MySQL MCP Server

A Python Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for inspecting and querying MySQL databases from MCP-compatible clients. It provides table discovery, schema inspection, read query execution, DDL lookup, query explanation, and optional write/DDL tools for controlled database administration workflows.

Features

List tables and describe table schemas
Execute SELECT queries with safety checks
Retrieve SHOW CREATE TABLE output
Explain query execution plans
Summarize tables and row counts
Optional write and DDL tools for users who intentionally run with elevated database privileges

Safety Model

mysql_execute_read_query only accepts a single statement beginning with SELECT, rejects common modifying SQL keywords and risky file-read/write forms, and caps returned rows by MYSQL_READ_QUERY_LIMIT. This is a guardrail, not a substitute for database permissions. Use a dedicated read-only MySQL user for safe exploration. The write and DDL tools can modify or destroy data if the configured database user is allowed to do so; keep them on manual approval in your MCP client.

Requirements

Python 3.11+
MySQL 5.7+ or MySQL 8.0+
MCP-compatible client such as Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, or another MCP host

Installation

When published to PyPI, install or run the server like a standard Python MCP package:

bash

uvx mdev-mysql-mcp-server

For local development from source:

bash

git clone https://github.com/musaddiq-dev/mysql-mcp-server.git
cd mysql-mcp-server
python -m venv .venv
source .venv/bin/activate
pip install -e .

Configuration

Copy the example environment file and update it with your database connection details.

bash

cp .env.example .env

Variable	Description	Required	Default
`MYSQL_HOST`	MySQL host	No	`localhost`
`MYSQL_PORT`	MySQL port	No	`3306`
`MYSQL_USER`	MySQL username	No	`root`
`MYSQL_PASSWORD`	MySQL password	No	Empty
`MYSQL_DATABASE`	MySQL database name	Yes	Empty
`MYSQL_POOL_SIZE`	Connection pool size	No	`5`
`LOG_LEVEL`	Python logging level	No	`INFO`
`MYSQL_READ_QUERY_LIMIT`	Maximum rows returned by read queries	No	`1000`

Example read-only user:

sql

CREATE USER 'mcp_readonly'@'localhost' IDENTIFIED BY 'change-me';
GRANT SELECT ON your_database.* TO 'mcp_readonly'@'localhost';
FLUSH PRIVILEGES;

Running

bash

mdev-mysql-mcp-server

From a local checkout before PyPI publication, run:

bash

python -m mysql_mcp_server.server

MCP Client Configuration

For published installs, prefer uvx. MCP servers using stdio must write protocol messages only to stdout; this server writes logs to stderr through Python logging.

Claude Desktop / Cursor / Windsurf / Cline

Most MCP clients accept this mcpServers JSON shape:

config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mysql": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["mdev-mysql-mcp-server"],
      "env": {
        "MYSQL_HOST": "localhost",
        "MYSQL_PORT": "3306",
        "MYSQL_USER": "mcp_readonly",
        "MYSQL_PASSWORD": "change-me",
        "MYSQL_DATABASE": "your_database"
      }
    }
  }
}

For local development from this repository, use the installed console script path instead:

config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mysql": {
      "command": "/absolute/path/to/mysql-mcp-server/.venv/bin/mdev-mysql-mcp-server",
      "args": [],
      "env": {
        "MYSQL_HOST": "localhost",
        "MYSQL_PORT": "3306",
        "MYSQL_USER": "mcp_readonly",
        "MYSQL_PASSWORD": "change-me",
        "MYSQL_DATABASE": "your_database"
      }
    }
  }
}

Claude Code CLI

Terminal

claude mcp add mysql \
  --env MYSQL_HOST=localhost \
  --env MYSQL_PORT=3306 \
  --env MYSQL_USER=mcp_readonly \
  --env MYSQL_PASSWORD=change-me \
  --env MYSQL_DATABASE=your_database \
  -- uvx mdev-mysql-mcp-server

VS Code MCP

VS Code uses the same command/args/env model in its MCP configuration:

config.json

{
  "servers": {
    "mysql": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["mdev-mysql-mcp-server"],
      "env": {
        "MYSQL_HOST": "localhost",
        "MYSQL_PORT": "3306",
        "MYSQL_USER": "mcp_readonly",
        "MYSQL_PASSWORD": "change-me",
        "MYSQL_DATABASE": "your_database"
      }
    }
  }
}

Tools

Tool	Purpose	Safety
`mysql_list_tables`	List tables in the configured database	Read-only
`mysql_describe_table`	Show schema for a table	Read-only
`mysql_execute_read_query`	Execute a single bounded SELECT query	Read-only guardrail
`mysql_execute_write_query`	Execute a single INSERT, UPDATE, or DELETE	Destructive
`mysql_execute_ddl`	Execute a single CREATE, DROP, ALTER, or TRUNCATE	Destructive
`mysql_get_table_ddl`	Return `SHOW CREATE TABLE` output	Read-only
`mysql_explain_query`	Run `EXPLAIN` for a single query	Read-only
`mysql_get_database_summary`	Return table list and row counts	Read-only

Smoke Check

Without a database, verify syntax with:

bash

python -m py_compile src/mysql_mcp_server/server.py

With a configured database, start the server and use your MCP client to call list_tables.

Distribution

This server is published through the standard Python MCP distribution path:

PyPI package: mdev-mysql-mcp-server
MCP Registry name: io.github.musaddiq-dev/mysql-mcp-server
Runtime hint: uvx
Transport: stdio

The mcp-name marker at the top of this README is required for MCP Registry ownership verification. Users should prefer uvx mdev-mysql-mcp-server in local MCP client configurations.

Security Notes

Do not commit .env or MCP client configs containing credentials.
Use least-privilege database users.
Keep execute_write_query and execute_ddl on explicit manual approval.
Do not expose this server over an untrusted network without additional authentication and transport security.

License

MIT