MCPs & Skills

MCPs

A Model Context Protocol server is a sidecar process or HTTP endpoint exposing tools to Claude. Scopes: user (your ~/.claude.json), plugin (bundled with a plugin), claude.ai (web-app connectors). Env values are never stored in this snapshot — keys only.

Plugins

A plugin is a package from a marketplace (Anthropic's official catalog or Vercel's). Each plugin may bundle: an MCP server, one or more skills, or both. Managed via claude plugin install / claude plugin list.

Skills

Skills are markdown prompt-packs that Claude Code invokes on demand. Type /skill-name in any message. Built-in skills ship with Claude Code; plugin skills are installed with their parent plugin. Skills are NOT the same as MCP tools — they're prompt templates, not API calls.

Add an MCP server

claude mcp add <name> --scope user -- <cmd>

stdio server (npx, bun, etc.)

claude mcp add <name> -e KEY=val -- <cmd>

with env var

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

HTTP/SSE endpoint

claude mcp remove <name>

uninstall

Install a plugin

claude plugin install <name>

from official catalog

claude plugin list

see installed plugins

claude plugin disable <name>

turn off without removing

Refresh

In a Claude Code session, ask: "refresh the MCPs dashboard". Claude runs:

pwsh ~/.claude/scripts/refresh-mcps-dashboard.ps1

Regenerate & push (~30s Vercel redeploy)

... -NoPush

Local-only refresh