SilverBullet vs Files
A side-by-side look at the SilverBullet and Files MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
S
SilverBulletFile Systems · Local subprocess (stdio)List, read, write, append, delete and search markdown pages in a SilverBullet space.53GoodAuth: api key requiredVerdict: choose SilverBullet for file systems work as a local process; choose Files for file systems as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
SChoose SilverBullet when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the File Systems domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: API key required.
- You have the keys it needs:
MCP_TOKEN, SB_URL, SB_AUTH_TOKEN, SB_USER_AGENT, MCP_HOST, MCP_PORT, MCP_STDIO. - You want tools like
list_pages, read_note, write_note.
Choose Files when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the File Systems domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
FS_ROOTS. - You want tools like
list_notes, read_note, get_outline.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | S SilverBullet | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | File Systems | File Systems |
| Quality signal | 53/100 · Good | 57/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | API key required | Not declared |
| Pricing | Free | Not declared |
| Required env vars | MCP_TOKENSB_URLSB_AUTH_TOKENSB_USER_AGENTMCP_HOSTMCP_PORTMCP_STDIO | FS_ROOTS |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 0 | 1 |
| Directory activity | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 6 | 22 |
| Full listing | View SilverBullet | View Files |
Tools & capabilities
SilverBullet tools 6
list_pageslist every markdown pageread_noteread a pagewrite_notecreate or overwrite a pageappend_noteappend, creating the page if absentdelete_notedelete a pagesearch_notescase-insensitive substring search, returns `path:line: text
Files tools 22
list_notesList notes (newest first) with pagination and an optional tag filter. Returns name, title, size, tags, and whether more results remain.read_noteRead a note by name. Optionally read just one heading's `section`, or a character window via `offset`/`limit` (sets a truncated flag when cut).get_outlineReturn just the heading tree of a note — grasp a big note in a few tokens.search_notesRanked full-text search. Supports `fuzzy`, `prefix`, and a `field` filter (title/tag/body, or 'path' to match the note name). Returns ranked snippets.list_tagsList every tag across the vault with note counts.list_todosAggregate `- [ ]` checkbox todos across all notes. Open items only unless includeDone.get_backlinksFind all notes that link to the given note via [[wiki-link]] syntax.get_neighborsNotes within N hops of a note over the (undirected) wiki-link graph, depth/limit capped.find_pathShortest wiki-link chain between two notes (BFS). Reports if none exists.related_notesRank other notes by shared wiki-links and shared tags with the given note.graph_overviewAggregate graph health: note/link/tag counts, top hubs, orphans, broken-link count.broken_linksList wiki-links that point at notes which don't exist.- +10 more on the listing page
Ready-to-paste client configs
Paste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.
SilverBullet
{
"mcpServers": {
"silverbullet": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"silverbullet-mcp"
],
"env": {
"MCP_TOKEN": "YOUR_MCP_TOKEN_HERE",
"SB_URL": "YOUR_SB_URL_HERE",
"SB_AUTH_TOKEN": "YOUR_SB_AUTH_TOKEN_HERE",
"SB_USER_AGENT": "YOUR_SB_USER_AGENT_HERE",
"MCP_HOST": "YOUR_MCP_HOST_HERE",
"MCP_PORT": "YOUR_MCP_PORT_HERE",
"MCP_STDIO": "YOUR_MCP_STDIO_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Files
{
"mcpServers": {
"files": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@abhishekmcp/notes"
],
"env": {
"FS_ROOTS": "YOUR_FS_ROOTS_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
SilverBullet is categorized under File Systems and uses a local stdio subprocess. Files belongs to File Systems and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick SilverBullet for file systems work and Files for file systems.
Copy the mcpServers block from the config section on this page into your client's config (for example claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json), then fully restart the client.
SilverBullet is listed as free. Auth: api key required. Files has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. If a server needs environment variables such as API keys, define them under the env key in your client's MCP config.
Yes. MCP clients support multiple servers: add silverbullet and files as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, SilverBullet has a quality signal of 53/100 (Good) with 0 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars. Files has 57/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 1 GitHub stars.