What it does

Smithery CLI is a Node.js command-line tool for discovering, installing, and managing MCP server connections. It queries the Smithery registry to search available MCP servers by keyword, adds them as local connections, and provides commands to list, inspect, and invoke tools from those servers. The tool also supports publishing your own MCP servers and compiled bundles to the registry for distribution, user authentication via OAuth, and service token generation for programmatic access.

Who it's for

Node.js developers building agents or AI applications who need quick, programmatic access to MCP servers without manual setup. Teams managing multiple MCP connections across development or production environments. Open-source maintainers publishing custom MCP servers to the broader Smithery ecosystem.

Common use cases

Query the Smithery registry for available MCP servers by domain (e.g., smithery mcp search "github")
Register an MCP server connection locally with a single command
List and search installed tools across all connected MCP servers
Invoke MCP tools directly from the CLI with JSON arguments and see structured responses
Publish a new MCP server or compiled bundle to Smithery for other developers to discover and use

Setup pitfalls

Requires Node.js 20+; verify your environment meets this minimum before installation
Secrets detected in the repository (4 instances); carefully review them before handling credentials or tokens
High-risk classification due to filesystem writes and network calls—validate tool outputs and restrict token scopes
No continuous integration or automated tests; manually verify tool behavior and chain results in critical workflows

Tool name

Description

Destructive?

ping

✓ no

increment

✓ no

get_session_data

✓ no

get_server_info

✓ no

get_config

✓ no

@smithery/cli

What it does

Who it's for

Common use cases

Setup pitfalls