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ZettelkastenSpace MCP Server for Claude Desktop

Boost notes with ZettelkastenSpace MCP server for Claude Desktop, uniting Zettelkasten workflow and Model Context Protocol integration.

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Overview

ZettelkastenSpace MCP Server for Claude Desktop is a lightweight, local service that connects a Zettelkasten-style note collection to Claude Desktop via the Model Context Protocol (MCP). It indexes Markdown notes, exposes them as searchable context, and serves relevant note bundles to Claude so the assistant can use your personal knowledge while composing responses. The result is a tighter feedback loop between your note graph and generative AI: Claude can reference your notes, follow links and tags, and use summarized context when answering questions or drafting content.

This server is useful for developers and knowledge workers who keep a Zettelkasten (interlinked Markdown notes) and want Claude to use that private corpus as context without copying files into the cloud. It runs locally, exposes an MCP-compatible HTTP endpoint that Claude Desktop can consume, and provides simple APIs for search, fetching notes, and generating contextual bundles (such as summaries and backlinks) on demand.

Features

  • Exposes your Zettelkasten as an MCP-compatible context provider for Claude Desktop
  • Indexes Markdown notes (titles, body, tags, backlinks) for fast full-text search
  • Returns context bundles containing relevant notes and metadata to the model
  • Local-first: runs on your machine; data stays in your note directory
  • Minimal configuration: point the server at your notes folder and start
  • Simple HTTP APIs for search, note retrieval, and MCP context delivery
  • Designed for integration into writing workflows and research tasks

Installation / Configuration

Prerequisites: Node.js (LTS) or Docker (optional). Adjust commands below if your environment differs.

  1. Clone the repository:
git clone https://github.com/joshylchen/zettelkasten_space.git
cd zettelkasten_space
  1. Install dependencies (Node.js):
npm install
  1. Create configuration (example .env):
cp .env.example .env
# Edit .env to set your notes directory and server port:
# ZK_NOTES_DIR=/path/to/your/notes
# PORT=3000
  1. Start the server:
npm start
# or for development with auto-reload:
npm run dev

Docker (optional):

docker build -t zettelkasten-space .
docker run -v /path/to/notes:/notes -e ZK_NOTES_DIR=/notes -p 3000:3000 zettelkasten-space
  1. Configure Claude Desktop to use the MCP server:
  • Open Claude Desktop → Settings → Model Context Protocol (or “Context Providers”)
  • Add a new provider with the URL: http://localhost:3000/mcp
  • Save and enable the provider. Claude will request contextual bundles from the server when composing responses.

Example .env (keys):

PORT=3000
ZK_NOTES_DIR=/home/alice/notes
MAX_RESULTS=10
ENABLE_SUMMARIES=true

Available Resources

The server provides an HTTP API for programmatic use and debugging. Common endpoints:

  • GET /api/search?q=
    • Full-text search across titles, bodies, and tags. Returns ranked results.
  • GET /api/notes/:id
    • Fetch raw note content and metadata (title, tags, backlinks).
  • POST /mcp
    • MCP-compatible endpoint that Claude Desktop queries for context bundles. Accepts model request metadata and returns a JSON bundle with relevant notes and short summaries.
  • GET /api/health
    • Health check, useful for monitoring.

    • Example curl commands:

    # Search notes
curl "http://localhost:3000/api/search?q=climate%20summary"

# Fetch a note by id
curl "http://localhost:3000/api/notes/2021-08-01-001.md"

    Repository and additional docs:

    • GitHub: https://github.com/joshylchen/zettelkasten_space
    • MCP specification (reference for protocol): see your Claude Desktop docs or the official MCP repo linked from Claude’s integration settings.

    Use Cases

    • Research-aware drafting: Ask Claude to draft a blog post or synthesis and let it pull relevant notes (citations, quotes, and linked ideas) from your Zettelkasten. The server will surface the most relevant notes as context so the model can ground its output.
    • Contextual Q&A: Pose targeted questions that require recalling prior notes. Claude will receive nearby notes and backlinks, improving answer accuracy and traceability.
    • Note summarization: Use the MCP server to request condensed summaries of clusters of notes (e.g., all notes tagged “project-X”) to create higher-level overview notes or project briefings.
    • Writing with provenance: When generating text for publication, have Claude include references to the exact notes used for key claims. The server returns note metadata so you can cite or inspect sources.
    • Iterative composition: During an editing session, Claude can request updates to the context bundle
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