What is Ht Mcp

ht-mcp is a high-performance Model Context Protocol (MCP) server implemented in Rust, designed specifically for headless terminal interactions. It utilizes the efficient ht terminal library, offering a single binary solution with no external dependencies for managing multiple terminal sessions concurrently.

Use cases

ht-mcp can be employed in various environments, including web-based applications requiring live terminal previews, automated testing frameworks that need to execute commands without user intervention, and development tools that integrate terminal functionalities natively, enhancing the overall user experience in programming tasks.

How to use

To use ht-mcp, first install it via Homebrew, pre-built binaries, Cargo, or by building from source. After installation, start the server using the command ‘ht-mcp’. You can then create a terminal session, send commands and key inputs, snapshot terminal states, and manage sessions through defined MCP tools that facilitate communication with the server.

Key features

Key features of ht-mcp include being a pure Rust implementation with zero external dependencies, seamless embedding of the ht headless terminal library for optimal performance, multi-session management for handling numerous terminal sessions concurrently, and an optional web interface for live terminal previews.

Where to use

ht-mcp is ideal for use in environments that integrate terminal functionalities into applications, such as development platforms, educational tools with interactive coding sessions, and cloud-based IDEs that require efficient command execution and real-time feedback from a terminal perspective.

ht-mcp

A high-performance Rust implementation of a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for headless terminal ht.

Features

• 🚀 Pure Rust: Single binary MCP server, no external dependencies
• 🔗 Direct Integration: Embed excellent ht headless terminal library for optimal performance
• 🖥️ Multi-Session: Concurrent terminal session management
• 🌐 Web Interface: Optional live terminal preview

Demo

ht-mcp in Memex

ht-mcp in Claude Code

Installation

🍺 Homebrew (Recommended)

brew tap memextech/tap
brew install ht-mcp

📦 Pre-built Binaries

Download from releases:

# macOS Intel
curl -L https://github.com/memextech/ht-mcp/releases/latest/download/ht-mcp-x86_64-apple-darwin -o ht-mcp

# macOS Apple Silicon
curl -L https://github.com/memextech/ht-mcp/releases/latest/download/ht-mcp-aarch64-apple-darwin -o ht-mcp

# Linux
curl -L https://github.com/memextech/ht-mcp/releases/latest/download/ht-mcp-x86_64-unknown-linux-gnu -o ht-mcp

# Windows (PowerShell)
curl.exe -L https://github.com/memextech/ht-mcp/releases/latest/download/ht-mcp-x86_64-pc-windows-msvc -o ht-mcp.exe

# Make executable and install
chmod +x ht-mcp && sudo mv ht-mcp /usr/local/bin/

🦀 Cargo

# From crates.io (stable)
cargo install ht-mcp

# From git (latest)
cargo install --git https://github.com/memextech/ht-mcp

🔧 Build from Source

git clone https://github.com/memextech/ht-mcp.git
cd ht-mcp
git submodule update --init --recursive
cargo install --path .

See docs/INSTALLATION.md for detailed installation options.

MCP Tools

Note: Parameters use camelCase (e.g., sessionId, enableWebServer) for MCP compatibility.

Configuration

Add to your MCP client configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ht-mcp": {
      "command": "ht-mcp",
      "args": [
        "--debug"
      ]
    }
  }
}

For custom installation paths:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ht-mcp": {
      "command": "/path/to/ht-mcp",
      "args": []
    }
  }
}

Usage Example

# Start the MCP server
ht-mcp

# With debug logging
ht-mcp --debug

Once configured in your MCP client:

1. Create session: ht_create_session → Returns session ID
2. Run commands: ht_execute_command with session ID and command
3. Interactive input: ht_send_keys for multi-step interactions
4. Check state: ht_take_snapshot to see current terminal
5. Clean up: ht_close_session when finished

Response Format

This server returns human-readable text responses (not JSON), designed for natural language interaction:

# Create session response
HT session created successfully!

Session ID: abc123-def456-789...

🌐 Web server enabled! View live terminal at: http://127.0.0.1:3618

# Terminal snapshot response
Terminal Snapshot (Session: abc123...)

bash-3.2$ ls -la
total 16
drwxr-xr-x  4 user staff  128 Jun 13 10:30 .
-rw-r--r--  1 user staff   45 Jun 13 10:30 file.txt
bash-3.2$

Requirements

• Rust: 1.75+ (install via rustup)
• Supported OS: Linux, macOS, Windows (experimental)

Development

# Clone with submodules
git clone --recursive https://github.com/memextech/ht-mcp.git
cd ht-mcp

# Build
cargo build

# Run
cargo run

# Test
cargo test

Troubleshooting

Installation Issues:

• Ensure Rust 1.75+ is installed
• Check internet connection for git submodules
• Verify ~/.cargo/bin is in PATH

Runtime Issues:

• Use ht-mcp --debug for verbose logging
• Check MCP client configuration syntax
• Verify binary path: which ht-mcp

Performance

Compared to the original TypeScript implementation:

• 40x faster startup (~50ms vs ~2s)
• 70% less memory (~15MB vs ~50MB)
• Single binary (4.7MB vs ~200MB Node.js)
• Zero subprocess overhead

License

Apache 2.0 License

Copyright © 2025 Atlas Futures Inc.

See LICENSE for details.

Contributing

Contributions welcome! Please read CONTRIBUTING.md for guidelines.

Built with Memex✨

Fixed submodule commit reference