spotdb — Claude Code MCP server: what it does, how to install
Spins up an ephemeral data sandbox for AI agents. Keeps production databases safe from unintended queries and schema changes.
claude mcp add spotdb -- docker run -i --rm docker.io/aliengiraffe/spotdb:0.1.0What spotdb does
The server creates an isolated database environment exposed over MCP and REST. Your agent runs SQL queries against uploaded datasets without touching production storage. You can inspect tables directly in the browser via Explorer UI at http://localhost:8080/explorer.
Built-in snapshots let you save point-in-time states. If an agent script corrupts the data, you can roll back to an earlier checkpoint. Datasets arrive via HTTP POST requests, accepting structured files like CSV.
A working Docker daemon is required for container execution. Without Docker running on your system, the MCP command fails immediately.
What it helps with
- isolate AI data exploration from live production databases
- capture snapshots to restore previous database states
- run SQL queries against temporary tables
- upload CSV files into a protected sandbox
Example prompts for the agent
- Query mytable with SQL and return the first 10 rows.
- Load the records from data.csv into spotdb.
- Capture a snapshot of the current database state.
How to install spotdb
Platform CLI
claude mcp add spotdb -- docker run -i --rm docker.io/aliengiraffe/spotdb:0.1.0Platform CLI
codex mcp add spotdb -- docker run -i --rm docker.io/aliengiraffe/spotdb:0.1.0Config file
{
"mcpServers": {
"spotdb": {
"command": "docker",
"args": [
"run",
"-i",
"--rm",
"docker.io/aliengiraffe/spotdb:0.1.0"
]
}
}
}Config file
{
"servers": {
"spotdb": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "docker",
"args": [
"run",
"-i",
"--rm",
"docker.io/aliengiraffe/spotdb:0.1.0"
]
}
}
}Platform CLI
gemini mcp add spotdb docker run -i --rm docker.io/aliengiraffe/spotdb:0.1.0Step 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 spotdb
How to install spotdb in Claude Code?
Run claude mcp add spotdb -- docker run -i --rm docker.io/aliengiraffe/spotdb:0.1.0 in your terminal. Docker must be running on your machine.
What does spotdb do?
It provides a temporary sandbox for agentic data workflows. Language models can analyze tables safely without needing access credentials to production databases.
Can I inspect tables through a web browser?
Yes, open http://localhost:8080/explorer once the server is active. The interface lets you upload CSV files and inspect table contents.
