mcp-setup

What this skill does

# MCP Setup Skill

This skill helps configure Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers to connect Claude Code to external tools, databases, and APIs.

## What is MCP?

MCP (Model Context Protocol) is an open-source standard for AI-tool integrations. MCP servers give Claude Code access to:
- Issue trackers (Jira, GitHub Issues)
- Monitoring tools (Sentry, Statsig)
- Databases (PostgreSQL, MySQL)
- Design tools (Figma)
- Communication (Slack, Gmail)
- And hundreds more

## Server Types

### 1. HTTP Servers (Recommended for remote)
Cloud-based services, most widely supported.

```bash
claude mcp add --transport http <name> <url>

# Example: Connect to Notion
claude mcp add --transport http notion https://mcp.notion.com/mcp

# With Bearer token authentication
claude mcp add --transport http secure-api https://api.example.com/mcp \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer your-token"
```

### 2. SSE Servers (Deprecated)
Use HTTP instead where available.

```bash
claude mcp add --transport sse <name> <url>

# Example: Connect to Asana
claude mcp add --transport sse asana https://mcp.asana.com/sse
```

### 3. Stdio Servers (Local processes)
Run as local processes on your machine.

```bash
claude mcp add --transport stdio <name> <command> [args...]

# Example: Airtable server
claude mcp add --transport stdio airtable --env AIRTABLE_API_KEY=YOUR_KEY \
  -- npx -y airtable-mcp-server

# Example: PostgreSQL database
claude mcp add --transport stdio db -- npx -y @bytebase/dbhub \
  --dsn "postgresql://user:pass@localhost:5432/mydb"
```

**Note**: The `--` separates Claude's flags from the server command.

## Configuration Scopes

| Scope | Storage | Use Case |
|-------|---------|----------|
| `local` | `~/.claude.json` (project path) | Personal, project-specific |
| `project` | `.mcp.json` in project root | Team-shared via git |
| `user` | `~/.claude.json` (global) | Personal across all projects |

```bash
# Add to specific scope
claude mcp add --transport http api --scope project https://api.example.com
```

## Management Commands

```bash
# List all configured servers
claude mcp list

# Get details for a specific server
claude mcp get <name>

# Remove a server
claude mcp remove <name>

# Check server status (in Claude Code)
/mcp
```

## Authentication

For OAuth 2.0 authentication:

1. Add the server: `claude mcp add --transport http sentry https://mcp.sentry.dev/mcp`
2. In Claude Code, run: `/mcp`
3. Select "Authenticate" and follow browser prompts

## Plugin MCP Servers

Plugins can bundle MCP servers. Create `.mcp.json` at plugin root:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "plugin-server": {
      "command": "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/servers/my-server",
      "args": ["--config", "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/config.json"],
      "env": {
        "API_KEY": "${API_KEY}"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

Or inline in `plugin.json`:

```json
{
  "name": "my-plugin",
  "mcpServers": {
    "plugin-api": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://api.example.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}
```

## Project Shared Configuration

For team-shared servers, create `.mcp.json` in project root:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "github": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/"
    },
    "database": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@bytebase/dbhub", "--dsn", "${DATABASE_URL}"]
    }
  }
}
```

### Environment Variable Expansion

Supported in `.mcp.json`:
- `${VAR}` - Value of environment variable
- `${VAR:-default}` - Value or default if not set

Works in: `command`, `args`, `env`, `url`, `headers`

## Popular MCP Servers

| Server | Type | Install Command |
|--------|------|-----------------|
| GitHub | HTTP | `claude mcp add --transport http github https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/` |
| Sentry | HTTP | `claude mcp add --transport http sentry https://mcp.sentry.dev/mcp` |
| Notion | HTTP | `claude mcp add --transport http notion https://mcp.notion.com/mcp` |
| Postgres | stdio | `claude mcp add --transport stdio db -- npx -y @bytebase/dbhub --dsn "..."` |
| Filesystem | stdio | `claude mcp add --transport stdio fs -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem /path` |

## Using MCP in Claude Code

### Reference Resources
Type `@` to see available resources from MCP servers:
```
> Analyze @github:issue://123
```

### Execute Prompts
MCP prompts become slash commands:
```
> /mcp__github__list_prs
> /mcp__jira__create_issue "Bug title" high
```

## Troubleshooting

### Windows Users
Use `cmd /c` wrapper for npx:
```bash
claude mcp add --transport stdio my-server -- cmd /c npx -y @some/package
```

### Output Limits
Set `MAX_MCP_OUTPUT_TOKENS` for large outputs:
```bash
export MAX_MCP_OUTPUT_TOKENS=50000
claude
```

### Timeout Issues
Increase startup timeout:
```bash
MCP_TIMEOUT=10000 claude
```

## Setup Checklist

When setting up a new MCP server:

- [ ] Choose appropriate transport (HTTP for remote, stdio for local)
- [ ] Select correct scope (local/project/user)
- [ ] Configure authentication if required
- [ ] Set necessary environment variables
- [ ] Test with `/mcp` command
- [ ] Verify tools are available