MCP OpenMSX
A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for automating openMSX emulator instances. This server provides comprehensive tools for MSX software development, testing, and automation through standardized MCP protocols.
What is MCP OpenMSX?
MCP OpenMSX is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to model context protocol (mcp) server for automating openmsx emulator instances. this server provides comprehensive tools for msx software development, testing, and automation through standardized mcp p...
A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for automating openMSX emulator instances. This server provides comprehensive tools for MSX software development, testing, and automation through standardized MCP protocols.
This server falls under the Browser Automation category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for automating openMSX
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
Manual Installation
npx mcp-openmsxConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use MCP OpenMSX
The MCP-openMSX server bridges AI assistants with the openMSX emulator, enabling full programmatic control of MSX hardware emulation through the Model Context Protocol. It exposes tools for launching emulator instances, loading ROM cartridges and floppy disks, writing and executing BASIC programs, inspecting CPU registers and memory, setting breakpoints, and capturing screenshots. MSX software developers and retrocomputing enthusiasts use it to automate testing pipelines, perform AI-assisted debugging, and develop MSX software with an AI coding partner that can directly observe and control the emulator.
Prerequisites
- Node.js 18+ with npx available on your PATH
- openMSX emulator installed on your system (macOS, Windows, or Linux)
- An MCP-compatible client such as Claude Desktop, Claude Code, or VS Code with GitHub Copilot
- Optional: MSX ROM images or disk images for the software you want to test or develop
Install openMSX
Download and install the openMSX emulator for your operating system from https://openmsx.org. The MCP server auto-detects the binary location per OS, but you can override it with the OPENMSX_EXECUTABLE environment variable.
Install the MCP server package
Install the @nataliapc/mcp-openmsx package globally so it is available system-wide, or let npx fetch it on demand.
npm install -g @nataliapc/mcp-openmsxAdd the server to your MCP client config
Register the server in your claude_desktop_config.json. Set OPENMSX_EXECUTABLE if your openMSX binary is not in the default location for your OS.
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp-openmsx": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@nataliapc/mcp-openmsx"],
"env": {
"OPENMSX_EXECUTABLE": "/usr/local/bin/openmsx",
"OPENMSX_SCREENSHOT_DIR": "/tmp/msx-screenshots"
}
}
}
}Restart your MCP client
Fully quit and reopen Claude Desktop or reload your MCP host so it connects to the newly registered server.
Launch an emulator session and test
Ask your AI assistant to start openMSX, load a ROM or disk image, and interact with the MSX system. The server handles all IPC with the emulator through its socket protocol.
MCP OpenMSX Examples
Client configuration
claude_desktop_config.json entry for mcp-openmsx with optional path overrides.
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp-openmsx": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@nataliapc/mcp-openmsx"],
"env": {
"OPENMSX_EXECUTABLE": "/usr/local/bin/openmsx",
"OPENMSX_SCREENSHOT_DIR": "/tmp/msx-screenshots"
}
}
}
}Prompts to try
Example prompts for MSX development and testing workflows.
- "Launch openMSX with an MSX2 machine configuration and load my game.rom cartridge"
- "Write a BASIC program to draw a bouncing ball on screen, load it into the emulator, and run it"
- "Set a breakpoint at address 0x4000, run the program, then show me the CPU registers when it hits"
- "Take a screenshot of the current emulator screen and describe what you see"
- "Inspect memory at address range 0x8000-0x80FF and look for the string 'HELLO'"Troubleshooting MCP OpenMSX
Server cannot find the openMSX binary
Set the OPENMSX_EXECUTABLE environment variable in your MCP config to the full absolute path of your openMSX binary (e.g. /Applications/openMSX.app/Contents/MacOS/openmsx on macOS).
Emulator launches but commands time out or return errors
openMSX must be running and its control socket must be accessible. Ensure no firewall or sandbox is blocking IPC. On macOS, grant the terminal and openMSX full disk access in System Settings > Privacy.
npx @nataliapc/mcp-openmsx fails to start
Run `npm install -g @nataliapc/mcp-openmsx` first to pre-install the package, then change the args in your config to just ["-y", "@nataliapc/mcp-openmsx"] without reinstalling each time.
Frequently Asked Questions about MCP OpenMSX
What is MCP OpenMSX?
MCP OpenMSX is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that model context protocol (mcp) server for automating openmsx emulator instances. this server provides comprehensive tools for msx software development, testing, and automation through standardized mcp protocols. It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install MCP OpenMSX?
Follow the installation instructions on the MCP OpenMSX GitHub repository. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and add the server config to your AI client.
Which AI clients work with MCP OpenMSX?
MCP OpenMSX works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is MCP OpenMSX free to use?
Yes, MCP OpenMSX is open source and available under the GPL 2.0 license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
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