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Prerequisites

  • Node.js ≥ 22
  • npm ≥ 10 (pnpm / yarn work too)
  • TypeScript project (the init command can set this up)

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Option A — Create a new project

Use the built-in project generator. It requires a project name and will create a new folder under your current directory. 
npx frontmcp create my-app
This will:
  • scaffold a FrontMCP project in ./my-app
  • configure tsconfig.json for decorators and modern ESM
  • generate a package.json with helpful scripts
  • install required dev dependencies (e.g. TypeScript, tsx, zod, reflect-metadata)

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Option B — Add to an existing project

Install the CLI and Node types (FrontMCP bundles compatible @frontmcp/sdk and @frontmcp/core internally—no separate install needed). 
npm i -D frontmcp @types/node@^20
Then initialize FrontMCP in your project root: 
npx frontmcp init
init will:
  • add/update scripts in your package.json
  • ensure your tsconfig.json includes required compiler options
  • verify a sensible project layout

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Package scripts

After create or init, you’ll have these scripts: 
{
  "scripts": {
    "dev": "frontmcp dev",
    "build": "frontmcp build",
    "inspect": "frontmcp inspector",
    "doctor": "frontmcp doctor"
  }
}
What they do
  • frontmcp dev — run your server in watch mode (tsx)
  • frontmcp build — compile your entry with TypeScript (outputs to ./dist by default)
  • frontmcp inspector — launch the MCP Inspector (npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector)
  • frontmcp doctor — validate Node/npm versions, tsconfig, and project setup

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Verify your setup

Run: 
npm run doctor
If anything is missing or misconfigured (Node/npm versions, tsconfig.json, scripts), doctor will tell you exactly what to fix.

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Next steps

  • Start developing: npm run dev
  • Build for distribution: npm run build
  • Explore tools and messages live: npm run inspect