Steps

Steps MCP is an agent-friendly task planning and execution MCP server with durable SQLite storage and a browser UI for reviewing plans and following progress.

The board makes the execution state visible at a glance while the MCP surface gives agents compact tools, durable resources, and an explicit next safe action.

Run with Docker

docker run -d \
  --name steps-mcp \
  --restart unless-stopped \
  -v steps-mcp-data:/app/data \
  -p 3001:3001 \
  ghcr.io/dassader/steps-mcp:latest

The /app/data volume stores plans, steps, notes, transitions, attachments, and workflow state.

The latest image is published for linux/amd64 and linux/arm64, so Docker selects the correct platform automatically.

After the container starts:

• MCP endpoint: http://localhost:3001/mcp
• User interface: http://localhost:3001/
• Health check: http://localhost:3001/health

Connect an MCP client to the Streamable HTTP endpoint above. Call server.get_started for the built-in workflow guide, then use the returned prompts, tools, and resource URIs to plan and execute work.

Workflow

Steps MCP keeps planning, review, execution, verification, and blockers explicit:

1. Create a draft plan and detailed steps.
2. Review the plan in the browser UI and record explicit approval.
3. Start the server-selected next step.
4. Add durable notes and attachments while work progresses.
5. Move completed implementation through verification, or record an honest blocker.

Tool responses include the current state, relevant identifiers, and the next safe action so an agent does not need the entire state machine in tool descriptions.

Durable work evidence

Every status transition creates an audit note. Agents can also add standalone notes and attach text, binary evidence, or links without changing step status.

Configuration

Variable	Default	Purpose
HOST	0.0.0.0 in Docker	HTTP bind address
PORT	3001	Container HTTP port
PUBLIC_URL	http://localhost:3001	Base URL returned in browser review links
MCP_ENDPOINT	/mcp	Streamable HTTP MCP path
MCP_STATEFUL	true	Enables stateful MCP sessions
MCP_JSON_RESPONSE	false	Returns JSON responses instead of opening SSE streams
DB_PATH	/app/data/steps.db in Docker	SQLite database path
ALLOWED_ORIGINS	empty	Additional comma-separated browser origins

Local development

Requires Node.js 20 or newer.

npm ci
npm run typecheck
npm test
npm run build
npm start

The default local database is steps.db. Copy .env.example to .env to customize local settings.

License

ISC