Claude Desktop Integration
This guide specifically focuses on how to integrate your locally running GPT Researcher MCP server with the Claude desktop application for Mac, providing a seamless research experience within the Claude interface.
Prerequisites
Before integrating with Claude desktop client, you'll need:
- GPT Researcher MCP server installed and running locally
- Claude for Mac desktop application installed
- Administrative access to your Mac to modify configuration files
Setting Up Claude Desktop with MCP
To integrate your locally running MCP server with Claude for Mac, follow these steps:
1. Install and Run the GPT Researcher MCP Server
Make sure you have the GPT Researcher MCP server installed and running:
# Clone the repository (if you haven't already)
git clone https://github.com/assafelovic/gpt-researcher.git
cd gpt-researcher/mcp-server
# Install dependencies
pip install -r requirements.txt
# Set up your environment variables
cp .env.example .env
# Edit the .env file with your API keys
# Run the server
python server.py
Verify that the server is running properly by checking the console output. The server should be listening on port 8000 by default.
2. Configure Claude Desktop
Locate Claude's Configuration File:
- Open Finder and press
Shift + Command + G
to open the "Go to Folder" dialog - Enter
~/Library/Application Support/Claude/
and click "Go" - Find the
claude_desktop_config.json
file in this directory. If it doesn't exist, create a new file with this name - Alternatively, you can open the Claude App -> Settings -> Developer -> Update Config.
- Open Finder and press
Edit the Configuration File:
- Open
claude_desktop_config.json
with a text editor - Add or update the
mcpServers
section to include your local GPT Researcher MCP server:
- Open
{
"mcpServers": {
"gpt-researcher": {
"command": "/path/to/python",
"args": ["/path/to/gpt-researcher/mcp-server/server.py"]
}
}
}
Replace /path/to/gpt-researcher/mcp-server/server.py
with the absolute path to your server.py file.
Alternatively, if you prefer to manually start the server and just have Claude connect to it:
{
"mcpServers": {},
"externalMCPServers": {
"gpt-researcher": "http://localhost:8000/mcp"
}
}
3. Restart Claude for Desktop
Close and reopen the Claude application to apply the new configuration.
4. Verify the Integration
Upon restarting:
- Look for a hammer icon (๐จ) in the bottom right corner of the input box in Claude
- Clicking this icon should display the GPT Researcher tools provided by your MCP server
- If you don't see the hammer icon, check the Claude application logs for any errors
Using GPT Researcher in Claude Desktop
Once integrated, you can use research capabilities by:
- Clicking on the hammer icon (๐จ) in the message input area
- Selecting the "conduct_research" tool
- Entering your research query and other parameters
- Submitting your query
You can also directly prompt Claude to use the tools:
I need to research the latest advancements in quantum computing. Please use the conduct_research tool to gather information, then create a comprehensive report.
Troubleshooting
If you encounter issues with the integration:
Server Connection Issues:
- Ensure the MCP server is running and listening on the expected port
- Check firewall settings that might block the connection
- Verify the path in the configuration file is correct
Tool Availability Issues:
- If tools aren't showing up, restart both the MCP server and Claude
- Check the server logs for any error messages
- Make sure your API keys are properly configured in the .env file
Permission Issues:
- Ensure Claude has permission to execute the server script
- Check file permissions on the server.py file
Configuration File Issues:
- Verify your JSON syntax is correct in the configuration file
- Make sure the configuration directory exists and is accessible
Next Steps
- Explore advanced usage options for customizing your research experience
- Learn about additional configuration options for the GPT Researcher
- Check out example prompts to effectively guide Claude in using the research tools