User Quickstart

Install the CLI, find a package, connect it to your AI assistant.

Install the Pharos CLI

The CLI is a single binary. Install it with any of the package managers below — pick whichever you already use.

# Install via pip
pip install pharos-cli

# Or via npm
npm install -g @pharos/cli

# Or via Homebrew
brew install pharos

Verify

# Verify installation
pharos --version

Search for a package

Search returns matching packages with descriptions, transport type, and verification status.

# Search for a package
pharos search "filesystem"

Example output

NAME                                VERSION  TRANSPORT  VERIFIED
@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem   1.0.0    stdio      ✓
@modelcontextprotocol/server-git          1.2.0    stdio      ✓
mcp-server-fs                             0.4.1    stdio

Install a package

The package binary is cached locally and a config snippet is generated. You can copy it directly into your assistant's config file (see the next step).

# Install a package
pharos install @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem

Connect to your AI assistant

The config file location and format differ by platform. Pick your assistant below.

Choose your assistant

Config file

~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (macOS) or %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json (Windows).

claude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "filesystem": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem", "/Users/username/Desktop"]
    }
  }
}

After editing, restart Claude Desktop for the change to take effect.

Verify the connection

Choose your assistant

In a new chat, ask "What MCP tools do you have?" Claude will list the tools it can see from your configured servers.

Audit your setup

pharos audit checks installed packages for known issues, version mismatches, and security advisories. Run it after every install and periodically after that.

# Check installed packages for issues
pharos audit

Example output

Scanning installed packages...

@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem  1.0.0   OK
@modelcontextprotocol/server-git         1.2.0   update available → 1.3.0
mcp-server-memory                        0.9.0   security advisory (CVE-2025-1234)

2 packages need attention. Run `pharos update` to resolve.

Ready to add Pharos discovery to your own agent? Read the Agent Integration guide