simple-files-vectorstore
A simple vector store that indexes content of files on local file system
Documentation
@lishenxydlgzs/simple-files-vectorstore
A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides semantic search capabilities across files. This server watches specified directories and creates vector embeddings of file contents, enabling semantic search across your documents.
Installation & Usage
Add to your MCP settings file:
{
"mcpServers": {
"files-vectorstore": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@lishenxydlgzs/simple-files-vectorstore"
],
"env": {
"WATCH_DIRECTORIES": "/path/to/your/directories"
},
"disabled": false,
"autoApprove": []
}
}
}MCP settings file locations:
- VSCode Cline Extension: `~/Library/Application Support/Code/User/globalStorage/saoudrizwan.claude-dev/settings/cline_mcp_settings.json`
- Claude Desktop App: `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`
Configuration
The server requires configuration through environment variables:
Required Environment Variables
You must specify directories to watch using ONE of the following methods:
- `WATCH_DIRECTORIES`: Comma-separated list of directories to watch
- `WATCH_CONFIG_FILE`: Path to a JSON configuration file with a `watchList` array
Example using WATCH_DIRECTORIES:
{
"mcpServers": {
"files-vectorstore": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@lishenxydlgzs/simple-files-vectorstore"
],
"env": {
"WATCH_DIRECTORIES": "/path/to/dir1,/path/to/dir2"
},
"disabled": false,
"autoApprove": []
}
}
}Example using WATCH_CONFIG_FILE:
{
"mcpServers": {
"files-vectorstore": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@lishenxydlgzs/simple-files-vectorstore"
],
"env": {
"WATCH_CONFIG_FILE": "/path/to/watch-config.json"
},
"disabled": false,
"autoApprove": []
}
}
}The watch config file should have the following structure:
{
"watchList": [
"/path/to/dir1",
"/path/to/dir2",
"/path/to/specific/file.txt"
]
}Optional Environment Variables
- `CHUNK_SIZE`: Size of text chunks for processing (default: 1000)
- `CHUNK_OVERLAP`: Overlap between chunks (default: 200)
- `IGNORE_FILE`: Path to a .gitignore style file to exclude files/directories based on patterns
Example with all optional parameters:
{
"mcpServers": {
"files-vectorstore": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@lishenxydlgzs/simple-files-vectorstore"
],
"env": {
"WATCH_DIRECTORIES": "/path/to/dir1,/path/to/dir2",
"CHUNK_SIZE": "2000",
"CHUNK_OVERLAP": "500",
"IGNORE_FILE": "/path/to/.gitignore"
},
"disabled": false,
"autoApprove": []
}
}
}MCP Tools
This server provides the following MCP tools:
1. search
Perform semantic search across indexed files.
Parameters:
- `query` (required): The search query string
- `limit` (optional): Maximum number of results to return (default: 5, max: 20)
Example response:
[
{
"content": "matched text content",
"source": "/path/to/file",
"fileType": "markdown",
"score": 0.85
}
]2. get_stats
Get statistics about indexed files.
Parameters: None
Example response:
{
"totalDocuments": 42,
"watchedDirectories": ["/path/to/docs"],
"processingFiles": []
}Features
- Real-time file watching and indexing
- Semantic search using vector embeddings
- Support for multiple file types
- Configurable chunk size and overlap
- Background processing of files
- Automatic handling of file changes and deletions
Repository
Frequently asked questions
What is simple-files-vectorstore?
simple-files-vectorstore is A simple vector store that indexes content of files on local file system
How do I install simple-files-vectorstore?
Open the GitHub repository and follow its README. Most MCP servers are added to your client's MCP config, then called by your agent.
Is simple-files-vectorstore open source?
Yes — it is hosted on GitHub at https://github.com/lishenxydlgzs/simple-files-vectorstore and has 42 stars.
Related MCP tools
Model Context Protocol Servers
The Open-Source Multimodal AI Agent Stack: Connecting Cutting-Edge AI Models and Agent Infra
A MCP for Claude Desktop / Claude Code / Windsurf / Cursor to build n8n workflows for you
MCP server to provide Figma layout information to AI coding agents like Cursor
The world's best AI personal assistant for email. Open source app to help you reach inbox zero fast.
Instant is the best backend for AI-coded apps. You get auth, permissions, storage, presence, and streams — everything you need to ship apps your users will love.
Run your own MCP server? See who uses it and what to fix.
Measure it with TrackMCP