Install and wire up an existing MCP server from Smithery.ai or a GitHub repo. Use when the user names a tool that already has a server — 'add the Notion MCP', 'install this Smithery server'. Not for building a new integration from nothing; use `create-mcp`. Not for adding one already-known server safely; use `dex-add-mcp`.
Scanned 9/2/2026
Install to Claude Code
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---
name: integrate-mcp
description: "Install and wire up an existing MCP server from Smithery.ai or a GitHub repo. Use when the user names a tool that already has a server — 'add the Notion MCP', 'install this Smithery server'. Not for building a new integration from nothing; use `create-mcp`. Not for adding one already-known server safely; use `dex-add-mcp`."
---
<!-- Generated from `.claude/skills/integrate-mcp/SKILL.md` by `scripts/generate-agents-skills.py`. Do not edit. -->
## Purpose
Help users discover and integrate pre-built MCP servers from the ecosystem, primarily from Smithery.ai marketplace.
## When to Run
- User types `/integrate-mcp`
- Mentioned during `/getting-started` tour
- User asks about connecting tools that have existing MCPs
- User wants to browse available integrations
## Entry Point
Say:
```
**Want to connect more tools to Dex?**
Some tools have a built-in, guided setup — no marketplace hunting needed:
• **Task apps:** Todoist (`/todoist-setup`), Things 3 (`/things-setup`), Trello (`/trello-setup`) — two-way task sync
• **Email & calendar:** Google Workspace (`/google-workspace-setup`), Microsoft Teams (`/ms-teams-setup`)
• **Meetings:** Granola (`/granola-setup`), Zoom (`/zoom-setup`)
• **Work tracking:** Jira + Confluence (`/atlassian-setup`)
For anything else, there's a marketplace of 100+ pre-built MCP servers at:
**[Smithery.ai](https://smithery.ai/servers)**
These are production-ready integrations for:
• **Dev tools:** GitHub, GitLab, Linear, Jira
• **Productivity:** Notion, Airtable, Google Sheets
• **Communication:** Slack, Discord, Email
• **Databases:** Postgres, MySQL, SQLite
• **Monitoring:** Sentry, Datadog
• **And many more...**
**How this works:**
1. Browse Smithery.ai for MCPs that match your tools
2. Copy the full URL of any MCP you want
3. Paste it here - I'll:
- Fetch the code/documentation
- Explain what it does
- Help you configure it
- Integrate into Dex
- Update documentation
**Or** if you can't find what you need, run `/create-mcp` to build custom.
Ready to explore? [Browse Smithery.ai](https://smithery.ai/servers)
```
---
## When User Pastes an MCP URL
### Step 1: Fetch the MCP Source
Detect URL type:
- **GitHub repo:** `https://github.com/user/repo`
- **npm package:** `https://npmjs.com/package/name`
- **Smithery.ai:** `https://smithery.ai/server/name`
- **Direct source:** Any other URL
Fetch based on type:
```python
if "github.com" in url:
# Fetch README.md from repo
readme_url = f"{url}/blob/main/README.md"
content = web_fetch(readme_url)
elif "smithery.ai" in url:
# Fetch from Smithery page
content = web_fetch(url)
elif "npmjs.com" in url:
# Fetch package info
content = web_fetch(url)
else:
# Try direct fetch
content = web_fetch(url)
```
### Step 2: Parse and Explain
Analyze the fetched content for:
- MCP server name
- What it does (capabilities)
- Required environment variables
- Installation method (npm, pip, docker, etc.)
- Authentication requirements
Say:
```
**Got it!** This is the **[Server Name]** MCP.
**What it does:**
• [Capability 1] - [Description]
• [Capability 2] - [Description]
• [Capability 3] - [Description]
**What you'll need to set up:**
• [ENV_VAR_1]: [Explanation of what this is]
• [ENV_VAR_2]: [Explanation]
**Installation method:** [npm/pip/docker/manual]
**Authentication:** [API key / OAuth / Local / None]
Ready to integrate this?
```
### Step 3: Guide Through Setup
#### For npm packages:
```
"This is an npm package. Here's how to install:
1. Navigate to your Dex directory
2. Install the package:
```
npm install -g [package-name]
```
3. I'll add it to your `.mcp.json` config
Want me to proceed?"
```
Then add to `.mcp.json`:
```json
{
"[server-name]": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "[package-name]"],
"env": {
"VAR1": "value1"
}
}
}
```
#### For Python packages:
```
"This is a Python MCP. Here's how to install:
1. Install via pip:
```
pip install [package-name]
```
2. I'll add it to your `.mcp.json` config
Want me to proceed?"
```
#### For GitHub repos (manual):
```
"This is from a GitHub repo. Here's the setup:
1. Clone the repository:
```
git clone [repo-url] ~/dex-mcps/[server-name]
```
2. Install dependencies (if any)
3. I'll add it to your `.mcp.json` config
Want me to proceed?"
```
### Step 4: Configure Environment Variables
For each required env var:
```
"This MCP needs the following environment variables:
**[ENV_VAR_1]:** [Description]
Where to get it: [Instructions]
**[ENV_VAR_2]:** [Description]
Where to get it: [Instructions]
You can either:
1. Set them now (I'll add to `.env` file)
2. Set them manually later in your shell config
What's your [ENV_VAR_1]?"
```
Collect values and add to `.env` file:
```bash
# [Server Name] MCP Configuration
ENVVAR_1=value1
ENV_VAR_2=value2
```
After writing, make the file owner-only (`chmod 600 .env`) — create it with that mode if it's new, and tighten it if an existing `.env` was left readable by other users.
### Step 5: Update MCP Config
Add to `System/.mcp.json`:
```json
{
"[server-name]": {
"command": "[command]",
"args": ["[args]"],
"env": {
"ENV_VAR_1": "${ENV_VAR_1}",
"VAULT_PATH": "{{VAULT_PATH}}"
}
}
}
```
### Step 6: Test Connection
Try calling a basic tool from the MCP:
```
"Testing connection..."
[Call a simple tool from the MCP, like list_resources or get_status]
[If success:]
"✅ Connection works! The [Server Name] MCP is live.
Test it: '[Example natural language query]'
See? Real data from [Tool]."
[If failure:]
"⚠️ Connection failed. Common issues:
• Environment variables not set correctly
• Authentication hasn't been completed
• MCP server not installed properly
Want help debugging this?"
```
### Step 7: Update Documentation
Add to `CLAUDE.md`:
```markdown
### [Server Name] Integration
**MCP Server:** [server-name]
**Purpose:** [what it does]
**Available via this MCP:**
- [Capability 1]
- [Capability 2]
**Configuration:**
- `ENV_VAR_1`: [description]
**Usage:**
- "[Natural language example 1]"
- "[Natural language example 2]"
```
Add to `System/usage_log.md` if not present:
```markdown
- [ ] Connected [Tool] via MCP
```
---
## Multiple Integrations
After first integration completes:
```
"Want to add another tool?
You can:
1. Browse more on Smithery.ai and paste another URL
2. Run `/create-mcp` to build something custom
3. Stop here and explore what you have
What sounds good?"
```
---
## Troubleshooting Guide
If connection fails, provide specific debugging steps:
**For authentication issues:**
```
"Authentication failed. Let's debug:
1. Check your API key is correct
2. Verify it has the right permissions
3. Try testing it directly:
```
curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_KEY" [api-endpoint]
```
Want to try a different key?"
```
**For installation issues:**
```
"Installation failed. Common fixes:
1. Check Node/Python version:
```
node --version # Should be 18+
python --version # Should be 3.8+
```
2. Try installing globally:
```
npm install -g [package]
# or
pip install --user [package]
```
3. Check for conflicts:
```
npm list -g | grep [package]
```
Want to try these steps?"
```
---
## Alternative: Can't Find on Smithery
If user can't find what they need:
```
"Didn't find [Tool] on Smithery?
No worries - we can build it custom with `/create-mcp`.
That wizard will:
1. Help you find the tool's API docs
2. Design the integration together
3. Generate working MCP code
4. Get it integrated
Takes about 5-10 minutes depending on the API complexity.
Want to build [Tool] integration from scratch?"
```
Then hand off to `/create-mcp` skill.
---
## Success Criteria
After integration:
- User can query their tool via natural language
- MCP is added to config
- Documentation is updated
- They know how to add more
The experience feels like:
- "That was easier than I expected"
- "I can do this for any tool I use"
- "This makes Dex way more powerful"
---
## Track Usage (Silent)
Update `System/usage_log.md` to mark MCP integration as used.
**Analytics (Silent):**
Call `track_event` with event_name `mcp_integrated` and properties:
- (no properties — do NOT include server names)
This only fires if the user has opted into analytics. No action needed if it returns "analytics_disabled".
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