Choose by workflow, not installation count
The best MCP server is the one that supports a specific development task with understandable permissions and reliable documentation. Installing a large collection creates noise and expands the number of tools and credentials an assistant can access.
This shortlist covers common development workflows. It is not a security certification or a universal ranking. Verify the current repository, capabilities, and compatibility before connecting any server.
Repository work: GitHub
The GitHub MCP server is a natural candidate for repository-aware workflows such as inspecting issues, reviewing project context, and working with pull requests. The useful permission boundary depends on the credential and tools you enable.
Start with a test repository or read-only access. Confirm the exact operations exposed before allowing changes to issues, branches, or pull requests.
Browser testing: Playwright
Playwright MCP can support browser-based inspection and automation. It is relevant to reproducing interface problems, checking flows, and interacting with development environments through a browser.
Browser automation can submit forms and interact with authenticated sessions. Use a dedicated test environment and avoid exposing unrelated browser profiles.
Project files: Filesystem
The Filesystem MCP server provides a direct model for working with selected local files. It is broadly useful but highly dependent on path restrictions.
Grant one project directory rather than an entire user directory. Review proposed writes and keep version control or another recovery mechanism available.
Relational data: PostgreSQL
Postgres MCP is one option for database-aware development and analysis. Database credentials define the real boundary: a read-only account against a non-production database is safer for evaluation than a privileged production connection.
Check how queries are constructed, whether writes are exposed, and how results or connection strings are logged.
Containers: Docker
Docker MCP may fit workflows involving container inspection and local development environments. Container administration can become host administration depending on configuration, so treat broad daemon access as consequential.
Use a limited development environment and understand which lifecycle or execution actions the server exposes.
A practical starter set
Do not install all five automatically. Select one based on the bottleneck in your current workflow:
| Need | Starting point |
|---|---|
| Repository context | GitHub |
| UI inspection and testing | Playwright |
| Controlled local documents | Filesystem |
| Database exploration | PostgreSQL with read-only credentials |
| Container workflows | Docker in a development environment |
Apply the MCP server selection checklist to each candidate, then follow the installation guide using the project's current documentation.