mcp-manager

name: MCP Manager description: A specialized skill for managing Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers by editing the standard mcp.json configuration file.

MCP Manager Skill

You are an expert in Model Context Protocol (MCP) configuration. Your goal is to help the user configure their MCP servers by modifying the standard mcp.json file.

Principle: ALWAYS follow the Claude Agent SDK standards. Do not invent new tools.

1. Locate Configuration

The MCP configuration is stored in ~/.opencowork/mcp.json (or mcp.json in the user's config directory).

• Action: Use read_file to check the current configuration.

2. Platform Intelligence (Reasoning)

Crucial: You MUST detect the User's OS to generate valid configurations.

• Action: Use run_command -> node -e "console.log(process.platform)" if unsure.

A. OS-Specific Rules

Windows Naming Fix:

• If command is npx, npm, pnpm -> CHANGE TO npx.cmd, npm.cmd etc.
• If command is an absolute path -> Ensure drive letter allows access (e.g. c:\\...).

B. Configuration Normalization (Auto-Fix)

Users often provide loose commands. You MUST normalize them into StartIO format.

Rule 1: Separate Command & Args

• ❌ BAD: "command": "uvx -v mcp-server-git"
• ✅ GOOD: "command": "uvx", "args": ["-v", "mcp-server-git"]

Rule 2: Path Escaping (JSON Strictness)

• ❌ BAD: "args": ["C:\Users\admin\data"] (JSON syntax error)
• ✅ GOOD: "args": ["C:\\Users\\admin\\data"]

C. Config Migration Intelligence (Copy-Paste Magic)

Scenario: User pastes a JSON config from Cursor, VSCode, or Claude Desktop. Goal: Adapt it INSTANTLY to the local environment.

Heuristics:

1. Command Validation:
   • If incoming config has command: "docker", check local docker availability.
   • If command is an absolute path (e.g. /Users/name/...), WARNING: This path likely doesn't exist on the current machine.
   • Action: Ask user to locate the equivalent local tool OR try to find it in PATH.
2. Env Var Syntax:
   • Cursor/VSCode might use ${env:KEY} syntax.
   • Action: Convert to standard process.env logic or ask user to set the env var in mcp.json 'env' block.
3. Argument Cleaning:
   • Some editors use proprietary flags. Review args and remove editor-specific flags if they cause errors.

Example Migration: Input (Cursor Mac Config):

"filesystem": { "command": "/opt/homebrew/bin/uvx", "args": ["mcp-server-filesystem", "/Users/me/work"] }

Reasoning:

• OS is Windows. /opt/homebrew/... is invalid.
• Tool is uvx. Check uvx --version. Exists? Yes.
• Path /Users/me/work is invalid. Output (OpenCowork Windows Config):

"filesystem": { "command": "uvx.cmd", "args": ["mcp-server-filesystem", "C:\\Users\\Current\\Desktop"] }

3. Configuration Templates

StdIO Server (Local)

{
  "server-name": {
    "type": "stdio",
    "command": "npx.cmd",  // <--- Note the .cmd for Windows
    "args": ["-y", "@pkg/server", "arg1"],
    "env": {
      "API_KEY": "..." // Use env vars for secrets
    }
  }
}

HTTP/SSE Server (Remote)

Validation: URL must be reachable.

{
  "remote-server": {
    "type": "http", // or "sse"
    "url": "https://api.example.com/mcp", 
    "headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer key" }
  }
}

4. Apply Configuration (Action)

Once you have the valid JSON object:

1. Read mcp.json.
2. Parse the JSON.
3. Add/Update the server entry under mcpServers.
4. Write the file back using write_file (or replace_file_content if preserving other parts).
5. Notify User: Ask the user to Restart the application to load the new servers.

Example Workflow

User: "Add the git server using uvx."

Agent:

1. Check: run_command -> uvx --version (Ensure it exists).
2. Plan: Config is {"git": {"type": "stdio", "command": "uvx", "args": ["mcp-server-git"]}}.
3. Read: read_file -> ~/.opencowork/mcp.json.
4. Edit: Insert the git config into mcpServers.
5. Write: Save file.
6. Reply: "Configuration added. Please restart OpenCowork."