termcp — Claude Code MCP server: what it does, how to install
Connects AI agents to local and remote SSH terminals. It helps you collaborate in the same shell while keeping credentials out of model prompts.
Open on GitHubWhat termcp does
Written in pure Go without CGO, termcp runs as a self-contained ~10 MB binary. It operates through stdio or HTTP, handing the model a genuine PTY channel on Unix or ConPTY on Windows. The tool multiplexes multiple sessions, manages remote connections, handles SFTP browsing, and supports port forwards.
A dedicated browser dashboard runs at http://127.0.0.1:18765. Here, the shell timeline separates command outputs, your keystrokes, and model actions by color. Whenever a command prompts for MFA, confirmation, or sudo passwords, the agent triggers notify_user. You type sensitive inputs directly in the browser. Those secrets never enter the LLM context.
Running via npx requires a working Node.js runtime on your machine. Otherwise, grab a prebuilt static binary directly from GitHub releases.
What it helps with
- execute interactive shell tasks via real PTY and SSH sessions
- submit passwords and MFA tokens safely outside model context
- inspect terminal actions between agent and user in a shared web view
- transfer files over SFTP alongside active shell commands
Example prompts for the agent
- Connect to the staging server over SSH and check the status of systemd services.
- Run the database migration script in the terminal and ask for confirmation before applying changes.
- Open a local shell session and monitor the application logs.
How to install termcp
Install
The MCP registry has no launch command for it: see the repository README
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 termcp
How do I install termcp in Claude Code?
Run claude mcp add termcp -- npx -y @open-mcp-ai/termcp daemon stdio. This configures the background daemon to handle MCP traffic over stdio.
What does termcp do?
It connects assistants to interactive terminal sessions on local or remote hosts via SSH. Both you and the assistant can interact with the same session simultaneously.
How does termcp protect sudo credentials and secrets?
When an interactive prompt appears, the agent triggers notify_user to pause execution. You supply the password via the web dashboard at http://127.0.0.1:18765, keeping sensitive credentials out of the prompt history.
