User Quickstart

Install the CLI, find a package, connect it to your AI assistant.

Install the Pharos CLI

The CLI is a single Go binary. Install it with Go, or build from source.

# Unix / macOS / WSL / Git Bash
curl -fsSL https://getpharos.dev/install | sh

# Windows PowerShell (not cmd.exe)
irm https://getpharos.dev/install.ps1 | iex

# Or install with Go
go install github.com/Wpnx330/pharos-cli@latest

Verify

# Verify installation
pharos version

Search for a package

Search returns matching packages with descriptions, transport type, and verification status.

# Search for a package
pharos search "filesystem"

Example output

NAME                         VERSION     TRANSPORT         REGISTRY    DESCRIPTION                                         DOWNLOADS
echo-mcp-server-for-testing  0.0.0       stdio             mcp.so      A simple echo MCP (Model Context Protocol) Server…  0
Use: pharos info "<PACKAGE ID>"   (quote IDs that contain spaces)

Install a package

The package binary is cached locally and a config snippet is generated. You can copy it directly into your assistant's config file (see the next step).

# Install a package (quote IDs that contain spaces)
pharos install echo-mcp-server-for-testing

Connect to your AI assistant

The config file location and format differ by platform. Pick your assistant below.

Choose your assistant

Config file

~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (macOS) or %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json (Windows).

claude_desktop_config.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "filesystem": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem", "/Users/username/Desktop"]
    }
  }
}

After editing, restart Claude Desktop for the change to take effect.

Verify the connection

Choose your assistant

In a new chat, ask "What MCP tools do you have?" Claude will list the tools it can see from your configured servers.

Audit your setup

pharos audit checks installed packages for known issues, version mismatches, and security advisories. Run it after every install and periodically after that.

# Check installed packages for issues
pharos audit