Claude MCP Server Ecosystem

# SESSION CONTEXT - May 26, 2025 **Session Goal**: Prove Claude Code works with multiple MCP servers end-to-end **Status**: Setup complete, functional testing required **Key Issue Discovered**: Global vs Local config problem (documented and solved) --- ## 🎯 **SESSION SUMMARY** ### **What We Accomplished:** 1. **Identified Root Cause**: Current Claude Code session lacks MCP servers despite 10 being configured globally 2. **Solved Recurring Issue**: Documented the global vs local config problem that keeps causing delays 3. **Created Test Framework**: Comprehensive end-to-end testing methodology 4. **Updated Documentation**: Clear entry points and action steps for next sessions ### **Key Discovery**: **Global config exists with 10 MCP servers, but current session started without MCP support** --- ## 🔍 **TECHNICAL FINDINGS** ### **Global Configuration Verified:** - **Location**: `~/.claude/claude_code_config.json` - **Servers**: 10 MCP servers properly configured - **Transport**: All use STDIO (required by Claude Code) - **Paths**: Absolute paths used (directory-independent) ### **Current Session Status:** - **MCP Tools Available**: None (`mcp__` tools return "not available") - **Cause**: Session started without `--mcp-config` flag - **Solution**: Exit and restart with global config ### **Previous Test Results:** - **Server Startup**: All servers start successfully (verified via logs) - **STDIO Communication**: All servers log "running on stdio" - **Connection Capacity**: Previous tests showed 10+ servers can connect simultaneously --- ## 🚨 **CRITICAL INSIGHTS DOCUMENTED** ### **Issue #1: Global vs Local Config** - **Problem**: Repeatedly creating local configs that get lost when changing directories - **Root Cause**: Local configs only work from specific directories - **Solution**: Always use global config `~/.claude/claude_code_config.json` - **Documentation**: Created comprehensive guides to prevent this recurring issue ### **Issue #2: STDIO Transport Requirement** - **Problem**: HTTP servers don't work with Claude Code - **Root Cause**: Claude Code only supports STDIO communication - **Solution**: All servers must use STDIO transport - **Status**: All 10 servers converted to STDIO --- ## 📋 **IMMEDIATE NEXT SESSION ACTIONS** ### **Step 1: Verify Setup (30 seconds)** ```bash # Confirm global config has 10 servers: cat ~/.claude/claude_code_config.json | grep -c '"command"' # Expected: 10 ``` ### **Step 2: Start Proper Claude Code Session** ```bash # Exit current session and restart with MCP: claude --mcp-config ~/.claude/claude_code_config.json ``` ### **Step 3: Functional Testing (10 minutes)** Execute these exact tests in the new session: **Memory Test:** - "Store in memory: key='session_test' value='May 26 functional test'" - "Retrieve memory with key 'session_test'" **Sequential Thinking Test:** - "Use sequential thinking to analyze: Steps to deploy a Node.js application" **Data Pipeline Test:** - "Use data pipeline tools to show available operations" **Continue for all 10 servers...** ### **Step 4: Document Results** - Record which servers respond functionally - Note any "tool not found" errors - Verify file creation and memory operations --- ## 🎯 **EXPECTED OUTCOMES** ### **Success Scenario:** - All 10 MCP servers respond to functional requests - Claude mentions specific `mcp__[server]__[tool]` names - Real operations occur (file creation, memory storage, etc.) - **Proves**: Claude Code has no MCP server connection limits ### **Failure Scenarios:** - "Tool not found" errors → Session not started with global config - Generic responses → MCP servers not connecting properly - Some servers work, others don't → Individual server issues --- ## 📊 **CURRENT PROJECT METRICS** ### **Setup Completion**: 90% - ✅ Global config created - ✅ 10 servers configured with STDIO - ✅ Documentation comprehensive - ⏳ Functional testing pending ### **Issue Resolution**: 100% - ✅ Global vs local config documented - ✅ STDIO requirement documented - ✅ Quick reference guides created ### **Knowledge Transfer**: 85% - ✅ Clear entry point (START_HERE.md) - ✅ Session context documented - ✅ Immediate actions specified - ⏳ Final verification needed --- ## 💡 **LESSONS LEARNED** ### **Documentation Must Include:** 1. **Current Status**: Exactly where we are now 2. **Immediate Actions**: What to do in next 5 minutes 3. **Verification Steps**: How to confirm success 4. **Expected Results**: What success looks like 5. **Failure Handling**: What to do if it doesn't work ### **Technical Insights:** 1. **Global Config Essential**: Local configs cause repeated delays 2. **STDIO Required**: HTTP servers waste time - convert immediately 3. **Verification Critical**: Assume nothing works until proven 4. **Session Context Matters**: Not all Claude Code sessions have MCP support --- ## 🚀 **CONFIDENCE ASSESSMENT** ### **Technical Setup**: 90% - All components configured correctly - Logs confirm servers start properly - Global config structure verified ### **Functional Verification**: 0% - No actual MCP tool usage confirmed - Current session lacks MCP support - Next session will provide proof ### **Documentation Quality**: 85% - Clear entry points created - Critical issues well documented - Action steps specific and testable --- ## 📝 **END OF SESSION NOTES** **Time Investment**: ~2 hours documenting and solving recurring issues **Value**: Prevented future sessions from repeating global vs local config mistakes **Next Session Efficiency**: Should achieve functional proof within 15 minutes **Key Files Created:** - `START_HERE.md` - Main entry point - `MCP_GLOBAL_CONFIG_CRITICAL.md` - Solves recurring issue - `SESSION_CONTEXT_MAY_26_2025.md` - This context document **Ready For**: Immediate functional testing in properly configured Claude Code session --- **NEXT SESSION: Start with `START_HERE.md` and execute functional testing plan**