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/integrate-mcp

Install and wire up an existing MCP server from Smithery.ai or a GitHub repo. Use when the user names a tool that already has a server — 'add the Notion MCP', 'install this Smithery server'. Not for building a new integration from nothing; use `create-mcp`. Not for adding one

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davekilleen-dex
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Install
$ npx -y skills add davekilleen/Dex --skill integrate-mcp --agent claude-code

How it fires

How this skill gets triggered: by you, by Claude, or both.

  • Fires itselfAuto-invocation. Claude auto-loads it when your prompt matches the work.Auto-invocation is when the right skill fires by itself at the right moment, driven by a FLOW.md router and a hook, instead of you invoking it by name. It is the difference between a skill being installed and a skill actually getting used.Read the full definition →
  • You can call itInvoke it directly when you want it.
  • Slash command/integrate-mcp

Context preview

The summary Claude sees to decide when to auto-load this skill.

Install and wire up an existing MCP server from Smithery.ai or a GitHub repo. Use when the user names a tool that already has a server — 'add the Notion MCP', 'install this Smithery server'. Not for building a new integration from nothing; use `create-mcp`. Not for adding one

SKILL.md

integrate-mcp.SKILL.md
name: integrate-mcp
description: "Install and wire up an existing MCP server from Smithery.ai or a GitHub repo. Use when the user names a tool that already has a server — 'add the Notion MCP', 'install this Smithery server'. Not for building a new integration from nothing; use `create-mcp`. Not for adding one already-known server safely; use `dex-add-mcp`."

Purpose

Help users discover and integrate pre-built MCP servers from the ecosystem, primarily from Smithery.ai marketplace.

When to Run

  • User types `/integrate-mcp`
  • Mentioned during `/getting-started` tour
  • User asks about connecting tools that have existing MCPs
  • User wants to browse available integrations

Entry Point

Say:

**Want to connect more tools to Dex?**

Some tools have a built-in, guided setup — no marketplace hunting needed:
• **Task apps:** Todoist (`/todoist-setup`), Things 3 (`/things-setup`), Trello (`/trello-setup`) — two-way task sync
• **Email & calendar:** Google Workspace (`/google-workspace-setup`), Microsoft Teams (`/ms-teams-setup`)
• **Meetings:** Granola (`/granola-setup`), Zoom (`/zoom-setup`)
• **Work tracking:** Jira + Confluence (`/atlassian-setup`)

For anything else, there's a marketplace of 100+ pre-built MCP servers at:
**[Smithery.ai](https://smithery.ai/servers)**

These are production-ready integrations for:
• **Dev tools:** GitHub, GitLab, Linear, Jira
• **Productivity:** Notion, Airtable, Google Sheets
• **Communication:** Slack, Discord, Email
• **Databases:** Postgres, MySQL, SQLite
• **Monitoring:** Sentry, Datadog
• **And many more...**

**How this works:**
1. Browse Smithery.ai for MCPs that match your tools
2. Copy the full URL of any MCP you want
3. Paste it here - I'll:
   - Fetch the code/documentation
   - Explain what it does
   - Help you configure it
   - Integrate into Dex
   - Update documentation

**Or** if you can't find what you need, run `/create-mcp` to build custom.

Ready to explore? [Browse Smithery.ai](https://smithery.ai/servers)

---

When User Pastes an MCP URL

Step 1: Fetch the MCP Source

Detect URL type:

  • **GitHub repo:** `https://github.com/user/repo`
  • **npm package:** `https://npmjs.com/package/name`
  • **Smithery.ai:** `https://smithery.ai/server/name`
  • **Direct source:** Any other URL

Fetch based on type:

if "github.com" in url:
    # Fetch README.md from repo
    readme_url = f"{url}/blob/main/README.md"
    content = web_fetch(readme_url)
elif "smithery.ai" in url:
    # Fetch from Smithery page
    content = web_fetch(url)
elif "npmjs.com" in url:
    # Fetch package info
    content = web_fetch(url)
else:
    # Try direct fetch
    content = web_fetch(url)

Step 2: Parse and Explain

Analyze the fetched content for:

  • MCP server name
  • What it does (capabilities)
  • Required environment variables
  • Installation method (npm, pip, docker, etc.)
  • Authentication requirements

Say:

**Got it!** This is the **[Server Name]** MCP.

**What it does:**
• [Capability 1] - [Description]
• [Capability 2] - [Description]
• [Capability 3] - [Description]

**What you'll need to set up:**
• [ENV_VAR_1]: [Explanation of what this is]
• [ENV_VAR_2]: [Explanation]

**Installation method:** [npm/pip/docker/manual]

**Authentication:** [API key / OAuth / Local / None]

Ready to integrate this?

Step 3: Guide Through Setup

For npm packages:

"This is an npm package. Here's how to install:

1. Navigate to your Dex directory
2. Install the package:

npm install -g [package-name]


3. I'll add it to your `.mcp.json` config

Want me to proceed?"

Then add to `.mcp.json`:

{
  "[server-name]": {
    "command": "npx",
    "args": ["-y", "[package-name]"],
    "env": {
      "VAR1": "value1"
    }
  }
}

For Python packages:

"This is a Python MCP. Here's how to install:

1. Install via pip:

pip install [package-name]


2. I'll add it to your `.mcp.json` config

Want me to proceed?"

For GitHub repos (manual):

"This is from a GitHub repo. Here's the setup:

1. Clone the repository:

git clone [repo-url] ~/dex-mcps/[server-name]


2. Install dependencies (if any)

3. I'll add it to your `.mcp.json` config

Want me to proceed?"

Step 4: Configure Environment Variables

For each required env var:

"This MCP needs the following environment variables:

**[ENV_VAR_1]:** [Description]
Where to get it: [Instructions]

**[ENV_VAR_2]:** [Description]
Where to get it: [Instructions]

You can either:
1. Set them now (I'll add to `.env` file)
2. Set them manually later in your shell config

What's your [ENV_VAR_1]?"

Collect values and add to `.env` file:

# [Server Name] MCP Configuration
ENVVAR_1=value1
ENV_VAR_2=value2

Step 5: Update MCP Config

Add to `System/.mcp.json`:

{
  "[server-name]": {
    "command": "[command]",
    "args": ["[args]"],
    "env": {
      "ENV_VAR_1": "${ENV_VAR_1}",
      "VAULT_PATH": "{{VAULT_PATH}}"
    }
  }
}

Step 6: Test Connection

Try calling a basic tool from the MCP:

"Testing connection..."

[Call a simple tool from the MCP, like list_resources or get_status]

[If success:]
"✅ Connection works! The [Server Name] MCP is live.

Test it: '[Example natural language query]'

See? Real data from [Tool]."

[If failure:]
"⚠️ Connection failed. Common issues:
• Environment variables not set correctly
• Authentication hasn't been completed
• MCP server not installed properly

Want help debugging this?"

Step 7: Update Documentation

Add to `CLAUDE.md`:

### [Server Name] Integration

**MCP Server:** [server-name]
**Purpose:** [what it does]

**Available via this MCP:**
- [Capability 1]
- [Capability 2]

**Configuration:**
- `ENV_VAR_1`: [description]

**Usage:**
- "[Natural language example 1]"
- "[Natural language example 2]"

Add to `System/usage_log.md` if not present:

- [ ] Connected [Tool] via MCP

---

##

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