MCP stack for Cursor

Cursor is the editor and the agent. These three MCP servers work alongside it: one to run its work on machines you own, one to find more MCP servers, and one whiteboard you and Cursor look at together. All three go into one mcp.json file.

Add all three

Put this in ~/.cursor/mcp.json for every project, or in .cursor/mcp.json for one project (Cursor MCP docs):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "aicommander": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@aicommander/mcp"],
      "env": { "AICOMMANDER_SERVER": "https://aicommander.dev" }
    },
    "mcpfinder": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@mcpfinder/server"]
    },
    "cnvs": {
      "url": "https://cnvs.app/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Add only servers you trust: every MCP server you attach can act with the permissions you give it. Cursor asks before it runs an MCP tool unless you allow it; if a server asks you to sign in, the first connect opens a browser sign-in.

ServerWhat it adds to CursorTransportPrice
AI CommanderShell commands and detached jobs on your server, dev box, VPS or home PCstdio bridge via npx + a host agent on each machineFree up to 10 machines; Pro $49/month
MCPfinderSearch the Official MCP Registry, Glama and Smithery; get install configLocal stdio via npx (Node.js 22.15+)Free, open source
cnvs.appA live whiteboard Cursor reads and draws on while you watchRemote MCPFree, no signup

AI Commander — Cursor on your own machines

Install the host agent on each machine you want Cursor to drive. It makes one outbound connection to aicommander.dev and accepts no inbound connections, so you open no ports. Cursor's agent can then run commands there and start detached jobs that keep running after the chat ends, and check their status and logs later. There is no AI Commander app: Cursor stays the UI. The entry above uses the stdio bridge; HTTP clients can use https://aicommander.dev/mcp directly. Full setup: AI Commander with Cursor.

Prompt — Cursor
On my build-server, start a job in /srv/app named nightly-tests that runs npm test, then give me the jobId. I'll ask you for its status and logs later.

MCPfinder — let Cursor find its own MCP servers

MCPfinder is an open-source (GitHub) MCP server that searches the Official MCP Registry, Glama and Smithery. Cursor gets search_mcp_servers, get_server_details, get_install_config and browse_categories, so it can look up a server for the task and show you the config. Review what it suggests before you install it.

cnvs.app — one board for Cursor and you

cnvs.app is a free, no-signup, real-time whiteboard with an MCP endpoint at https://cnvs.app/mcp. Cursor can read a board, add text, links and drawings, and manage kanban tasks on the same board you have open (cnvs.app MCP docs). The board ID is the key, so treat a board link like a password and keep secrets off shared boards.

The same stack for Claude Code, Codex, Grok, Gemini CLI and Devin Desktop (Windsurf), plus PLAI.chat for second opinions from other models: Agent stack.

FAQ

Which MCP servers should I add to Cursor first?
Add servers that give Cursor's agent something it cannot do alone. AI Commander gives it a shell and detached jobs on your other machines, MCPfinder lets it search the Official MCP Registry, Glama and Smithery for further servers and returns their install config, and cnvs.app gives it a whiteboard you and Cursor share. Add only servers you trust: every MCP server you attach can act with the permissions you give it.
Where does Cursor keep its MCP servers?
In mcp.json: ~/.cursor/mcp.json for servers available in every project, or .cursor/mcp.json in a project for that project only. Each entry goes under mcpServers, with command and args for a local stdio server or url for a remote one.
Is AI Commander an alternative to Cursor?
No. AI Commander is a remote harness that works alongside Cursor, Codex, Claude Code and Grok. It has no editor or app of its own: Cursor stays the UI, and AI Commander lets its agent run commands and detached jobs on machines you own.
Can Cursor keep working on my server after I close the chat?
Yes, with a detached job. Ask Cursor's agent to start an AI Commander job on the machine; the job keeps running after the chat ends and you read its status and logs later. The host agent dials out, so the server needs no inbound ports.
What does this cost?
AI Commander is free for up to 10 machines; Pro is $49 per month and adds file transfer and more machines. MCPfinder and cnvs.app are free. These are separate products from the Coder AI team with separate pricing; there is no bundle.

Start with your own machine

Install the host agent on a machine you own, add the aicommander entry to ~/.cursor/mcp.json, and ask Cursor for a real job on that box.

Install the host agent Cursor setup AI Commander pricing

Disclosure: AI Commander, MCPfinder and cnvs.app are made by the Coder AI team. Prices as published on 2026-10-18. Cursor is a trademark of Anysphere, Inc.; AI Commander is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Anysphere.