BridgeDesk

About

BridgeDesk is a desktop launcher and local MCP workspace server for ChatGPT and other MCP clients. It lets a trusted MCP client work with selected local project folders through explicit tools for reading, editing, searching, running commands, and showing changes.

BridgeDesk is Windows-first. It is designed for local development workflows where you choose one approved project folder, start the BridgeDesk server, and connect an MCP-capable client through the generated MCP URL.

Download BridgeDesk

For normal Windows use, download the latest installer from GitHub Releases:

https://github.com/stanic-mah/bridgedesk/releases/latest/download/BridgeDesk-Setup.exe

The installer build supports BridgeDesk's in-app update checks. A portable exe is also attached to each release for manual use, but the installer is the recommended download.

BridgeDesk has two entrypoints:

• an Electron desktop launcher for setup, tunnels, process control, and copyable connection details
• a CLI and MCP server for headless or scripted use

Requirements

• Node >=20.12 <27
• npm
• Git
• Bash-compatible shell; Git Bash is the simplest Windows option
• Optional: cloudflared for the launcher-managed quick tunnel

Desktop Launcher

Install dependencies and start the launcher from a local checkout:

npm install
npm run desktop

The launcher checks local requirements, lets you choose one project folder, starts a Cloudflare tunnel when available, starts the BridgeDesk server, and copies the MCP URL and Owner password for the MCP client.

BridgeDesk supports two tunnel modes:

• Quick Tunnel: easiest setup. Cloudflare gives BridgeDesk a temporary trycloudflare.com URL, and that URL changes when the tunnel is restarted.
• Permanent Tunnel: best for regular use. BridgeDesk uses your Cloudflare account, domain, and named tunnel so the MCP URL can stay fixed, for example https://mcp.yourdomain.com/mcp.

Use Permanent Tunnel if you do not want to re-add the MCP server in ChatGPT after closing the app or restarting the computer.

If Cloudflare Tunnel is not installed, paste any HTTPS tunnel URL into the launcher. The URL should point to:

http://127.0.0.1:7676

Use this MCP endpoint in the client:

https://your-tunnel-host.example.com/mcp

CLI

Build and run locally:

npm install
npm run build
node dist/cli.js init
node dist/cli.js serve

After publishing or linking the package, the public command is:

bridgedesk init
bridgedesk serve
bridgedesk doctor
bridgedesk config get
bridgedesk config set publicBaseUrl https://your-tunnel-host.example.com

The default local endpoint is:

http://127.0.0.1:7676/mcp

Configuration

BridgeDesk stores local configuration in:

~/.bridgedesk/config.json
~/.bridgedesk/auth.json

Important environment variables:

• BRIDGEDESK_PUBLIC_BASE_URL
• BRIDGEDESK_ALLOWED_ROOTS
• BRIDGEDESK_OAUTH_OWNER_TOKEN
• BRIDGEDESK_STATE_DIR
• BRIDGEDESK_WORKTREE_ROOT
• BRIDGEDESK_TOOL_MODE

See docs/configuration.md for the full reference.

Security

BridgeDesk is powerful local access to selected folders on your machine. Keep allowed roots narrow, protect auth.json, and connect only trusted MCP clients. The desktop launcher rejects drive roots and the whole user folder as project roots.

See docs/security.md for the full model.

Development

npm install
npm run typecheck
npm test
npm run build
npm run desktop

The build produces:

• dist/cli.js for the CLI
• dist/server.js for the MCP server
• dist/ui for MCP app widgets
• dist/desktop for the Electron launcher

License

BridgeDesk is distributed under the MIT License. See LICENSE.