instagram -by-cdata

This MCP server exposes Instagram data through a read-only MCP interface by wrapping the CData JDBC Driver for Instagram. After starting the server, clients (including Claude Desktop or other MCP clients on the same machine) can query live Instagram data without writing SQL. The server provides tools named with the server identifier plus an action, such as instagram_get_tables to list accessible tables, instagram_get_columns to show table columns, and instagram_run_query to execute a SQL SELECT against the underlying data source. Use the built-in tools by calling their JSON-RPC methods as demonstrated in the examples, or rely on natural language prompts to have the client translate questions into the appropriate tool calls. Note that the server runs via stdio, so it must be on the same host as the client.

Prerequisites:

• Java Runtime Environment (JRE) or JDK
• Maven (for building the MCP server)
• Access to the internet to download dependencies during build

Step-by-step:

1. Clone the repository: git clone https://github.com/cdatasoftware/instagram-mcp-server-by-cdata.git cd instagram-mcp-server-by-cdata

2. Build the server (produces CDataMCP-jar-with-dependencies.jar): mvn clean install

3. Install the CData JDBC Driver for Instagram:

   • Download from: https://www.cdata.com/drivers/instagram/download/jdbc
   • Follow the driver installation steps specific to your OS

4. License the JDBC Driver (example for Windows/Mac/Linux):

   • Locate the lib folder in the driver installation
   • Run: java -jar cdata.jdbc.instagram.jar --license
   • Enter your name, email, and TRIAL or license key when prompted

5. Create the MCP property file (instagram.prp) with your JDBC connection details, including:

   • Prefix
   • ServerName
   • ServerVersion
   • DriverPath
   • DriverClass
   • JdbcUrl
   • Tables

6. Run the MCP server using the generated JAR and your .prp file: java -jar CDataMCP-jar-with-dependencies.jar /path/to/instagram.prp

7. (Optional) Configure Claude Desktop or other clients with the appropriate mcpServers entry in claude_desktop_config.json, as shown in the README, to connect to the running MCP server.

Prerequisites recap: Java (JRE/JDK) and Maven for building; JDBC driver for Instagram; a valid license (or trial) for the driver; a properly created .prp configuration file.

Tips and common issues:

• The MCP server operates via stdio; ensure your client runs on the same machine or can communicate with a stdio-based endpoint.
• The Instagram MCP server is read-only by design; write/update/delete actions are not exposed.
• Ensure the instagram.prp file accurately reflects your JDBC connection (JdbcUrl, DriverPath, DriverClass, etc.). If OAuth is used, complete the browser-based authentication during connection setup.
• If Claude Desktop or another client cannot detect the server, fully quit and relaunch the client, and verify the mcpServers configuration entry matches the running server and path to the JAR and PRP file.
• The provided tool names follow the pattern {servername}_action (e.g., instagram_get_tables, instagram_get_columns, instagram_run_query). Use the JSON-RPC examples as a reference when scripting calls.
• Since the server uses stdio, ensure the client and server are on the same host; remote access requires a different deployment approach (e.g., a remote-enabled MCP platform).