Essential Tools & Extensions for Claude Code

Looking to extend Claude Code's capabilities? You're in the right place. The Model Context Protocol (MCP) opens up endless possibilities for integrating external tools, APIs, and data sources directly into your AI-powered workflow.

Whether you're connecting to databases, automating GitHub workflows, or building custom integrations, MCP servers transform Claude Code from a coding assistant into a fully-connected development hub.

What Are MCP Servers?

MCP servers are lightweight extensions that give Claude access to external resources and capabilities:

• File Systems - Read and write files across your local machine or remote storage
• APIs & Services - Connect to GitHub, Notion, Slack, databases, and more
• Custom Tools - Add functionality like web search, image generation, or code execution
• Internal Systems - Integrate with your company's proprietary data and services

Quick Start: Adding Your First MCP Server

Adding MCP servers to Claude Code takes just a few lines of configuration. Here's an example using the filesystem server:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "filesystem": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem", "/path/to/allowed/files"]
    }
  }
}

Add this to your .claude.json or claude_desktop_config.json file, and Claude will have access to your specified directories.

Popular MCP Extensions

Browse our comprehensive guides to the best MCP extensions and servers available for Claude Code:

• File & Database Tools - Work with local files, SQLite, PostgreSQL, and more
• API Integrations - GitHub, Slack, Linear, Notion, and other productivity tools
• Development Tools - Git operations, Docker, Kubernetes, and CI/CD pipelines
• AI & ML Tools - Image generation, web scraping, data analysis, and embeddings

Featured Guides

Explore our in-depth tutorials on the most useful MCP integrations:

• MCP Fundamentals - Understand the Model Context Protocol and configure your first servers
• Popular MCP Servers - Curated list of battle-tested MCP extensions for developers
• Web Search Integration - Give Claude real-time access to the internet
• Browser Automation - Control browsers programmatically with Puppeteer and Playwright
• Build Custom MCP Servers - Create your own integrations for any API or service
• Social Media MCPs - Connect Claude to Twitter, LinkedIn, and other platforms

New to Claude Code? Start with our installation guide and configuration basics first.

Have a favorite MCP server we should cover? Let us know on Twitter/X.