modelcontextprotocol / modelcontextprotocol/servers
feat(brave-search): Make rate limits configurable via environment variables
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Description
Summary
The brave-search server (now in servers-archived) has hardcoded rate limits that don't match Brave Search API tier limits. This artificially throttles users with paid plans.
Problem
// Current hardcoded limits
const RATE_LIMIT = {
perSecond: 1,
perMonth: 15000
};
| Brave Plan | Actual Limit | Server Allows |
|---|---|---|
| Free | 1 req/s | 1 req/s ✓ |
| Base | 20 req/s | 1 req/s ✗ |
| Pro | Unlimited | 1 req/s ✗ |
Users with Base ($5/mo) or Pro plans are artificially throttled to Free tier limits.
Proposed Solution
Make rate limits configurable via environment variables with backward-compatible defaults:
const RATE_LIMIT = {
perSecond: parseInt(process.env.BRAVE_RATE_LIMIT_PER_SECOND || '1', 10),
perMonth: parseInt(process.env.BRAVE_RATE_LIMIT_PER_MONTH || '15000', 10)
};
Benefits:
- Zero breaking changes (defaults match current behaviour)
- Users can configure based on their actual API tier
- Simple 2-line change
Example Configuration
{
"mcpServers": {
"brave-search": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-brave-search"],
"env": {
"BRAVE_API_KEY": "your-key",
"BRAVE_RATE_LIMIT_PER_SECOND": "20"
}
}
}
}
Note
I understand brave-search was moved to servers-archived (which is read-only). I'm happy to submit a PR if you can advise the best path forward - whether that's:
- Unarchiving just for this fix
- Bringing brave-search back to this repo
- Another approach
The fix is minimal and backward-compatible.
Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
Start by locating the archived brave-search server and its RATE_LIMIT definition; the issue does not name a file or test. Confirm where this change could be made given that servers-archived is read-only, then verify that omitted environment variables preserve the current limits and configured values are applied.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- typescript
- Domain
- api, backend
- Issue type
- Feature
- Difficulty
- 3/5
- Estimated time
- 1-2 days
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 35/100