# Installation Guide - Optimization MCP for Claude
**Version**: 2.5.0
**Official Anthropic MCP Documentation**: https://modelcontextprotocol.io/quickstart
---
## Prerequisites
- **Python 3.10+** (tested with Python 3.13.5)
- **Claude Desktop** installed
- **Basic command line** familiarity
---
## Installation Steps
### 1. Install Dependencies
```bash
cd /path/to/optimization-mcp
pip install -r requirements.txt
```
**Required packages:**
- mcp >= 0.9.0
- pulp >= 2.7.0
- scipy >= 1.16.0
- numpy >= 2.3.0
- cvxpy >= 1.4.0
- networkx >= 3.0
- pytest >= 7.0.0 (for testing)
### 2. Verify Installation
```bash
# Test the server runs
python3 server.py
# Run tests (optional but recommended)
pytest tests/ -v
```
Expected: 51/51 tests passing
### 3. Configure Claude Desktop
**CRITICAL**: Use **absolute paths** (not relative paths or `~`)
#### Find Your Python Path
```bash
# macOS/Linux
which python3
# Example output: /opt/homebrew/Caskroom/miniconda/base/bin/python3
```
#### Edit Configuration File
**macOS**: `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`
**Windows**: `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json`
Create or edit the file:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"optimization-mcp": {
"command": "/ABSOLUTE/PATH/TO/python3",
"args": [
"/ABSOLUTE/PATH/TO/optimization-mcp/server.py"
]
}
}
}
```
**Example (macOS):**
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"optimization-mcp": {
"command": "/opt/homebrew/Caskroom/miniconda/base/bin/python3",
"args": [
"/Users/yourusername/.claude/mcp-servers/optimization-mcp/server.py"
]
}
}
}
```
**Important Notes:**
- Replace `/ABSOLUTE/PATH/TO/python3` with your actual Python path
- Replace `/ABSOLUTE/PATH/TO/optimization-mcp` with your actual installation path
- On Windows, use double backslashes (`\\`) or forward slashes (`/`)
- Do NOT use `~` or relative paths
### 4. Restart Claude Desktop
**macOS**: Press **Cmd+Q** to fully quit, then reopen
**Windows**: Right-click system tray icon → Quit, then reopen
**WARNING**: Simply closing the window does NOT restart Claude properly!
### 5. Verify Tools Loaded
1. Open a new Claude conversation
2. Look for the "Search and tools" slider/button
3. You should see 9 optimization tools:
- `optimize_allocation`
- `optimize_robust`
- `optimize_portfolio`
- `optimize_schedule`
- `optimize_execute`
- `optimize_network_flow`
- `optimize_pareto`
- `optimize_stochastic`
- `optimize_column_gen`
---
## Troubleshooting
### Tools Not Appearing
**Check Logs:**
```bash
# macOS
tail -f ~/Library/Logs/Claude/mcp*.log
# Windows
%LOCALAPPDATA%\Claude\logs\mcp*.log
```
**Common Issues:**
1. **Relative paths used** → Use absolute paths in config
2. **Python not found** → Verify `which python3` path is correct
3. **Window closed, not quit** → Use Cmd+Q (macOS) or tray quit (Windows)
4. **Missing dependencies** → Run `pip install -r requirements.txt`
5. **Config syntax error** → Validate JSON at https://jsonlint.com/
### Verify Server Starts
```bash
python3 /ABSOLUTE/PATH/TO/server.py
```
Should start without errors. Press Ctrl+C to stop.
### Check Dependencies
```bash
python3 -c "import mcp, pulp, scipy, numpy, cvxpy, networkx; print('All dependencies OK')"
```
---
## MCP Naming & Conflicts
**Server Name**: `optimization-mcp`
**No Conflicts**: Verified unique among installed MCPs
**Integration**: Works with `monte-carlo-business` MCP (separate package)
This MCP does NOT conflict with:
- `monte-carlo-business` (complementary, provides input for optimization)
- Any other installed MCPs in `~/.claude/mcp-servers/`
---
## Distribution Options
### Option A: Manual Installation (Current)
1. Clone/download repository
2. Install dependencies
3. Add to `claude_desktop_config.json`
4. Restart Claude Desktop
### Option B: UV Package Manager (Recommended by Anthropic)
Install `uv`:
```bash
curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh
```
Config with uv:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"optimization-mcp": {
"command": "uv",
"args": [
"--directory",
"/ABSOLUTE/PATH/TO/optimization-mcp",
"run",
"server.py"
]
}
}
}
```
### Option C: Python Package (Future)
Once published to PyPI:
```bash
pip install optimization-mcp
```
---
## Next Steps
After successful installation:
1. Read `README.md` for tool documentation
2. Check `docs/` folder for development notes
3. Try example from README.md:
```
Ask Claude: "Optimize my marketing budget allocation across 3 channels"
```
---
## Support
**Issues**: Check logs at `~/Library/Logs/Claude/mcp*.log`
**Documentation**: https://modelcontextprotocol.io/
**This MCP**: See README.md for tool usage examples
---
**Version**: 2.5.0 (Production Ready - 9 Tools, 51/51 Tests Passing)
