mcp-config

name	mcp-config
description	Activate when setting up MCP servers, resolving MCP tool availability, or configuring fallbacks for MCP-dependent features. Configures and troubleshoots MCP (Model Context Protocol) integrations.
category	process
scope	system-management
subcategory	configuration
tags	["mcp","configuration","integration","fallback"]
version	10.2.14
author	Karsten Samaschke
contact-email	[e-mail]
website	https://vanillacore.net

MCP Configuration Skill

Configure and resolve MCP (Model Context Protocol) tool integrations.

Core Rule for GitHub Tracking

For GitHub planning/tracking operations, prefer gh CLI first for token efficiency.

Use GitHub MCP (mcp__github__*) only when:

• gh CLI is unavailable or not authenticated
• an MCP-only workflow is explicitly required
• brokered auth/routing through mcp-proxy is required

When to Use

• Setting up MCP servers
• Resolving MCP tool availability
• Configuring fallbacks for MCP features
• Troubleshooting MCP connectivity

Tracking Config Contract

Read issue-tracking provider settings in this order:

1. .agent/tracking.config.json (project)
2. ${ICA_HOME}/tracking.config.json (global)
3. $HOME/.codex/tracking.config.json or $HOME/.claude/tracking.config.json (fallback)

Recommended minimal schema:

{
  "issue_tracking": {
    "provider": "github",
    "enabled": true,
    "repo": "owner/repo",
    "transport": "gh-cli-preferred",
    "fallback": "file-based"
  }
}

Supported providers:

• github
• linear (future)
• jira (future)
• file-based

MCP Integration Points

Memory Integration

{
  "memory": {
    "provider": "mcp__memory",
    "enabled": false,
    "fallback": "file-based"
  }
}

Issue Tracking

{
  "issue_tracking": {
    "provider": "github",
    "enabled": false,
    "transport": "gh-cli-preferred",
    "fallback": "file-based"
  }
}

Documentation

{
  "documentation": {
    "provider": "file-based",
    "enabled": true
  }
}

Available MCP Tools

Context7

• mcp__Context7__resolve-library-id - Find library documentation
• mcp__Context7__query-docs - Query library documentation

GitHub

• mcp__github__* - GitHub API operations

MCP Proxy

• proxy.list_servers - Discover configured upstreams
• proxy.list_tools - Enumerate tools for a server
• proxy.call - Call upstream tool with centralized auth

Brave Search

• mcp__brave-search__brave_web_search - Web search
• mcp__brave-search__brave_local_search - Local search

Memory

• mcp__memory__* - Knowledge graph operations

Playwright

• mcp__playwright__* - Browser automation

Sequential Thinking

• mcp__sequential-thinking__sequentialthinking - Structured analysis

Fallback Configuration

When MCP tools are unavailable:

1. Check if fallback is configured
2. Use fallback provider
3. Log degraded capability
4. Continue with reduced functionality

MCP Resolution Process

1. Check availability - Is the MCP server running?
2. Verify configuration - Are credentials valid?
3. Test connectivity - Can we reach the service?
4. Prefer gh for GitHub - If provider is github, check gh auth status
5. Apply fallback - Use alternative if unavailable

GitHub-specific order:

1. Try gh CLI path (gh auth status, then gh issue ..., gh api ...)
2. If unavailable, try mcp__github__* directly
3. If direct MCP is constrained, route via mcp-proxy (proxy.call)
4. If all fail, fallback to file-based

Configuration Location

MCP servers are configured for Claude Code in ~/.claude.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "server-name": {
      "command": "...",
      "args": ["..."]
    }
  }
}

Proxy upstream definitions:

• Project: .mcp.json
• User/global: ${ICA_HOME}/mcp-servers.json

Troubleshooting

• Server not found: Check ~/.claude.json mcpServers
• Connection failed: Verify server is running
• Auth error: Check credentials/tokens
• Timeout: Increase timeout or check network
• GitHub mode mismatch: confirm transport and gh auth status