Sqlite Tools MCP server

mcp-sqlite-tools

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for safe, local SQLite database operations. It gives MCP clients explicit read, write, schema, transaction, CSV, backup, and maintenance tools.

Features

• Open, create, inspect, back up, vacuum, and close SQLite databases
• List, describe, create, and drop tables
• Run paginated read queries with named or positional parameters
• Run explicit write and schema queries
• Import and export headered CSV files
• Use transactions with nested savepoints
• Export and import schemas as SQL or JSON
• Restrict database and CSV paths through configuration
• Classify destructive tools for client approval policies
• Use Node's built-in SQLite driver with no native addon dependency

Requirements

• Node.js 24.12 or later
• An MCP client with stdio server support

Configure your MCP client

The MCP client starts this server through npx; a global installation is not required.

Install with MCPick

MCPick can add the server to a supported client without manual JSON editing. This command targets Claude Code's local scope by default:

npx -y mcpick add \
  --name sqlite-tools \
  --command npx \
  --args "-y,mcp-sqlite-tools"

Select a client and scope explicitly when needed:

npx -y mcpick add \
  --name sqlite-tools \
  --command npx \
  --args "-y,mcp-sqlite-tools" \
  --client vscode \
  --scope project

The add command supports Claude Code, Gemini CLI, VS Code, Cursor, Windsurf, OpenCode, and Pi. Run npx mcpick clients to see current client capabilities, scopes, and configuration locations.

The examples track the latest package release. For reproducible configuration, replace mcp-sqlite-tools in --args with an exact version such as mcp-sqlite-tools@x.y.z.

Manual configuration

For unsupported clients or advanced configuration, add the server manually:

{
	"mcpServers": {
		"mcp-sqlite-tools": {
			"command": "npx",
			"args": ["-y", "mcp-sqlite-tools"],
			"env": {
				"SQLITE_DEFAULT_PATH": ".",
				"SQLITE_ALLOW_ABSOLUTE_PATHS": "true",
				"SQLITE_BUSY_TIMEOUT": "30000",
				"SQLITE_JOURNAL_MODE": "wal",
				"SQLITE_BACKUP_PATH": "./backups"
			}
		}
	}
}

VS Code uses a servers object instead of mcpServers. See the configuration guide for more client-specific examples.

Environment variables

When SQLITEALLOWABSOLUTEPATHS=false, relative and absolute paths must resolve inside SQLITEDEFAULT_PATH. Symbolic links cannot be used to escape that directory.

Use SQLITEJOURNALMODE=delete for databases in file-synchronized directories. The unsafe SQLite modes memory and off are not accepted.

SQLITEMAXQUERYTIME remains available as a deprecated alias for SQLITEBUSY_TIMEOUT. It does not limit wall-clock query runtime.

Tools

Tools are separated by intent so MCP clients can apply clear approval rules.

Safe and read-only

Shortened. The full README is on GitHub.