io.github.levelsofself/nervous-system

Governance for LLM agents: 7 enforced rules + read-only reference tools. Safe in any MCP client.

AI & MLJavaScriptv1.12.1

Nervous System

Deterministic governance lint for MCP server configurations, plus reference tooling for the 7 rules.

What each tool actually does

ToolDoes real work?
audit_mcp_configYes. Deterministic lint, zero dependencies, fully offline, never throws. Checks inline secrets in env, shell wrappers, unpinned packages, auto-install flags, broad filesystem scopes, non-TLS remote transports, unpinned docker tags. Returns findings with severities and a 0-100 score.
check_preflightYes, when configured. Reads protected_files_list from nervous-system.config.json or NERVOUS_SYSTEM_PROTECTED_LIST. With no list it says so rather than guessing. If the list is unreadable it FAILS CLOSED.
get_* (everything else)No. They return text: the framework, templates, instructions. That is why they are named get_.

Install

npx mcp-nervous-system

Free local tool: audit_mcp_config

Pass your config as config (object) or config_json (string), e.g. the contents of claude_desktop_config.json. Returns findings with severities and a 0-100 score.

Hosted API (pay-per-call, x402, USDC on Base)

The write-capable toolset runs server-side and is not in this package.

  • POST https://api.100levelup.com/x402/audit-mcp - governance lint ($0.05 USDC)
  • GET https://api.100levelup.com/x402/verify-audit - audit-chain verification ($0.005 USDC)

Discovery: /openapi.json and /llms.txt.

2.0.0 breaking changes

  • emergency_kill_switch -> get_kill_switch_instructions. It never stopped anything.
  • verify_audit_chain -> get_audit_verification_instructions. It never verified a chain.
  • dispatch_to_llm -> get_dispatch_command. It never dispatched.
  • check_preflight no longer matches hardcoded filenames from the author's own server. It reads your list.
  • Hardcoded fleet counts and violation totals removed from get_origin_story. A number baked into a package is a fossil the moment it ships.

License

MIT

Installation

Source-derived launch command. Check the maintainer’s required arguments and credentials before running:

bash
npx -y mcp-nervous-system

Set up in your AI client

Merge this template into ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json. Keep existing servers. Add any arguments, credentials, and permissions required by the maintainer; this template has not been install-tested.

json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "io-github-levelsofself-nervous-system": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "mcp-nervous-system"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Restart Claude Desktop completely for changes to take effect. Confirm the server appears connected in the client’s tool list, then try a read-only example from its documentation.

Claude Desktop setup reference

Package

mcp-nervous-systemnpm

Compatible MCP Clients

io.github.levelsofself/nervous-system works with any MCP-compatible client. Copy the config snippet from the Configuration section above and add it to the file shown for your client, then restart the application.

  • Claude Desktop~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.jsonRestart Claude Desktop completely for changes to take effect.
  • Cursor~/.cursor/mcp.jsonRestart Cursor for changes to take effect.
  • VS Code.vscode/mcp.jsonReload VS Code window for changes to take effect.
  • Windsurf~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.jsonRestart Windsurf for changes to take effect.
  • Claude Code.mcp.jsonSave at the project root, then start Claude Code in that project and review the MCP server approval prompt. Keep real credentials out of shared files.

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