3 MCP servers I actually use daily (and how to set them up)

Here are three MCP servers that I regularly use in Claude Desktop:

1. Filesystem mcp-hub install @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem

I configure this server to allow Claude to directly access project files, eliminating the need for me to copy-paste code. By pointing it to my project root, Claude can read the auth module and explain how token validation works.

Real usage: Check what changed in the last 3 PRs and summarize.

2. GitHub mcp-hub install @modelcontextprotocol/server-github

With this server, Claude can examine issues, pull requests, and browse repositories. I utilize it for code reviews by asking Claude to show me the changes made in recent PRs and provide a summary.

Real usage: Show me users who signed up this week but haven't logged in.

3. PostgreSQL mcp-hub install @modelcontextprotocol/server-postgres

This server enables Claude to directly interact with a PostgreSQL database, allowing me to run queries without leaving the conversation. I use it to retrieve insights, such as listing users who signed up in the past week but haven't logged in since.

Setup Instructions:

Each server takes approximately 2 minutes to set up:

Run the command: mcp-hub install server

Add the server to claude_desktop_config.json

Restart Claude Desktop

Important Note: The filesystem server can potentially read your entire disk if configured improperly. Exercise caution when specifying paths. All servers are verified using the npm package manager, and the mcp-hub CLI is available to discover additional options.