---
title: cli
sidebarTitle: cli
---

# `fastmcp.cli.cli`


FastMCP CLI tools.

## Functions

### `version` <sup><a href="https://github.com/jlowin/fastmcp/blob/main/src/fastmcp/cli/cli.py#L87"><Icon icon="github" size="14" /></a></sup>

```python
version(ctx: Context)
```

### `dev` <sup><a href="https://github.com/jlowin/fastmcp/blob/main/src/fastmcp/cli/cli.py#L110"><Icon icon="github" size="14" /></a></sup>

```python
dev(server_spec: str = typer.Argument(..., help='Python file to run, optionally with :object suffix'), with_editable: Annotated[Path | None, typer.Option('--with-editable', '-e', help='Directory containing pyproject.toml to install in editable mode', exists=True, file_okay=False, resolve_path=True)] = None, with_packages: Annotated[list[str], typer.Option('--with', help='Additional packages to install')] = [], inspector_version: Annotated[str | None, typer.Option('--inspector-version', help='Version of the MCP Inspector to use')] = None, ui_port: Annotated[int | None, typer.Option('--ui-port', help='Port for the MCP Inspector UI')] = None, server_port: Annotated[int | None, typer.Option('--server-port', help='Port for the MCP Inspector Proxy server')] = None) -> None
```


Run a MCP server with the MCP Inspector.


### `run` <sup><a href="https://github.com/jlowin/fastmcp/blob/main/src/fastmcp/cli/cli.py#L227"><Icon icon="github" size="14" /></a></sup>

```python
run(ctx: typer.Context, server_spec: str = typer.Argument(..., help='Python file, object specification (file:obj), or URL'), transport: Annotated[str | None, typer.Option('--transport', '-t', help='Transport protocol to use (stdio, http, or sse)')] = None, host: Annotated[str | None, typer.Option('--host', help='Host to bind to when using http transport (default: 127.0.0.1)')] = None, port: Annotated[int | None, typer.Option('--port', '-p', help='Port to bind to when using http transport (default: 8000)')] = None, log_level: Annotated[str | None, typer.Option('--log-level', '-l', help='Log level (DEBUG, INFO, WARNING, ERROR, CRITICAL)')] = None) -> None
```


Run a MCP server or connect to a remote one.

The server can be specified in three ways:
1. Module approach: server.py - runs the module directly, looking for an object named mcp/server/app.

2. Import approach: server.py:app - imports and runs the specified server object.

3. URL approach: http://server-url - connects to a remote server and creates a proxy.



Note: This command runs the server directly. You are responsible for ensuring
all dependencies are available.

Server arguments can be passed after -- :
fastmcp run server.py -- --config config.json --debug


### `install` <sup><a href="https://github.com/jlowin/fastmcp/blob/main/src/fastmcp/cli/cli.py#L313"><Icon icon="github" size="14" /></a></sup>

```python
install(server_spec: str = typer.Argument(..., help='Python file to run, optionally with :object suffix'), server_name: Annotated[str | None, typer.Option('--name', '-n', help="Custom name for the server (defaults to server's name attribute or file name)")] = None, with_editable: Annotated[Path | None, typer.Option('--with-editable', '-e', help='Directory containing pyproject.toml to install in editable mode', exists=True, file_okay=False, resolve_path=True)] = None, with_packages: Annotated[list[str], typer.Option('--with', help='Additional packages to install')] = [], env_vars: Annotated[list[str], typer.Option('--env-var', '-v', help='Environment variables in KEY=VALUE format')] = [], env_file: Annotated[Path | None, typer.Option('--env-file', '-f', help='Load environment variables from a .env file', exists=True, file_okay=True, dir_okay=False, resolve_path=True)] = None) -> None
```


Install a MCP server in the Claude desktop app.

Environment variables are preserved once added and only updated if new values
are explicitly provided.


### `inspect` <sup><a href="https://github.com/jlowin/fastmcp/blob/main/src/fastmcp/cli/cli.py#L444"><Icon icon="github" size="14" /></a></sup>

```python
inspect(server_spec: str = typer.Argument(..., help='Python file to inspect, optionally with :object suffix'), output: Annotated[Path, typer.Option('--output', '-o', help='Output file path for the JSON report (default: server-info.json)')] = Path('server-info.json')) -> None
```


Inspect a FastMCP server and generate a JSON report.

This command analyzes a FastMCP server (v1.x or v2.x) and generates
a comprehensive JSON report containing information about the server's
name, instructions, version, tools, prompts, resources, templates,
and capabilities.

**Examples:**

fastmcp inspect server.py
fastmcp inspect server.py -o report.json
fastmcp inspect server.py:mcp -o analysis.json
fastmcp inspect path/to/server.py:app -o /tmp/server-info.json

