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MCP Integration for Claude Code Plugins

A reference skill for wiring MCP servers (stdio, SSE, HTTP, WebSocket) into Claude Code plugins, covering config, auth, and debugging.

Dev & CodingIntermediate52247AI score 9/10Last updated: Jul 23, 2026

What it does

  • Explains the two ways to bundle MCP servers with a plugin: a dedicated .mcp.json at plugin root or an inline mcpServers block in plugin.json.
  • Gives ready-to-copy JSON for all four transports — stdio (local child process), SSE (hosted with OAuth), HTTP (bearer token), and WebSocket (real-time streaming).
  • Covers environment-variable expansion with ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}, the mcp__plugin_<plugin>_<server>__<tool> naming scheme, and how to pre-allow tools in command frontmatter.
  • Adds security guardrails (HTTPS/WSS only, no hardcoded tokens, avoid wildcard tool allowlists) plus a debugging playbook using claude --debug and the /mcp command.

Who it's for

  • Developers building and shipping Claude Code plugins.
  • Teams exposing internal APIs or databases as MCP tools.
  • Anyone connecting hosted MCP endpoints such as Asana or GitHub via OAuth.
  • Engineers troubleshooting servers that never show up in /mcp.

Examples

  1. "Bundle a stdio MCP server that queries our Postgres DB" → generates .mcp.json with ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT} paths and a DB_URL env var.
  2. "Connect Asana over SSE and add a create-task command" → SSE config plus a command that pre-allows only the two tools it needs.
  3. "My MCP tools aren't showing up" → walks the lifecycle (load → parse → connect → discover) using /mcp and debug logs.

· · · Install guide · · ·

Try it now, no install

Paste this into Claude to use the skill without installing anything.

Read the instructions in this file and follow them to help me:
https://raw.githubusercontent.com/tzachbon/smart-ralph/HEAD/.agents/skills/MCP Integration/SKILL.md

What I want: (describe your task here)

If Claude can't open the link, open it yourself and paste the contents instead.

If it works for you, download the ZIP below and install it. Then it runs on its own — no pasting each time.

Install in the Claude app (no terminal)
  1. Download the ZIP with the button below.
  2. In Claude, open Settings → Capabilities and turn on 'Code execution and file creation'. (one time)
  3. Go to Customize → Skills → + → 'Upload a skill' and upload the ZIP.
Download ZIP
Install in Claude Code

Let Claude do it — paste this into Claude Code

Install the skill I found on Claude Skill Mart.
Copy the .agents/skills/MCP Integration folder from the GitHub repo tzachbon/smart-ralph into my ~/.claude/skills/mcp-integration/.
When it's done, tell me in one line what this skill can do.

Install with a command instead

git clone https://github.com/tzachbon/smart-ralph.git /tmp/smart-ralph && mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills && cp -r "/tmp/smart-ralph/.agents/skills/MCP Integration" ~/.claude/skills/mcp-integration

This is a third-party skill. Check the source repository before installing.

  1. Open a terminal.
  2. Clone the repo: git clone https://github.com/tzachbon/smart-ralph.git /tmp/smart-ralph
  3. Create the skills directory: mkdir -p ~/.claude/skills
  4. Copy the skill: cp -r "/tmp/smart-ralph/.agents/skills/MCP Integration" ~/.claude/skills/mcp-integration
  5. Verify the references/ and examples/ folders came along: ls ~/.claude/skills/mcp-integration
  6. Restart Claude Code and try a prompt like "add an MCP server to my plugin" to confirm the skill triggers.
  7. For connection problems, run claude --debug and use the /mcp command to inspect registered servers.