Host Setup Guide

April 29, 2026 ยท View on GitHub

This guide shows how to connect CONTAM_plugin to common MCP hosts.

There are two supported connection styles:

  1. npx launch from the GitHub repository
  2. direct local path launch from a cloned repository

For most users, the npx option is the easiest.

Use this command shape:

command: npx
args: -y --package github:summer521521/CONTAM_plugin contam-mcp

This tells the host to fetch the package from GitHub, install dependencies in the background, and launch the contam-mcp MCP server entry point.

Codex Desktop / Codex Windows App

Recommended npx setup:

[mcp_servers.contam]
command = "npx"
args = ["-y", "--package", "github:summer521521/CONTAM_plugin", "contam-mcp"]
tool_timeout_sec = 300

For a UI-oriented walkthrough, see Codex Windows App Setup.

If you prefer a local clone, use:

[mcp_servers.contam]
command = "powershell.exe"
args = ["-NoProfile", "-ExecutionPolicy", "Bypass", "-File", "<repo-root>\\scripts\\start-contam-plugin-mcp.ps1"]
tool_timeout_sec = 300

Claude Code

Recommended npx setup:

claude mcp add --transport stdio contam -- npx -y --package github:summer521521/CONTAM_plugin contam-mcp

On native Windows, Anthropic documents that npx-based local MCP servers may require cmd /c. If direct npx launch fails, use:

claude mcp add --transport stdio contam -- cmd /c npx -y --package github:summer521521/CONTAM_plugin contam-mcp

Useful follow-up commands:

claude mcp list
claude mcp get contam

Claude Desktop

Recommended npx setup:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "contam": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "--package", "github:summer521521/CONTAM_plugin", "contam-mcp"],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}

If the host environment needs an explicit shell wrapper on Windows, use:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "contam": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "cmd",
      "args": ["/c", "npx", "-y", "--package", "github:summer521521/CONTAM_plugin", "contam-mcp"],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}

Cursor

Recommended npx setup:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "contam": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "--package", "github:summer521521/CONTAM_plugin", "contam-mcp"]
    }
  }
}

If you prefer a local clone instead:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "contam": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "powershell.exe",
      "args": ["-NoProfile", "-ExecutionPolicy", "Bypass", "-File", "C:\\path\\to\\CONTAM_plugin\\scripts\\start-contam-plugin-mcp.ps1"]
    }
  }
}

Environment Variables

In the default repository layout, the packaged CLI can find the bundled CONTAM executables automatically.

If you want to point the server at another CONTAM installation, these variables are useful:

  • CONTAM_HOME
  • CONTAM_CHINESE_HOME
  • CONTAMX_PATH
  • CONTAMW_PATH
  • PRJUP_PATH
  • SIMREAD_PATH
  • SIMCOMP_PATH

CONTAM_CHINESE_HOME should point to an extracted contam_chinese release folder that contains contamw3.exe, contamx3.exe, prjup.exe, simread.exe, simcomp.exe, and olch2d32.dll.

Notes

  • This repository is Windows-first because it bundles Windows CONTAM executables.
  • The server does not depend on Codex-specific APIs.
  • Hosts that do not support MCP, or cannot launch local stdio processes, will need an adapter layer before they can use this server.
  • If this project is later published to npm, the command can become even shorter, for example npx -y contam-plugin.

References