X Anthropics Mcp Integration 34915eb

---
name: x-anthropics-mcp-integration-34915eb
description: This skill should be used when the user asks to "add MCP server", "integrate MCP", "configure MCP in plugin", "use .mcp.json", "set up Model Context Protocol", "connect external service", mentions "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT} with MCP", or discusses MCP server types (SSE, stdio, HTTP, WebSocket). Provides comprehensive guidance for integrating Model Context Protocol servers into Claude Code plugins for external tool and service integration.
---

### 导出副本边界与技能别名

迁移、安装、修复和经验回写只作用于当前加载的目标宿主技能副本。原 Codex 技能/MCP、下载的源码和 `original-skills` 均为来源材料，不因执行本副本而写入；只有用户另行明确要求配置 Codex 产品本身时，才按该产品流程处理指定目标。脚本需要安装目录或状态目录时，显式提供目标路径；不得从 `CODEX_HOME` 隐式推断写入位置。

跨技能名称可能沿用源库别名。先查 [技能别名表](../../skill-aliases.json)，优先选择同来源、同插件的条目，再使用其 `id` 调用或读取对应入口；不得假定旧 `$skill`、`superpowers:skill` 名称在新宿主直接注册。不能确定目标时先核对，不替换真实产品命令或 Shell 环境变量。

## 跨宿主使用约定

本副本供支持 Agent Skills 的客户端使用。先检查当前宿主实际提供的工具、权限和已连接服务，再执行正文工作流。原文中的宿主工具标识是能力参考；只有实际发现该工具时才可调用，其他宿主应使用经核验的等价 MCP、CLI 或 API。没有等价能力的步骤必须报告不可用，不能虚构调用或完成状态。

技能资源以本技能目录为基准；输出写入当前项目中用户指定的位置。通过技能名称或自然语言触发，具体快捷命令由宿主决定。涉及真实产品、模型 API、协议字段和官方网址的名称保持原意。授权、审批、隐私和工具范围限制在迁移后仍然有效；不得为兼容而扩大权限。具体依赖与迁移说明见同目录 `PORTABILITY.md`。

# MCP Integration for Claude Code Plugins

## Overview

Model Context Protocol (MCP) enables Claude Code plugins to integrate with external services and APIs by providing structured tool access. Use MCP integration to expose external service capabilities as tools within Claude Code.

**Key capabilities:**
- Connect to external services (databases, APIs, file systems)
- Provide 10+ related tools from a single service
- Handle OAuth and complex authentication flows
- Bundle MCP servers with plugins for automatic setup

## MCP Server Configuration Methods

Plugins can bundle MCP servers in two ways:

### Method 1: Dedicated .mcp.json (Recommended)

Create `.mcp.json` at plugin root:

```json
{
  "database-tools": {
    "command": "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/servers/db-server",
    "args": ["--config", "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/config.json"],
    "env": {
      "DB_URL": "${DB_URL}"
    }
  }
}
```

**Benefits:**
- Clear separation of concerns
- Easier to maintain
- Better for multiple servers

### Method 2: Inline in plugin.json

Add `mcpServers` field to plugin.json:

```json
{
  "name": "my-plugin",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "mcpServers": {
    "plugin-api": {
      "command": "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/servers/api-server",
      "args": ["--port", "8080"]
    }
  }
}
```

**Benefits:**
- Single configuration file
- Good for simple single-server plugins

## MCP Server Types

### stdio (Local Process)

Execute local MCP servers as child processes. Best for local tools and custom servers.

**Configuration:**
```json
{
  "filesystem": {
    "command": "npx",
    "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem", "/allowed/path"],
    "env": {
      "LOG_LEVEL": "debug"
    }
  }
}
```

**Use cases:**
- File system access
- Local database connections
- Custom MCP servers
- NPM-packaged MCP servers

**Process management:**
- Claude Code spawns and manages the process
- Communicates via stdin/stdout
- Terminates when Claude Code exits

### SSE (Server-Sent Events)

Connect to hosted MCP servers with OAuth support. Best for cloud services.

**Configuration:**
```json
{
  "hosted-service": {
    "type": "sse",
    "url": "https://mcp.example.com/sse"
  }
}
```

**Use cases:**
- Official hosted MCP servers (Asana, GitHub, etc.)
- Cloud services with MCP endpoints
- OAuth-based authentication
- No local installation needed

**Authentication:**
- OAuth flows handled automatically
- User prompted on first use
- Tokens managed by Claude Code

### HTTP (REST API)

Connect to RESTful MCP servers with token authentication.

**Configuration:**
```json
{
  "api-service": {
    "type": "http",
    "url": "https://api.example.com/mcp",
    "headers": {
      "Authorization": "Bearer ${API_TOKEN}",
      "X-Custom-Header": "value"
    }
  }
}
```

**Use cases:**
- REST API-based MCP servers
- Token-based authentication
- Custom API backends
- Stateless interactions

### WebSocket (Real-time)

Connect to WebSocket MCP servers for real-time bidirectional communication.

**Configuration:**
```json
{
  "realtime-service": {
    "type": "ws",
    "url": "wss://mcp.example.com/ws",
    "headers": {
      "Authorization": "Bearer ${TOKEN}"
    }
  }
}
```

**Use cases:**
- Real-time data streaming
- Persistent connections
- Push notifications from server
- Low-latency requirements

## Environment Variable Expansion

All MCP configurations support environment variable substitution:

**${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}** - Plugin directory (always use for portability):
```json
{
  "command": "${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/servers/my-server"
}
```

**User environment variables** - From user's shell:
```json
{
  "env": {
    "API_KEY": "${MY_API_KEY}",
    "DATABASE_URL": "${DB_URL}"
  }
}
```

**Best practice:** Document all required environment variables in plugin README.

## MCP Tool Naming

When MCP servers provide tools, they're automatically prefixed:

**Format:** `mcp__plugin_<plugin-name>_<server-name>__<tool-name>`

**Example:**
- Plugin: `asana`
- Server: `asana`
- Tool: `create_task`
- **Full name:** `mcp__plugin_asana_asana__asana_create_task`

### Using MCP Tools in Commands

Pre-allow specific MCP tools in command frontmatter:

```markdown
---
allowed-tools: [
  "mcp__plugin_asana_asana__asana_create_task",
  "mcp__plugin_asana_asana__asana_search_tasks"
]
---
```

**Wildcard (use sparingly):**
```markdown
---
allowed-tools: ["mcp__plugin_asana_asana__*"]
---
```

**Best practice:** Pre-allow specific tools, not wildcards, for security.

## Lifecycle Management

**Automatic startup:**
- MCP servers start when plugin enables
- Connection established before first tool use
- Restart required for configuration changes

**Lifecycle:**
1. Plugin loads
2. MCP configuration parsed
3. Server process started (stdio) or connection established (SSE/HTTP/WS)
4. Tools discovered and registered
5. Tools available as `mcp__plugin_...__...`

**Viewing servers:**
Use `/mcp` command to see all servers including plugin-provided ones.

## Authentication Patterns

### OAuth (SSE/HTTP)

OAuth handled automatically by Claude Code:

```json
{
  "type": "sse",
  "url": "https://mcp.example.com/sse"
}
```

User authenticates in browser on first use. No additional configuration needed.

### Token-Based (Headers)

Static or environment variable tokens:

```json
{
  "type": "http",
  "url": "https://api.example.com",
  "headers": {
    "Authorization": "Bearer ${API_TOKEN}"
  }
}
```

Document required environment variables in README.

### Environment Variables (stdio)

Pass configuration to MCP server:

```json
{
  "command": "python",
  "args": ["-m", "my_mcp_server"],
  "env": {
    "DATABASE_URL": "${DB_URL}",
    "API_KEY": "${API_KEY}",
    "LOG_LEVEL": "info"
  }
}
```

## Integration Patterns

### Pattern 1: Simple Tool Wrapper

Commands use MCP tools with user interaction:

```markdown
# Command: create-item.md
---
allowed-tools: ["mcp__plugin_name_server__create_item"]
---

Steps:
1. Gather item details from user
2. Use mcp__plugin_name_server__create_item
3. Confirm creation
```

**Use for:** Adding validation or preprocessing before MCP calls.

### Pattern 2: Autonomous Agent

Agents use MCP tools autonomously:

```markdown
# Agent: data-analyzer.md

Analysis Process:
1. Query data via mcp__plugin_db_server__query
2. Process and analyze results
3. Generate insights report
```

**Use for:** Multi-step MCP workflows without user interaction.

### Pattern 3: Multi-Server Plugin

Integrate multiple MCP servers:

```json
{
  "github": {
    "type": "sse",
    "url": "https://mcp.github.com/sse"
  },
  "jira": {
    "type": "sse",
    "url": "https://mcp.jira.com/sse"
  }
}
```

**Use for:** Workflows spanning multiple services.

## Security Best Practices

### Use HTTPS/WSS

Always use secure connections:

```json
✅ "url": "https://mcp.example.com/sse"
❌ "url": "http://mcp.example.com/sse"
```

### Token Management

**DO:**
- ✅ Use environment variables for tokens
- ✅ Document required env vars in README
- ✅ Let OAuth flow handle authentication

**DON'T:**
- ❌ Hardcode tokens in configuration
- ❌ Commit tokens to git
- ❌ Share tokens in documentation

### Permission Scoping

Pre-allow only necessary MCP tools:

```markdown
✅ allowed-tools: [
  "mcp__plugin_api_server__read_data",
  "mcp__plugin_api_server__create_item"
]

❌ allowed-tools: ["mcp__plugin_api_server__*"]
```

## Error Handling

### Connection Failures

Handle MCP server unavailability:
- Provide fallback behavior in commands
- Inform user of connection issues
- Check server URL and configuration

### Tool Call Errors

Handle failed MCP operations:
- Validate inputs before calling MCP tools
- Provide clear error messages
- Check rate limiting and quotas

### Configuration Errors

Validate MCP configuration:
- Test server connectivity during development
- Validate JSON syntax
- Check required environment variables

## Performance Considerations

### Lazy Loading

MCP servers connect on-demand:
- Not all servers connect at startup
- First tool use triggers connection
- Connection pooling managed automatically

### Batching

Batch similar requests when possible:

```
# Good: Single query with filters
tasks = search_tasks(project="X", assignee="me", limit=50)

# Avoid: Many individual queries
for id in task_ids:
    task = get_task(id)
```

## Testing MCP Integration

### Local Testing

1. Configure MCP server in `.mcp.json`
2. Install plugin locally (`.claude-plugin/`)
3. Run `/mcp` to verify server appears
4. Test tool calls in commands
5. Check `claude --debug` logs for connection issues

### Validation Checklist

- [ ] MCP configuration is valid JSON
- [ ] Server URL is correct and accessible
- [ ] Required environment variables documented
- [ ] Tools appear in `/mcp` output
- [ ] Authentication works (OAuth or tokens)
- [ ] Tool calls succeed from commands
- [ ] Error cases handled gracefully

## Debugging

### Enable Debug Logging

```bash
claude --debug
```

Look for:
- MCP server connection attempts
- Tool discovery logs
- Authentication flows
- Tool call errors

### Common Issues

**Server not connecting:**
- Check URL is correct
- Verify server is running (stdio)
- Check network connectivity
- Review authentication configuration

**Tools not available:**
- Verify server connected successfully
- Check tool names match exactly
- Run `/mcp` to see available tools
- Restart Claude Code after config changes

**Authentication failing:**
- Clear cached auth tokens
- Re-authenticate
- Check token scopes and permissions
- Verify environment variables set

## Quick Reference

### MCP Server Types

| Type | Transport | Best For | Auth |
|------|-----------|----------|------|
| stdio | Process | Local tools, custom servers | Env vars |
| SSE | HTTP | Hosted services, cloud APIs | OAuth |
| HTTP | REST | API backends, token auth | Tokens |
| ws | WebSocket | Real-time, streaming | Tokens |

### Configuration Checklist

- [ ] Server type specified (stdio/SSE/HTTP/ws)
- [ ] Type-specific fields complete (command or url)
- [ ] Authentication configured
- [ ] Environment variables documented
- [ ] HTTPS/WSS used (not HTTP/WS)
- [ ] ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT} used for paths

### Best Practices

**DO:**
- ✅ Use ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT} for portable paths
- ✅ Document required environment variables
- ✅ Use secure connections (HTTPS/WSS)
- ✅ Pre-allow specific MCP tools in commands
- ✅ Test MCP integration before publishing
- ✅ Handle connection and tool errors gracefully

**DON'T:**
- ❌ Hardcode absolute paths
- ❌ Commit credentials to git
- ❌ Use HTTP instead of HTTPS
- ❌ Pre-allow all tools with wildcards
- ❌ Skip error handling
- ❌ Forget to document setup

## Additional Resources

### Reference Files

For detailed information, consult:

- **`references/server-types.md`** - Deep dive on each server type
- **`references/authentication.md`** - Authentication patterns and OAuth
- **`references/tool-usage.md`** - Using MCP tools in commands and agents

### Example Configurations

Working examples in `examples/`:

- **`stdio-server.json`** - Local stdio MCP server
- **`sse-server.json`** - Hosted SSE server with OAuth
- **`http-server.json`** - REST API with token auth

### External Resources

- **Official MCP Docs**: https://modelcontextprotocol.io/
- **Claude Code MCP Docs**: https://docs.claude.com/en/docs/claude-code/mcp
- **MCP SDK**: @modelcontextprotocol/sdk
- **Testing**: Use `claude --debug` and `/mcp` command

## Implementation Workflow

To add MCP integration to a plugin:

1. Choose MCP server type (stdio, SSE, HTTP, ws)
2. Create `.mcp.json` at plugin root with configuration
3. Use ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT} for all file references
4. Document required environment variables in README
5. Test locally with `/mcp` command
6. Pre-allow MCP tools in relevant commands
7. Handle authentication (OAuth or tokens)
8. Test error cases (connection failures, auth errors)
9. Document MCP integration in plugin README

Focus on stdio for custom/local servers, SSE for hosted services with OAuth.