Filesystem
Model Context ProtocolGives an agent scoped read, write, and search access to directories you explicitly allow
Filesystem vs Desktop Commander
Gives an agent scoped read, write, and search access to directories you explicitly allow On the other side: terminal access, process control, and file editing in one server, including a diff-based editing mode that avoids rewriting whole files
Installnpx -y ./npx -y setup
SourceOfficialCommunity
Deciding factorThe task is reading and editing files inside one project directory.versus: The task needs to run commands, inspect processes, and edit files in the same
Bottom line
Filesystem unless you also need a shell — that is the whole decision.
The short answer
Both give an agent file access; the difference is how much of the machine comes with it. Filesystem is scoped to the directories you pass at startup and does one thing. Desktop Commander brings a shell, process control, and a diff-based editor — more capability, more surface area.
Facts
| Option | Install | Source | Link |
|---|---|---|---|
| Filesystem | npx -y ./ | Official | Repository ↗ |
| Desktop Commander | npx -y setup | Community | Repository ↗ |
Pick Filesystem if
The task is reading and editing files inside one project directory.
Pick Desktop Commander if
The task needs to run commands, inspect processes, and edit files in the same session.
What would change our mind
A project going archived, or a maintainer changing the install path, flips this comparison faster than any feature release. Both entries are re-checked weekly, and the date above tells you how much to trust the details.
Read the full entries
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