# Isthmus

> Connect any AI to your PostgreSQL database. Local MCP server — no cloud required.

## Docs

- [Architecture](https://isthmus.dev/docs/architecture.md): Hexagonal architecture, directory structure, and how to extend Isthmus.
- [Claude Desktop](https://isthmus.dev/docs/clients/claude-desktop.md): Set up Isthmus with Claude Desktop on macOS and Windows.
- [Cursor](https://isthmus.dev/docs/clients/cursor.md): Set up Isthmus with Cursor IDE.
- [Gemini CLI](https://isthmus.dev/docs/clients/gemini-cli.md): Set up Isthmus with Google Gemini CLI.
- [VS Code (Cline & Continue)](https://isthmus.dev/docs/clients/vscode.md): Set up Isthmus with VS Code MCP extensions: Cline and Continue.
- [Windsurf](https://isthmus.dev/docs/clients/windsurf.md): Set up Isthmus with Windsurf IDE.
- [Configuration](https://isthmus.dev/docs/configuration.md): All environment variables and CLI flags for configuring Isthmus.
- [Audit Logging](https://isthmus.dev/docs/features/audit-logging.md): Track every SQL query executed by the AI with NDJSON audit logs.
- [Column Masking](https://isthmus.dev/docs/features/column-masking.md): Protect PII and sensitive data with automatic column-level masking — configured in your policy YAML, enforced everywhere.
- [HTTP Transport](https://isthmus.dev/docs/features/http-transport.md): Serve MCP over HTTP instead of stdio — for web-based clients, remote access, and multi-session architectures.
- [OpenTelemetry](https://isthmus.dev/docs/features/opentelemetry.md): Distributed tracing and metrics for Isthmus — monitor query performance, tool latency, and error rates.
- [Policy Engine](https://isthmus.dev/docs/features/policy-engine.md): Enrich MCP tool responses with business context using a YAML policy file.
- [Schema Filtering](https://isthmus.dev/docs/features/schema-filtering.md): Control which database schemas are visible to the AI.
- [SQL Validation](https://isthmus.dev/docs/features/sql-validation.md): How Isthmus validates SQL queries using PostgreSQL's AST parser.
- [Installation](https://isthmus.dev/docs/installation.md): All methods to install the Isthmus binary on your machine.
- [Your database, understood by AI](https://isthmus.dev/docs/introduction.md): Isthmus is a local MCP server that connects any AI to your PostgreSQL database. Schema discovery, query execution, and table analysis — all running on your machine.
- [Quickstart](https://isthmus.dev/docs/quickstart.md): Get Isthmus running with Claude Desktop in under 5 minutes.
- [Security](https://isthmus.dev/docs/security.md): Isthmus's safety model: how it protects your database from unintended AI operations.
- [describe_table](https://isthmus.dev/docs/tools/describe-table.md): Complete table analysis: columns, keys, indexes, column statistics, sample rows, and index usage.
- [discover](https://isthmus.dev/docs/tools/discover.md): Discover the full database landscape: all schemas with their tables, sizes, and metadata in a single call.
- [Tools Overview](https://isthmus.dev/docs/tools/overview.md): How Isthmus MCP tools work and the recommended discovery workflow.
- [query](https://isthmus.dev/docs/tools/query.md): Execute a read-only SQL query and return results as JSON, with optional EXPLAIN plans.