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Model Context Protocol server for PostgreSQL database inspection and querying

Project description

PostgreSQL MCP Server

A Python Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for inspecting and querying PostgreSQL databases from MCP-compatible clients. It provides schema discovery, safe read-only query execution, query explanation, table previews, index analysis, relationship inspection, and PostgreSQL resources for table metadata.

Features

  • List public tables and inspect table schemas
  • Execute read-only SQL in a PostgreSQL read-only transaction
  • Explain query plans without executing the target query directly
  • Preview table rows with a fixed limit
  • Inspect foreign-key relationships and indexes
  • Expose passive MCP resources for table lists and schema details

Safety Model

postgresql_execute_read_query runs with PostgreSQL read-only transaction mode, caps returned rows by POSTGRES_READ_QUERY_LIMIT, and rolls back after execution. The server also includes postgresql_execute_write_query, which only accepts a single INSERT, UPDATE, DELETE, CREATE, ALTER, DROP, or TRUNCATE statement and can modify data/schema if the connected database user has permission. Do not auto-approve write-capable tools in your MCP client. For public or shared use, run the server with a dedicated read-only PostgreSQL user.

Requirements

  • Python 3.11+
  • PostgreSQL database
  • 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:

uvx mdev-postgresql-mcp-server

For local development from source:

git clone https://github.com/musaddiq-dev/postgresql-mcp-server.git
cd postgresql-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.

cp .env.example .env
Variable Description Required Default
POSTGRES_HOST PostgreSQL host Yes localhost
POSTGRES_PORT PostgreSQL port Yes 5432
POSTGRES_USER PostgreSQL username Yes None
POSTGRES_PASSWORD PostgreSQL password No None
POSTGRES_DB PostgreSQL database name Yes None
LOG_LEVEL Python logging level written to stderr No INFO
POSTGRES_READ_QUERY_LIMIT Maximum rows returned by read queries No 1000

Example read-only user:

CREATE USER mcp_readonly WITH PASSWORD 'change-me';
GRANT CONNECT ON DATABASE your_database TO mcp_readonly;
GRANT USAGE ON SCHEMA public TO mcp_readonly;
GRANT SELECT ON ALL TABLES IN SCHEMA public TO mcp_readonly;
ALTER DEFAULT PRIVILEGES IN SCHEMA public GRANT SELECT ON TABLES TO mcp_readonly;

Running

mdev-postgresql-mcp-server

From a local checkout before PyPI publication, run:

python -m postgresql_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:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "postgresql": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["mdev-postgresql-mcp-server"],
      "env": {
        "POSTGRES_HOST": "localhost",
        "POSTGRES_PORT": "5432",
        "POSTGRES_USER": "mcp_readonly",
        "POSTGRES_PASSWORD": "change-me",
        "POSTGRES_DB": "your_database"
      }
    }
  }
}

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

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "postgresql": {
      "command": "/absolute/path/to/postgresql-mcp-server/.venv/bin/mdev-postgresql-mcp-server",
      "args": [],
      "env": {
        "POSTGRES_HOST": "localhost",
        "POSTGRES_PORT": "5432",
        "POSTGRES_USER": "mcp_readonly",
        "POSTGRES_PASSWORD": "change-me",
        "POSTGRES_DB": "your_database"
      }
    }
  }
}

Claude Code CLI

claude mcp add postgresql \
  --env POSTGRES_HOST=localhost \
  --env POSTGRES_PORT=5432 \
  --env POSTGRES_USER=mcp_readonly \
  --env POSTGRES_PASSWORD=change-me \
  --env POSTGRES_DB=your_database \
  -- uvx mdev-postgresql-mcp-server

VS Code MCP

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

{
  "servers": {
    "postgresql": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["mdev-postgresql-mcp-server"],
      "env": {
        "POSTGRES_HOST": "localhost",
        "POSTGRES_PORT": "5432",
        "POSTGRES_USER": "mcp_readonly",
        "POSTGRES_PASSWORD": "change-me",
        "POSTGRES_DB": "your_database"
      }
    }
  }
}

Tools

Tool Purpose Safety
postgresql_list_tables List public base tables Read-only
postgresql_describe_table Show columns and metadata for a table Read-only
postgresql_execute_read_query Run bounded SQL under read-only transaction mode Read-only
postgresql_execute_write_query Run a single approved modifying SQL statement and commit Destructive
postgresql_explain_query Return PostgreSQL EXPLAIN output for a single query Read-only
postgresql_get_database_summary Return database version and table count Read-only
postgresql_get_relationships Inspect foreign-key relationships Read-only
postgresql_analyze_indexes Inspect indexes and sizes Read-only
postgresql_preview_table Return up to 10 rows from a table Read-only
postgresql_search_sql_definitions Search public SQL routines/functions Read-only

Resources

  • postgres://list_tables returns public table names.
  • postgres://schema/{table_name} returns a generated schema statement for a table.

Smoke Check

Without a database, verify syntax with:

python -m py_compile src/postgresql_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-postgresql-mcp-server
  • MCP Registry name: io.github.musaddiq-dev/postgresql-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-postgresql-mcp-server in local MCP client configurations.

Security Notes

  • Do not commit .env or MCP client configs containing credentials.
  • Use least-privilege database users.
  • Treat execute_write_query as destructive and require explicit user approval in your MCP client.
  • Review generated SQL before running write-capable tools.

License

MIT

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