mcp-to-cli

name	mcp-to-cli
description	Generate standalone CLIs or make one-off tool calls from MCP servers using mcporter. Use when the user wants to convert an MCP into a compiled CLI, inspect available MCP tools, import MCP definitions from Claude Code/Cursor/Codex, authenticate remote HTTP MCPs, or call MCP tools without registering the server in Claude Code.
version	1.0.0
category	automation
updated	"2026-03-18T00:00:00.000Z"

MCP to CLI

Purpose

• Use mcporter to either:
  • call an MCP tool outside Claude Code, or
  • generate a reusable compiled CLI with --runtime bun --compile.
• Prefer this skill when the user wants MCP → CLI, not a new Claude Code skill.
• This is especially useful when the user does not want to register the MCP in Claude Code because MCP tool definitions consume context.

Inputs to Collect

• MCP source type: claude, cursor, codex, stdio command, or HTTP MCP URL
• Output mode: one-off call or reusable CLI
• Server name / import filter
• Whether remote auth is required
• Target CLI name and output path
• Optional validation tool name and arguments

Prerequisites

• node / npx
• bun if the output should be a compiled standalone binary
• A safe place for generated artifacts, typically config/mcporter.json and bin/<name>

Decision Table

Situation	Command path
Inspect an MCP before doing anything else	npx -y mcporter list ...
One-off use only	npx -y mcporter call ...
Repeated use / reusable CLI	npx -y mcporter generate-cli ... --runtime bun --compile ...
MCP already defined in Claude Code / Cursor / Codex	npx -y mcporter config import <source> --copy --filter <server>
MCP known only by stdio command	npx -y mcporter generate-cli --command "<stdio command>" ...
MCP exposed as streamable HTTP	npx -y mcporter generate-cli --command https://.../mcp ...
Remote MCP requires OAuth / auth bootstrap	npx -y mcporter auth <server-or-url> before list, call, or generate-cli

Process Steps

1. Identify the source and desired output mode

   • Decide whether the MCP comes from editor config, a raw stdio command, or an HTTP endpoint.
   • Decide whether the user wants:
     • a one-off tool call, or
     • a reusable compiled CLI.

2. Import or define the MCP source

   • Import from editor-managed config:

   npx -y mcporter config import claude --copy --filter <server>
   npx -y mcporter config import cursor --copy --filter <server>
   npx -y mcporter config import codex --copy --filter <server>
   

   • These imports write local config to config/mcporter.json.
   • If the MCP is not already registered, use the source directly:

   # stdio MCP
   npx -y mcporter generate-cli --command "<stdio command>" --runtime bun --compile ./bin/<name>
   
   # HTTP MCP
   npx -y mcporter generate-cli --command https://example.com/mcp --runtime bun --compile ./bin/<name>
   

3. Inspect available tools

   # Imported / named MCP
   npx -y mcporter list <server> --config ./config/mcporter.json
   
   # Raw stdio MCP
   npx -y mcporter list --stdio "<stdio command>"
   
   # Raw HTTP MCP
   npx -y mcporter list https://example.com/mcp
   

4. Authenticate if needed

   • For remote MCPs that require OAuth or auth bootstrap:

   npx -y mcporter auth https://example.com/mcp
   npx -y mcporter auth <server>
   

   • Complete auth before call or generate-cli.

5. Optionally validate with a one-off call

   # Imported / named MCP
   npx -y mcporter call <server>.<tool> --config ./config/mcporter.json key=value
   
   # Raw stdio MCP
   npx -y mcporter call --stdio "<stdio command>" <tool> key=value
   
   # Raw HTTP MCP
   npx -y mcporter call --http-url https://example.com/mcp <tool> key=value
   

   • Use this when the user wants proof that the tool works before generating a binary.

6. Generate the standalone CLI

   # Imported / named MCP
   npx -y mcporter generate-cli \
     --server <server> \
     --config ./config/mcporter.json \
     --runtime bun \
     --compile ./bin/<name>
   
   # Raw stdio or HTTP MCP
   npx -y mcporter generate-cli \
     --command "<stdio command or https://example.com/mcp>" \
     --runtime bun \
     --compile ./bin/<name>
   

   • Prefer --runtime bun --compile for a true standalone executable.

7. Report artifacts and usage

   • Return:
     • chosen source type,
     • artifact paths such as config/mcporter.json and bin/<name>,
     • one or two example invocations,
     • any auth prerequisite,
     • a warning about embedded secrets.

Recommended File Layout

config/
  mcporter.json
bin/
  <name>

Security / Guardrails

• Generated configs, TypeScript, and compiled binaries may embed headers, tokens, command args, or other secrets.
• Prefer environment variables in the source config or launch command instead of hardcoding secrets.
• Do not commit generated artifacts or config files that contain credentials.
• If importing from Claude Code / Cursor / Codex, review the copied definition before sharing or publishing it.
• If auth is required, confirm whether the user wants a local interactive login flow before proceeding.

Examples

1. Import from Claude Code config and generate a CLI

npx -y mcporter config import claude --copy --filter mcp-atlassian
npx -y mcporter list mcp-atlassian --config ./config/mcporter.json
npx -y mcporter generate-cli \
  --server mcp-atlassian \
  --config ./config/mcporter.json \
  --runtime bun \
  --compile ./bin/mcp-atlassian
./bin/mcp-atlassian --help

2. One-off call without generating a CLI

npx -y mcporter call mcp-atlassian.jira_search \
  --config ./config/mcporter.json \
  jql='text ~ "automation"' \
  limit=10

3. Generate directly from a stdio command

npx -y mcporter list --stdio "npx -y chrome-devtools-mcp@latest"
npx -y mcporter generate-cli \
  --command "npx -y chrome-devtools-mcp@latest" \
  --runtime bun \
  --compile ./bin/chrome-devtools
./bin/chrome-devtools --help

4. Generate directly from a streamable HTTP MCP

npx -y mcporter list https://mcp.example.com/mcp
npx -y mcporter generate-cli \
  --command https://mcp.example.com/mcp \
  --runtime bun \
  --compile ./bin/example-mcp
./bin/example-mcp --help

5. Authenticate a remote MCP before calling or generating

npx -y mcporter auth https://mcp.example.com/mcp
npx -y mcporter call --http-url https://mcp.example.com/mcp some_tool argA=value
npx -y mcporter generate-cli \
  --command https://mcp.example.com/mcp \
  --runtime bun \
  --compile ./bin/my-mcp

Quality Gates

• mcporter list resolves the expected tools for the chosen source.
• If a one-off validation call was requested, mcporter call succeeds before generation.
• Generated binary responds to ./bin/<name> --help.
• Final response includes artifact path(s), example usage, and an explicit secret-handling warning.
• If the user only wants a one-off call, skip CLI generation and state that no build artifact was created.