DEVONthink
MCP server for devonthink
What is DEVONthink?
DEVONthink is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to mcp server for devonthink
MCP server for devonthink
This server falls under the Knowledge & Memory category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- MCP server for devonthink
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
NPM
npx -y mcp-server-devonthinkManual Installation
npx -y mcp-server-devonthinkConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use DEVONthink
The DEVONthink MCP Server bridges AI assistants with DEVONthink Pro, the powerful macOS document management and knowledge base application. It uses JavaScript for Automation (JXA) to expose 16 tools covering listing databases, searching and looking up records, creating and deleting records, reading and modifying content, managing tags, and leveraging DEVONthink's built-in AI for classification and similarity comparison. Knowledge workers and researchers use it to query their DEVONthink libraries, file new notes, and classify documents — all through natural language without switching applications.
Prerequisites
- macOS with DEVONthink Pro installed and running
- Node.js 18 or later
- An MCP-compatible client such as Claude Desktop
Ensure DEVONthink Pro is installed and open
The server controls DEVONthink via JXA (JavaScript for Automation), so DEVONthink Pro must be running on your Mac. Open it and have at least one database open before testing.
Configure Claude Desktop
Add the server to your claude_desktop_config.json. No API keys or additional environment variables are required — the server communicates with DEVONthink directly via AppleScript/JXA.
{
"mcpServers": {
"devonthink": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "mcp-server-devonthink"]
}
}
}Restart Claude Desktop
Save the configuration and restart Claude Desktop. The DEVONthink tools will appear as available in the MCP tool list.
Grant Automation permissions if prompted
On first use, macOS may prompt you to allow the MCP server process to control DEVONthink. Grant permission in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Automation.
Verify the connection
Ask Claude to check if DEVONthink is running or list your open databases. A successful response confirms the JXA bridge is working.
DEVONthink Examples
Client configuration
Minimal Claude Desktop configuration for the DEVONthink MCP server — no API keys needed.
{
"mcpServers": {
"devonthink": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "mcp-server-devonthink"]
}
}
}Prompts to try
Sample prompts for searching, creating, and organizing records in DEVONthink.
- "List all open DEVONthink databases"
- "Search my DEVONthink Inbox for documents about machine learning"
- "Create a new markdown note called 'Project Ideas' in my Research database"
- "Get the content of the record named 'Meeting Notes 2025-06-01'"
- "Add the tags 'ai' and 'research' to the record with UUID abc-123"
- "Use DEVONthink's AI to classify this document and suggest which group it belongs in"Troubleshooting DEVONthink
Tools fail with 'DEVONthink is not running' error
The is_running tool will return false if DEVONthink Pro is not open. Launch DEVONthink Pro and ensure at least one database is open before invoking other tools.
macOS blocks JXA automation with a permission error
Go to System Settings > Privacy & Security > Automation. Find the process running npx (usually Terminal or Claude Desktop) and enable permission to control DEVONthink. You may need to re-trigger the permission prompt by running an MCP tool call.
search returns no results even though documents exist
DEVONthink's search uses its own indexing. Ensure the target database is open and indexed. Try a broader query first. The 'comparison' parameter defaults to 'contains' — use it explicitly if needed. Record content must be indexed, not just linked.
Frequently Asked Questions about DEVONthink
What is DEVONthink?
DEVONthink is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that mcp server for devonthink It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install DEVONthink?
Install via npm with the command: npx -y mcp-server-devonthink. Then add the server configuration to your AI client's JSON config file (e.g., claude_desktop_config.json or .cursor/mcp.json).
Which AI clients work with DEVONthink?
DEVONthink works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is DEVONthink free to use?
Yes, DEVONthink is open source and available under the GPL-3.0 license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
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Set Up DEVONthink in Your Editor
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Quick Config Preview
Add this to your claude_desktop_config.json or .cursor/mcp.json
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