Daan
✨Lightweight LLM Client with MCP 🔌 & Characters 👤
What is Daan?
Daan is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to ✨lightweight llm client with mcp 🔌 & characters 👤
✨Lightweight LLM Client with MCP 🔌 & Characters 👤
This server falls under the Coding Agents category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- ✨Lightweight LLM Client with MCP 🔌 & Characters 👤
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
Manual Installation
npx daanConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use Daan
Daan is a lightweight, browser-based LLM client with built-in MCP integration and a character (persona) system that lets users create reusable chat identities with custom system prompts. It connects to OpenAI-compatible APIs — including OpenAI, DeepSeek, and self-hosted endpoints — and supports running MCP servers to extend AI capabilities with external tools and knowledge. Developers who want a minimal, zero-install chat frontend with flexible model and tool configuration will find Daan a practical alternative to heavier clients.
Prerequisites
- A modern web browser (no local install required for the online demo at demo.daan.one)
- An API key from OpenAI, DeepSeek, or any OpenAI-compatible LLM provider
- Node.js 18+ if self-hosting or running MCP servers locally
- An MCP server to connect to (optional, for extended tool capabilities)
Access Daan or self-host
Use the hosted demo at demo.daan.one for immediate access, or clone the repository to self-host.
git clone https://github.com/pluveto/daan.git
cd daan
npm install
npm run devConfigure your LLM API key
Open Settings in the Daan UI and enter your OpenAI or compatible API key. The key is stored securely in the browser and never sent to Daan servers.
Select your model
In Settings, choose a model from the GPT series or configure a custom API endpoint for DeepSeek, Ollama, or other OpenAI-compatible providers.
Create a character (persona)
Use the Characters feature to define reusable chat personas with custom names and system prompts. Characters persist across sessions.
Connect an MCP server
In the MCP settings panel, add the URL or command of an MCP server. Daan will discover available tools and inject them into conversations automatically.
Daan Examples
Client configuration
Daan is configured through its UI, but when using it as an MCP client connecting to another MCP server, the server config follows standard MCP JSON format.
{
"mcpServers": {
"daan": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["daan"]
}
}
}Prompts to try
Example use cases for the Daan LLM client with MCP and character support.
- "Act as the 'Code Reviewer' character and review this pull request"
- "Switch to the DeepSeek model and summarize this document"
- "Use the connected MCP server to search my notes for project requirements"
- "Create a new character called 'SQL Expert' with expertise in PostgreSQL optimization"
- "List all tools available from the connected MCP server"Troubleshooting Daan
API key is not being accepted or all requests return authentication errors
Ensure the API key is entered in Settings without leading/trailing spaces. For non-OpenAI providers, verify the custom base URL is set correctly (e.g., https://api.deepseek.com/v1 for DeepSeek).
MCP server tools are not appearing in conversations
Confirm the MCP server is running and accessible at the configured URL or command. Check the browser console for connection errors. Restart the Daan session after adding a new MCP server.
Self-hosted Daan does not start after npm install
Ensure Node.js 18+ is installed (node --version). Delete node_modules and package-lock.json, then re-run npm install. Check for port conflicts if the dev server fails to bind.
Frequently Asked Questions about Daan
What is Daan?
Daan is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that ✨lightweight llm client with mcp 🔌 & characters 👤 It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install Daan?
Follow the installation instructions on the Daan GitHub repository. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and add the server config to your AI client.
Which AI clients work with Daan?
Daan works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is Daan free to use?
Yes, Daan is open source and available under the AGPL-3.0 license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
Daan Alternatives — Similar Coding Agents Servers
Looking for alternatives to Daan? Here are other popular coding agents servers you can use with Claude, Cursor, and VS Code.
Dify
★ 142.2kProduction-ready platform for agentic workflow development.
Ruflo
★ 54.0k🌊 The leading agent orchestration platform for Claude. Deploy intelligent multi-agent swarms, coordinate autonomous workflows, and build conversational AI systems. Features enterprise-grade architecture, self-learning swarm intelligence, RAG integrat
Goose
★ 45.7kan open source, extensible AI agent that goes beyond code suggestions - install, execute, edit, and test with any LLM
Antigravity Awesome Skills
★ 38.3kInstallable GitHub library of 1,400+ agentic skills for Claude Code, Cursor, Codex CLI, Gemini CLI, Antigravity, and more. Includes installer CLI, bundles, workflows, and official/community skill collections.
AgentScope
★ 25.5kBuild and run agents you can see, understand and trust.
Serena
★ 24.5kA coding agent toolkit that provides IDE-like semantic code retrieval and editing tools, enabling LLMs to efficiently navigate and modify codebases using symbol-level operations instead of basic file reading and string replacements.
Browse More Coding Agents MCP Servers
Explore all coding agents servers available in the MCPgee directory. Each server includes setup guides for Claude, Cursor, and VS Code.
Set Up Daan in Your Editor
Choose your AI client for step-by-step setup instructions.
Quick Config Preview
Add this to your claude_desktop_config.json or .cursor/mcp.json
Ready to use Daan?
Browse our complete directory of 33,000+ MCP servers, read setup guides for your editor, and start building with the Model Context Protocol.