Octave MCP Server

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for executing Octave scripts non-interactively.

Features

• Execute Octave scripts via MCP protocol
• Supports both HTTP and stdio communication modes
• Built-in security for HTTP mode (localhost only)
• Automatic Octave installation verification

Prerequisites

• Go 1.21+ (for building/running)
• GNU Octave installed and available in PATH (tested version 8.4.0)

Installation

1. Clone the repository:

   git clone https://github.com/fmcato/octave-mcp.git
   cd octave-mcp

2. Build the server:

   go build ./cmd/octave-server

Usage

HTTP Mode

Start the HTTP server:

./octave-server -http localhost:8080

Stdio Mode

Start the stdio server:

./octave-server

MCP Tool Usage

The server provides two tools:

1. run_octave - Execute Octave scripts:

{
  "script": "string"
}

Example:

{
  "script": "disp('Hello from Octave');"
}

2. generate_plot - Generate plots from Octave scripts:

{
  "script": "string",
  "format": "png|svg"
}

Example:

{
  "script": "plot([1,2,3,4]);",
  "format": "png"
}

Plot Generation Notes:

• Output formats supported: PNG or SVG

Running with Docker

You can run the Octave MCP server using Docker for easier deployment and isolation.

The Docker image uses a multi-stage build process:

• Build stage: Uses golang:alpine for compiling the binary
• Runtime stage: Uses the official gnuoctave/octave image
• This approach reduces the final image size and improves security

Using Docker Compose (Recommended)

Build and run the server:

docker-compose up --build

The server will be available at http://localhost:8080.

Using Docker Directly

Build the image:

docker build -t octave-mcp -f docker/Dockerfile .

Run the container:

docker run -p 8080:8080 octave-mcp

Testing the Docker Image

To verify the Docker image is working correctly:

1. Start the container:

   docker-compose up -d

2. Use a tool like MCP Inspector to verify the server is accessible at http://localhost:8080/mcp

3. Check the logs:

   docker-compose logs octave-mcp

4. Stop the container:

   docker-compose down

Configuration

The server accepts the following flags:

• -http: HTTP address to listen on (empty for stdio mode)

Environment Variables

The following environment variables can be used to configure server behavior:

• OCTAVE_SCRIPT_TIMEOUT: Script execution timeout in seconds (default: 10)
• OCTAVE_CONCURRENCY_LIMIT: Maximum concurrent executions (default: 10)
• OCTAVE_SCRIPT_LENGTH_LIMIT: Maximum script length in characters (default: 10000)
• OCTAVE_MCP_ALLOW_NON_LOCALHOST: Set to true to allow non-localhost connections (default: false). Use with caution in production environments.

Security

• Scans scripts for dangerous patterns
• Filters output to remove sensitive information
• Uses temporary directories with restricted permissions

When running in HTTP mode:

• Only accepts connections from localhost (unless OCTAVE_MCP_ALLOW_NON_LOCALHOST=true is set)
• Implements strict CORS and security headers
• Validates request origins

License

This project is licensed under the GNU General Public License v3.0. See LICENSE for the full license text.