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get-mcp-keys

by StuMason

get-mcp-keys is a utility to prevent accidental committing of API keys to your repositories when using MCP servers with AI coding assistants. It loads API keys from a secure file in your home directory, keeping them out of your Git history.

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🔐 get-mcp-keys

Stop accidentally committing API keys to your repos!

The Problem

When using Cursor AI (and other AI coding assistants) with MCP servers, you need API keys in your ./cursor/mcp.json file:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "firecrawl": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "firecrawl-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "FIRECRAWL_API_KEY": "sk_live_ohno-this-should-NOT-be-in-git" // 💀
      }
    }
  }
}

This is a security nightmare waiting to happen. One accidental commit and your keys are exposed in your Git history.

💯 The Solution

get-mcp-keys loads your API keys from a secure file in your home directory, keeping them out of your repositories entirely.

⚡ Quick Start

1. Create a .mcprc file in your home directory

touch ~/.mcprc
chmod 600 ~/.mcprc  # Make it readable only by you

3. Add your API keys to the file

# ~/.mcprc
FIRECRAWL_API_KEY="your_actual_api_key_here"
BRAVE_API_KEY="another_secret_key_here"
# Add any other MCP server keys you use

4. Update your MCP configuration to use get-mcp-keys

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "firecrawl": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "@masonator/get-mcp-keys", // 🔐
        "npx",
        "-y",
        "firecrawl-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

That's it! The get-mcp-keys utility will:

  • Load your API keys from ~/.mcprc
  • Inject them as environment variables
  • Run your MCP server command with the keys available

🛡️ Security

  • Your API keys stay in your home directory
  • Keys are never committed to repositories
  • Keys are loaded only when needed
  • Debug output shows only first/last few characters of keys

🧰 Supported MCP Servers

Works with any MCP server that needs environment variables, including:

  • FireCrawl
  • Brave Search
  • Supabase
  • And any other MCP servers you configure!

🔍 How It Works

get-mcp-keys reads your .mcprc file, adds those environment variables to the current environment, and then executes whatever command you specify after it in the args list. It's simple yet effective!

get-mcp-keys in action

get-mcp-keys in action

📋 License

MIT


⭐ If this saved you from committing your keys, star the repo!