kuzudb-mcp-server

A Model Context Protocol server that provides access to Kuzu graph databases. This server enables LLMs to inspect database schemas and execute queries with robust connection recovery, multi-agent coordination, and a built-in web interface.

🚀 Key Features

• 📊 Web UI: Built-in database management interface with backup/restore capabilities
• 🔐 Authentication: OAuth and Basic Auth support for secure access
• 🤝 Multi-Agent: Safe concurrent access from multiple AI agents (experimental)
• 🔄 Auto-Recovery: Automatic connection recovery with exponential backoff
• 🐳 Docker Ready: Pre-built images and docker-compose workflow
• 📱 Dual Transport: Both stdio and HTTP transport modes
• 🧠 AI-Powered: Natural language to Cypher query generation

Quick Start

Install and Test

# Install globally
npm install -g kuzudb-mcp-server

# Quick test with auto-created database
pnpm serve:test              # stdio transport (default)
pnpm serve:test:http         # HTTP transport with Web UI
pnpm serve:test:inspect      # HTTP with MCP Inspector

# Server management
pnpm kill    # Stop running servers
pnpm restart # Restart with HTTP transport

Development Setup

# Clone and setup
git clone https://github.com/jordanburke/kuzudb-mcp-server.git
cd kuzudb-mcp-server
pnpm install

# Initialize databases
pnpm db:init                 # Empty test database
pnpm db:init:movies          # Sample movie data

One-Line Docker Setup

# Pull and run with mounted database
docker run -d -p 3000:3000 -p 3001:3001 \
  -v /path/to/your/database:/database \
  ghcr.io/jordanburke/kuzudb-mcp-server:latest

# Access Web UI at http://localhost:3001/admin
# MCP endpoint at http://localhost:3000/mcp

Components

Tools

• getSchema - Fetch complete database schema (nodes, relationships, properties)
• query - Execute Cypher queries with automatic error recovery

Prompts

• generateKuzuCypher - Convert natural language to Kuzu-specific Cypher queries

🖥️ Web UI for Database Management

The server includes a powerful web interface that automatically starts with HTTP transport.

Features

• 📁 Database Backup & Restore: Download .kuzu backups and restore from browser
• 📤 Direct File Upload: Upload existing Kuzu database files (main + .wal)
• 📊 Database Info: View path, mode, connection status, and schema statistics
• 🔒 Secure Access: Optional authentication protection
• 👁️ Read-Only Support: Upload/restore disabled in read-only mode

Quick Access

# Start with Web UI (auto-enabled with HTTP)
pnpm serve:test:http

# Access Web UI
open http://localhost:3001/admin

Docker with Web UI

# Using docker-compose (recommended)
docker-compose up -d
open http://localhost:3001/admin

# Manual Docker with Web UI
docker run -d \
  -p 3000:3000 -p 3001:3001 \
  -v /path/to/database:/database \
  -e KUZU_WEB_UI_AUTH_USER=admin \
  -e KUZU_WEB_UI_AUTH_PASSWORD=changeme \
  ghcr.io/jordanburke/kuzudb-mcp-server:latest

API Endpoints

• /admin - Main web interface
• /health - Health check endpoint
• /api/info - Database information (JSON)
• /api/backup - Download database backup
• /api/restore - Upload and restore database

🔐 Authentication & Security

The server supports two authentication methods for different use cases:

OAuth (Production Recommended)

Best for production deployments with token-based security:

# Testing OAuth locally
pnpm serve:test:http:oauth     # admin/secret123
pnpm serve:test:inspect:oauth  # With MCP Inspector

# Production OAuth setup
KUZU_OAUTH_ENABLED=true \
KUZU_OAUTH_USERNAME=admin \
KUZU_OAUTH_PASSWORD=your-secure-password \
KUZU_OAUTH_USER_ID=admin-user \
KUZU_OAUTH_EMAIL=admin@example.com \
KUZU_JWT_EXPIRES_IN=31536000 \
node dist/index.js /path/to/database --transport http

Basic Auth (Development/Testing)

Simpler setup for development and testing:

# Testing Basic Auth locally  
pnpm serve:test:http:basic     # admin/secret123
pnpm serve:test:inspect:basic  # With MCP Inspector

# Production Basic Auth setup
KUZU_BASIC_AUTH_USERNAME=admin \
KUZU_BASIC_AUTH_PASSWORD=your-secure-password \
KUZU_BASIC_AUTH_USER_ID=admin-user \
KUZU_BASIC_AUTH_EMAIL=admin@example.com \
node dist/index.js /path/to/database --transport http

Web UI Authentication

Secure the Web UI interface:

# Add Web UI authentication
KUZU_WEB_UI_AUTH_USER=admin \
KUZU_WEB_UI_AUTH_PASSWORD=changeme \
node dist/index.js /path/to/database --transport http

JWT Token Configuration

Configure JWT token lifetime (OAuth mode only):

# Set token expiration in seconds (default: 31536000 = 1 year)
KUZU_JWT_EXPIRES_IN=3600    # 1 hour
KUZU_JWT_EXPIRES_IN=86400   # 24 hours
KUZU_JWT_EXPIRES_IN=2592000 # 30 days

Security Recommendations

• Always use authentication for production deployments
• Use OAuth for external-facing servers
• Use Basic Auth for internal development/testing
• Enable Web UI auth when exposing the interface
• Use HTTPS in production environments
• Configure JWT expiration based on your security requirements

Usage with Claude Desktop

Docker (Recommended)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "kuzu": {
      "command": "docker",
      "args": [
        "run", "-v", "/path/to/database:/database",
        "--rm", "-i", "ghcr.io/jordanburke/kuzudb-mcp-server:latest"
      ]
    }
  }
}

npm/npx

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "kuzu": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["kuzudb-mcp-server", "/path/to/database"]
    }
  }
}

Smithery (Easiest)

# Install via Smithery - includes sample database
smithery install kuzudb-mcp-server

Environment Variables

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "kuzu": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["kuzudb-mcp-server"],
      "env": {
        "KUZU_MCP_DATABASE_PATH": "/path/to/database",
        "KUZU_READ_ONLY": "true"
      }
    }
  }
}

🌐 Remote Connection (HTTP Transport)

Pre-built Docker Images

# Pull latest image
docker pull ghcr.io/jordanburke/kuzudb-mcp-server:latest

# Run with custom configuration
docker run -d \
  -p 3000:3000 -p 3001:3001 \
  -v /path/to/database:/database \
  -e KUZU_READ_ONLY=false \
  ghcr.io/jordanburke/kuzudb-mcp-server:latest

Local Development

# HTTP server mode
node dist/index.js /path/to/database --transport http --port 3000

# With custom endpoint
node dist/index.js /path/to/database --transport http --port 8080 --endpoint /kuzu

MCP Inspector Testing

# Auto-start inspector
pnpm serve:test:inspect

# Manual setup
node dist/index.js /path/to/database --transport http
npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector http://localhost:3000/mcp

Remote Client Configuration

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "kuzu-remote": {
      "uri": "http://localhost:3000/mcp",
      "transport": "http"
    }
  }
}

🤝 Multi-Agent Coordination (Experimental)

Enable safe concurrent access from multiple AI agents (e.g., Claude Desktop + Claude Code):

Configuration

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "kuzu": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["kuzudb-mcp-server", "/path/to/database"],
      "env": {
        "KUZU_MULTI_AGENT": "true",
        "KUZU_AGENT_ID": "claude-desktop",
        "KUZU_LOCK_TIMEOUT": "10000"
      }
    }
  }
}

How It Works

• Read queries: Execute immediately without coordination
• Write queries: Acquire exclusive file-based locks
• Auto cleanup: Stale locks detected and removed
• Clear errors: Lock conflicts return helpful retry messages

Important Notes

• Experimental feature for local development
• Both agents must use the same database path
• Lock files created in database directory
• 10-second default timeout covers most operations

🛠️ Development

Build and Test

# Install dependencies
pnpm install

# Build project
pnpm build

# Development with watch
pnpm dev

# Run tests
pnpm test
pnpm test:ui
pnpm test:coverage

# Linting and formatting
pnpm lint
pnpm typecheck
pnpm format:check

Local Claude Desktop Setup

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "kuzu": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": [
        "/path/to/kuzudb-mcp-server/dist/index.js",
        "/path/to/database"
      ]
    }
  }
}

🔧 Environment Variables Reference

🔍 Troubleshooting

Connection Issues

• "Database connection could not be restored" → Check database file exists and permissions
• "getAll timeout" → DDL operation hung, server will auto-recover
• Lock timeout → Another agent writing, wait and retry

Web UI Issues

• 404 on /admin → Ensure HTTP transport mode is enabled
• Authentication failing → Check KUZU_WEB_UI_AUTH_* variables
• Port conflicts → Change KUZU_WEB_UI_PORT or PORT

Docker Issues

• Health check failing → Verify database mount and port availability
• Permission errors → Check volume mount permissions
• Database not found → Ensure correct path mapping

Performance Notes

Based on testing:

• Simple queries: < 100ms response time
• Complex multi-hop: 200-500ms response time
• Schema retrieval: ~100-200ms response time
• AI query generation: 1-3 seconds (normal for LLM processing)

📚 Documentation

Core Features

• Connection Recovery - Automatic recovery and retry logic
• Multi-Agent Coordination - Concurrent access design
• Batch Query Improvements - DDL and multi-statement handling

Bug Workarounds

• Kuzu Bug Workarounds - Known issue fixes

---

Repository: github.com/jordanburke/kuzudb-mcp-server
Docker Images: ghcr.io/jordanburke/kuzudb-mcp-server
Package: npmjs.com/package/kuzudb-mcp-server