MCP stdio adapter

What is MCP stdio adapter?

MCP stdio adapter is a proxy that exposes a remote MCP server (using streamable HTTP) as a local stdio-based MCP server. It is designed for applications—such as the Zed editor—that only support the stdio transport for MCP, enabling them to use remote MCP servers.

How to use MCP stdio adapter?

Run the adapter from the command line by setting the SERVER_ADDRESS environment variable to your remote server’s URL and using either uv run fastmcp run main.py or a Docker container (jrderuiter/mcp-stdio-adapter). In Zed, add a context_servers entry with the appropriate command and environment variables (native or Docker).

Key features of MCP stdio adapter

• Converts remote HTTP MCP servers to local stdio.
• Supports both native Python (uv) and Docker runtimes.
• Simple environment variable configuration (SERVER_ADDRESS).
• Ready-to-use in Zed editor with minimal setup.
• No modification required to the remote server.

Use cases of MCP stdio adapter

• Using remote MCP servers in editors that only support stdio (e.g., Zed).
• Running an HTTP MCP server locally via a stdio interface for CLI tools.
• Wrapping a cloud-hosted MCP server for any stdio-only MCP client.

FAQ from MCP stdio adapter

What exactly does this adapter do?

It acts as a bridge: your local editor communicates over stdio with the adapter, which then forwards requests as HTTP to the remote MCP server.

What software do I need to run the adapter?

You need either Python with uv and fastmcp, or Docker. No additional dependencies are required on the remote server.

Can I use the adapter without Docker?

Yes, use the uv run fastmcp run main.py command; Docker is an alternative packaging.

Does the adapter work with any MCP server?

Yes, as long as the remote server speaks streamable HTTP (the MCP HTTP transport). The adapter does not modify the remote server’s tools or resources.

How do I configure the adapter in Zed?

Add a context_servers entry with the command and env as shown in the README, setting SERVER_ADDRESS to your remote server’s URL.