---
name: add-mcp
description: Add an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server to NanoClaw so external agents can chat with the assistant via Streamable HTTP. Includes SSH tunnel setup for secure access.
---

# Add MCP Server

This skill adds an MCP server to NanoClaw, allowing external agents (Claude Code, pi.dev, custom clients) to have a dialog with the assistant.

## Phase 1: Pre-flight

### Check if already applied

Check if `src/mcp-server.ts` exists. If it does, skip to Phase 3 (Setup). The code changes are already in place.

## Phase 2: Apply Code Changes

### Install dependencies

```bash
npm install @modelcontextprotocol/sdk zod
```

### Copy source file

Copy `src/mcp-server.ts` from the skill directory into the project:

```bash
cp ${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/src/mcp-server.ts src/mcp-server.ts
```

### Modify channel barrel file

Read the intent file at `${CLAUDE_SKILL_DIR}/modify/src/channels/index.ts.intent.md`, then apply it to `src/channels/index.ts`.

Add this import line (before or after existing channel imports):

```typescript
// mcp
import '../mcp-server.js';
```

### Modify config.ts

Add `'MCP_API_KEY'` and `'MCP_PORT'` to the `readEnvFile` array in `src/config.ts`:

```typescript
const envConfig = readEnvFile([
  // ... existing keys ...
  'MCP_API_KEY',
  'MCP_PORT',
]);
```

Add these exports (before or after existing config exports):

```typescript
// MCP server for external agent access
export const MCP_API_KEY =
  process.env.MCP_API_KEY || envConfig.MCP_API_KEY || '';
export const MCP_PORT = parseInt(
  process.env.MCP_PORT || envConfig.MCP_PORT || '3002',
  10,
);
```

### Modify index.ts

Add imports at the top:

```typescript
import { startMcpServer } from './mcp-server.js';
import { MCP_API_KEY, MCP_PORT } from './config.js';
```

Note: `MCP_API_KEY` and `MCP_PORT` should be added to the existing config import, not a separate one.

In the `main()` function, after `startCredentialProxy(...)`, add:

```typescript
// Start external MCP server if API key is configured
let mcpServer: ReturnType<typeof startMcpServer> | undefined;
if (MCP_API_KEY) {
  mcpServer = startMcpServer(MCP_PORT, MCP_API_KEY, {
    registeredGroups: () => registeredGroups,
  });
}
```

In the `shutdown()` function, add before `queue.shutdown(...)`:

```typescript
(await mcpServer)?.close();
```

### Validate

```bash
npm run build
```

Build must succeed before proceeding.

## Phase 3: Setup

### Generate API Key

```bash
openssl rand -base64 32
```

### Configure environment

Add to `.env`:

```
MCP_API_KEY=<generated-key>
MCP_PORT=3002
```

### Rebuild and restart

```bash
npm run build
```

Then restart the service:

```bash
# Linux (systemd)
sudo systemctl restart nanoclaw

# macOS (launchd)
launchctl kickstart -k gui/$(id -u)/com.nanoclaw
```

### Verify

```bash
# Check MCP server is listening
ss -tlnp | grep 3002   # Linux
lsof -i :3002          # macOS

# Check logs
grep "MCP server listening" logs/nanoclaw.log | tail -1
grep "MCP channel connected" logs/nanoclaw.log | tail -1
```

Both log lines should be present.

### Test

```bash
export MCP_API_KEY="<your-key>"

curl -s -X POST http://localhost:3002/mcp \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -H "Accept: application/json, text/event-stream" \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $MCP_API_KEY" \
  -d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"tools/list","params":{}}'
```

Should return `chat` and `list_groups` tools.

## Connecting External Agents

The MCP server binds to `127.0.0.1` only (not publicly accessible). External clients connect via SSH tunnel:

```bash
ssh -L 3002:localhost:3002 user@your-server -N
```

Then configure the MCP client:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "nanoclaw": {
      "type": "streamable-http",
      "url": "http://localhost:3002/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer <MCP_API_KEY>"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

See the [pi.dev extension](../index.ts) in this repo for a working client implementation.

## Architecture

- Registers as a NanoClaw **Channel** (like Telegram or WhatsApp)
- Uses `mcp:` JID namespace — isolated from all other channels
- Same container, workspace, tools, and CLAUDE.md as the target group
- Container reuse via GroupQueue (cold start ~2-3 min, warm ~5-10s)
- Responses debounced (3s) for multi-part agent output
- Bearer token auth + SSH tunnel for security

## Troubleshooting

**MCP server not starting:** Check `MCP_API_KEY` is set in `.env` and NanoClaw was rebuilt.

**401 Unauthorized:** Bearer token doesn't match `MCP_API_KEY`.

**Connection refused:** SSH tunnel not running, or NanoClaw not running.

**Slow first response:** Expected — cold start boots a container (~2-3 min). Subsequent calls reuse it.

**"(no response)":** Container timed out or crashed. Check `docker logs <container-name>`.