MCP Configuration Validator

SkillAI & models

Validate MCP configuration and suggest improvements. Use when MCP servers fail to load, after editing .mcp.json, or when the user runs /mcp-check.

Available today. Use it from your connected AI after setup.

Connect ahel once, and every AI you use reads what you have installed.

Then ask your AI: use the MCP Configuration Validator skill

What this skill tells your AI

The instructions your AI receives, as published by claude-world/director-mode-lite in skills/mcp-check/SKILL.md and read by ahel’s review.

Validate the project's MCP setup for correctness and completeness.


Validation Steps

1. Check Configuration Files

FileScopeWhat lives here
.mcp.json (project root)ProjectmcpServers — the server definitions, written by claude mcp add --scope project
.claude/settings.jsonProjectToggles only: enableAllProjectMcpServers, enabledMcpjsonServers
~/.claude.jsonUserUser-scope mcpServers, available across all projects

The source of truth for project servers is .mcp.json at the project root. Read mcpServers from there — .claude/settings.json never holds server definitions, only approval toggles.

2. Validate Structure

  • .mcp.json is valid JSON (no trailing commas)
  • mcpServers object exists in .mcp.json
  • Project servers are approved via .claude/settings.json: either enableAllProjectMcpServers: true, or each server named in enabledMcpjsonServers

3. Validate Each MCP

  • command is valid
  • args properly formatted
  • env variables set

4. Check Essential MCPs

MCPRequired?
memoryRecommended
filesystemOptional
githubIf .git exists

5. Security Check

  • No hardcoded secrets
  • Sensitive values use env vars

Output Format

## MCP Configuration Report

### Status: VALID / ISSUES / INVALID

### Configuration Summary
| MCP Server | Status | Notes |
|------------|--------|-------|
| memory | OK/FAIL | details |

### Issues Found
1. [Issue and fix]

### Missing Recommended MCPs
- memory: `claude mcp add --scope project memory...`

Common Issues

IssueFix
Invalid JSONCheck trailing commas
MCP not loadingclaude mcp reset-project-choices
Missing env varsAdd with -e KEY=value

Signals

GitHub stars
82
Forks
11
Last commit
Aug 2026
Advanced
Catalog kind
skill
Gateway key
mcp-check
Source
github.com/claude-world/director-mode-lite