locally and sends the relevant data to the server.

Conversion runs on the machine using tools compiled to WebAssembly. An engine is fetched on its first use and checked against its SHA-256 hash. This is the server’s only network operation, and the original file is never overwritten. Node 22.18 or later is required.

Without a repository checkout, the server reads a static API in read-only mode. With a checkout, it can edit format YAML files and print Git commands for opening a pull request, but it does not run Git itself. Keep that distinction in mind when choosing how to run it.

## Requirements
- Needs: Node.js (commands run via npx)

## Install

### Claude Code (native platform)

**Platform CLI**
```bash
claude mcp add openformatdb -- npx -y @openformatdb/mcp
```

### Codex

**Platform CLI**
```bash
codex mcp add mcp -- npx -y @openformatdb/mcp
```

### Cursor

**Config file**
File `.cursor/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "mcp": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@openformatdb/mcp"
            ]
        }
    }
}
```

### GitHub Copilot

**Config file**
File `.vscode/mcp.json`:
```json
{
    "servers": {
        "mcp": {
            "type": "stdio",
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "@openformatdb/mcp"
            ]
        }
    }
}
```

### Gemini CLI

**Platform CLI**
```bash
gemini mcp add mcp npx -y @openformatdb/mcp
```

## When to use it
- identify a file from its signature or extension
- find open-source software that reads a given format
- check a format’s specifications and documentation
- find a conversion route between two formats
- convert a local file while keeping the original intact

## Example prompts
- Identify the format of `archive.bin` and show the likely matches.
- Find open-source tools to convert `image.tif` to PNG and report possible data loss.
- Check which software reads the `.abc` format and what documentation is available.

## Similar
- [World Monitor](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/world-monitor.md) — MCP server · ★ 89609
- [Scrapling MCP Server](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/scrapling-mcp-server.md) — MCP server · ★ 89899
- [MCP Toolbox for Databases](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/googleapis-mcp-toolbox-for-databases.md) — MCP server · ★ 16730
- [PostHog MCP Server](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/posthog-mcp-server.md) — MCP server · ★ 40459
- [dbx](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/dbx.md) — MCP server · ★ 27844
- [Metabase](https://affpapa.org/en/nevibecode/mcp/metabase.md) — MCP server · ★ 49863

---
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