@instanode/mcp

MCP server for instanode.dev. Lets AI coding agents (Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, Continue, etc.) provision ephemeral Postgres databases and webhook receivers over HTTPS — no Docker, no signup required for the free tier.

• One tool call → one postgres:// URL, usable immediately as DATABASE_URL.
• pgvector is pre-installed on every database.
• Free tier: 10 MB / 2 conn / 24h TTL. Paid (optional): 500 MB / 5 conn / permanent, unlocked by setting INSTANODE_TOKEN.

Install

Claude Code

claude mcp add instanode -- npx -y @instanode/mcp@latest

To authenticate (unlock paid tier, list_resources, delete_resource):

claude mcp add instanode \
  --env INSTANODE_TOKEN=<paste from https://instanode.dev/dashboard> \
  -- npx -y @instanode/mcp@latest

Cursor

Add to .cursor/mcp.json (project) or ~/.cursor/mcp.json (global):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instanode": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@instanode/mcp@latest"],
      "env": {
        "INSTANODE_TOKEN": "<optional — paste from dashboard for paid tier>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Windsurf

Add to ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "instanode": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@instanode/mcp@latest"],
      "env": {
        "INSTANODE_TOKEN": "<optional>"
      }
    }
  }
}

Continue.dev

Add to your ~/.continue/config.yaml:

mcpServers:
  - name: instanode
    command: npx
    args: ["-y", "@instanode/mcp@latest"]
    env:
      INSTANODE_TOKEN: "<optional>"

For a drop-in CLAUDE.md / .cursorrules that tells the agent exactly when to reach for this MCP, see https://instanode.dev/agent.html.

Environment

Variable	Required	Default	Purpose
INSTANODE_TOKEN	No	—	Bearer JWT minted at https://instanode.dev/dashboard. Required for list_resources, claim_token, delete_resource, get_api_token. Unlocks paid-tier limits on create_*.
INSTANODE_API_URL	No	https://api.instanode.dev	Override the API base URL. Only set this for local development.

Tools

Tool	Description
create_postgres	Provision a Postgres database (pgvector included). Returns a postgres:// URL. name required.
create_webhook	Provision an inbound webhook receiver URL. name required.
list_resources	List resources on the caller's account. Requires INSTANODE_TOKEN.
claim_token	Attach an anonymous token to the authenticated account. Requires INSTANODE_TOKEN.
delete_resource	Hard-delete a resource you own. Paid tier only. Requires INSTANODE_TOKEN.
get_api_token	Mint a fresh 30-day bearer JWT (for rotation). Requires an existing INSTANODE_TOKEN.

Example agent interactions

1. "I need a Postgres for this project"

You: Claude, I need a Postgres database for this project.

Claude: calls create_postgres({ name: "my-side-project" })

Returns a connection_url like postgres://usr_a1b2:...@pg.instanode.dev:5432/db_a1b2?sslmode=require.

Claude then: writes DATABASE_URL=... to .env, adds .env to .gitignore, runs your migrations.

2. "Set up a webhook to catch Stripe events"

You: Give me a webhook URL I can point Stripe at.

Claude: calls create_webhook({ name: "stripe-sandbox" })

Returns a receive_url that captures every request. curl $receive_url pulls back the stored log.

3. "Make last night's database permanent"

You: I want to keep the database you made yesterday past 24h.

Claude: (with INSTANODE_TOKEN set) calls claim_token({ token: "a1b2c3d4-..." }) → resource is now linked to your account with tier=paid and no expiry.

Authentication

The free tier works without any setup. To unlock permanent resources, paid limits, and the list_resources / delete_resource tools:

1. Sign up at https://instanode.dev with GitHub.
2. Visit the dashboard and copy your bearer token.
3. Set it as INSTANODE_TOKEN in the MCP server's env block (see examples above).

Rotate any time by calling get_api_token, which mints a fresh 30-day JWT.

Development

npm install
npm run build
# Integration test (optional — requires a running instanode.dev server):
INSTANODE_API_URL=http://localhost:30080 npm test

License

MIT — (c) instanode.dev