MCP Integration
Bootspring uses the Model Context Protocol (MCP) to communicate with AI assistants. This open standard enables secure, standardized tool access across different AI platforms.
What is MCP?
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open protocol developed by Anthropic that enables AI assistants to securely access external tools and data sources.
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ MCP Architecture │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ ┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐ ┌─────────────┐ │
│ │ AI │ MCP │ MCP │ Tools │ Bootspring │ │
│ │ Assistant │◄──────►│ Server │◄──────►│ Features │ │
│ │ (Claude) │Protocol │ (Bootspring)│ │ │ │
│ └─────────────┘ └─────────────┘ └─────────────┘ │
│ │
│ The AI assistant uses MCP to access Bootspring tools without │
│ direct integration - the protocol handles all communication. │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Why MCP?
| Benefit | Description |
|---|---|
| Standardized | Works with any MCP-compatible AI assistant |
| Secure | Controlled capability exposure |
| Extensible | Easy to add new tools |
| Portable | Works across platforms (Claude, Cursor, etc.) |
Bootspring MCP Server
Bootspring runs as an MCP server, exposing 19 tools for AI assistants:
Core Tools
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
bootspring_assist | General development assistance |
bootspring_context | Project context access |
bootspring_agent | Specialized agent invocation |
bootspring_skill | Code pattern generation |
bootspring_quality | Quality gate execution |
Generation Tools
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
bootspring_generate | Context file generation |
bootspring_seed | Project seeding/scaffolding |
bootspring_prd | PRD document generation |
bootspring_mvp | MVP planning |
bootspring_content | Content generation |
Workflow Tools
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
bootspring_orchestrator | Workflow management |
bootspring_loop | Autonomous execution |
bootspring_todo | Task tracking |
bootspring_dashboard | Dashboard integration |
Configuration Tools
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
bootspring_plugin | Plugin management |
bootspring_capabilities | Feature discovery |
bootspring_telemetry | Usage analytics |
bootspring_memory | Persistent memory |
bootspring_autopilot | Autopilot mode |
Setting Up MCP
Configuration File
Create .mcp.json in your project root:
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Environment Variables
Set your API key:
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Verifying Connection
Test the MCP connection:
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Expected output:
✓ MCP server running
✓ 19 tools registered
✓ Authentication valid
✓ Ready for connections
How Tools Work
Tool Invocation Flow
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Tool Invocation Flow │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ 1. User Request │
│ "Help me add authentication" │
│ │ │
│ ▼ │
│ 2. AI Determines Tool │
│ → bootspring_agent with auth-expert │
│ │ │
│ ▼ │
│ 3. MCP Protocol │
│ AI ──► MCP Server ──► Bootspring │
│ │ │
│ ▼ │
│ 4. Tool Execution │
│ Bootspring processes request │
│ │ │
│ ▼ │
│ 5. Response │
│ Bootspring ──► MCP Server ──► AI ──► User │
│ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
Tool Schema
Each tool has a defined schema:
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Tool Responses
Tools return structured responses:
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Compatible Platforms
Claude Desktop
Native MCP support:
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Claude Code (CLI)
Automatic detection via .mcp.json:
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Cursor IDE
Configure in settings:
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VS Code (Copilot Chat)
Coming soon with MCP support in Copilot.
Security Model
Capability Exposure
Bootspring only exposes safe operations:
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Security Model │
├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
│ │
│ Exposed (Safe) │ Not Exposed (Protected) │
│ ───────────────────── │ ──────────────────────── │
│ • Read project context │ • Direct file system access │
│ • Generate code │ • Shell command execution │
│ • Run quality checks │ • Network requests │
│ • Access documentation │ • Environment variables │
│ • Invoke agents │ • Sensitive credentials │
│ │ │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
API Key Scoping
API keys have scoped permissions:
| Key Type | Permissions |
|---|---|
| Development | Full access in local environment |
| CI/CD | Quality checks only |
| Read-only | Context and documentation |
Request Validation
All tool requests are validated:
- Schema validation: Input matches expected format
- Permission check: API key has required access
- Rate limiting: Prevents abuse
- Audit logging: All requests logged
Advanced Configuration
Custom Tool Parameters
Override default tool behavior:
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Tool Filtering
Enable/disable specific tools:
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Custom Server Port
Run on a specific port:
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Debugging
Enable Debug Logging
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View Tool Calls
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Output:
[MCP] Tool call: bootspring_agent
[MCP] Input: { agent: "frontend-expert", task: "..." }
[MCP] Duration: 1234ms
[MCP] Output: { success: true, data: {...} }
Test Individual Tools
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Troubleshooting
Connection Issues
Symptom: AI assistant can't connect to Bootspring
Solutions:
- Verify
.mcp.jsonexists and is valid JSON - Check
BOOTSPRING_API_KEYis set - Run
bootspring mcp --test - Restart the AI assistant
Tool Not Found
Symptom: "Tool bootspring_xyz not found"
Solutions:
- Check tool name spelling
- Verify tool is enabled in config
- Check tier access (some tools require Pro/Team)
Slow Responses
Symptom: Tools take a long time to respond
Solutions:
- Check network connectivity
- Reduce context size
- Use more specific queries
- Check server status at status.bootspring.com
Authentication Errors
Symptom: "Invalid API key" errors
Solutions:
- Verify API key is correct
- Check key hasn't expired
- Ensure key has required permissions
- Regenerate key in dashboard
Protocol Details
Message Format
MCP uses JSON-RPC 2.0:
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Transport
Bootspring MCP supports:
- stdio: Default for local development
- HTTP: For remote/CI environments
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Related
- MCP Tools Reference - Full tool documentation
- Configuration - Setup guide
- Troubleshooting - Common issues
- MCP Specification - Protocol details