What is the key difference between Filesystem Context MCP Server and Smart Tree?

Filesystem Context MCP Server belongs to the File Systems category with local stdio execution, while Smart Tree belongs to the File Systems category with local stdio execution.

How do I install Filesystem Context MCP Server or Smart Tree in Claude Desktop or Cursor?

Copy the mcpServers JSON configuration snippet provided on this page into your claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json file and restart your AI client.

Are Filesystem Context MCP Server and Smart Tree free or paid?

Filesystem Context MCP Server operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required). Smart Tree operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required).

Which MCP server has more tools and community activity?

Filesystem Context MCP Server lists 13 tools with 3 views and 22 GitHub stars. Smart Tree lists 6 tools with 6 views and 268 GitHub stars.

Can I use both Filesystem Context MCP Server and Smart Tree together in the same MCP host?

Yes! MCP hosts like Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, and VS Code support configuring multiple servers under the mcpServers object simultaneously.

Side-by-Side Model Context Protocol Comparison

Filesystem Context MCP Server vs Smart Tree

In-depth architectural comparison of the Filesystem Context MCP Server and Smart Tree MCP servers. Compare execution transports, security boundaries, tool capabilities, quality scores, and ready-to-paste client installation snippets for Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, and VS Code.

At a Glance & Executive Verdict

Filesystem Context MCP Server

File Systems · Local stdio

Quality: 63/100 (Good) | Auth: No auth required

Smart Tree

File Systems · Local stdio

Quality: 49/100 (Fair) | Auth: No auth required

Verdict Summary: Choose Filesystem Context MCP Server if you need specialized File Systems tools running via a local process. Choose Smart Tree if your workspace requires File Systems integration with local subprocess execution. Both servers can be configured concurrently in your client's mcpServers manifest.

Which MCP Server Should You Choose?

Choose Filesystem Context MCP Server when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the File Systems domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).
Primary tools included: list_roots, list, find_files.

Explore Filesystem Context MCP Server Details

Choose Smart Tree when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the File Systems domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).
Primary tools included: Local stdio MCP mode, AI-oriented directory visualization, Compressed and quantum output modes.

Explore Smart Tree Details

Feature & Specification Comparison

Specification	Filesystem Context MCP Server j0hanz File Systems	Smart Tree 8b-is File Systems
Summary	Read-only MCP server for secure filesystem exploration, searching, and analysis with symlink protection.	AI-native directory visualization with semantic analysis, ultra-compressed formats for AI consumption, and 10x token reduction. Supports quantum-semantic mode with intelligent file categorization.
Category & Scope	File Systems

Tools & Capabilities Breakdown

Filesystem Context MCP Server Tools (13)

list_roots

List allowed workspace roots. Call this first — all other tools scope to these.

list

List directory contents. Returns entries (dirs-first, alphabetical) and an ASCII tree.

find_files

Find files by glob pattern (e.g. `**/*.ts`). Returns matching files with metadata.

stat

Get file/directory metadata: size, modified time, permissions, MIME type, token estimate.

search_text

Search file contents for text (grep-like). Returns matching lines with context.

diff

Compare two files and return a unified diff with added/removed line counts.

Ready-to-Paste Client Configurations

Paste either (or both) of these JSON server blocks into your client config file (e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json).

Filesystem Context MCP Server Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "j0hanz-filesystem-context-mcp-server": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@j0hanz/filesystem-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Smart Tree Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "8b-is-smart-tree": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "8b-is-smart-tree"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Frequently Asked Questions

Filesystem Context MCP Server is categorized under File Systems and uses a local stdio subprocess. In contrast, Smart Tree belongs to File Systems using local stdio subprocess. Select Filesystem Context MCP Server when you need capabilities focused on file systems and Smart Tree when you require tools for file systems.

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