Kernel MCP Server

# Kernel MCP Server [](https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT) [](https://nodejs.org/) [](https://nextjs.org/) [](https://smithery.ai/server/kernel) A [Model Context Protocol (MCP)](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/) server that provides AI assistants with secure access to [Kernel platform](https://onkernel.com) tools and browser automation capabilities.  🌐 **Use instantly** at `https://mcp.onkernel.com/mcp` — no installation required! ## What is this? The Kernel MCP Server bridges AI assistants (like Claude, Cursor, or other MCP-compatible tools) with the Kernel platform, enabling them to: - 🚀 Deploy and manage Kernel apps in the cloud - 🌐 Launch and control headless Chromium sessions for web automation - 📊 Monitor deployments and track invocations - 🔍 Search Kernel documentation and inject context - 💻 Evaluate JavaScript and stream DOM snapshots **Open-source & fully-managed** — the complete codebase is available here, and we run the production instance so you don't need to deploy anything. The server uses OAuth 2.0 authentication via [Clerk](https://clerk.com) to ensure secure access to your Kernel resources. For a deeper dive into why and how we built this server, see our blog post: [Introducing Kernel MCP Server](https://blog.onkernel.com/p/introducing-kernel-mcp-server). ## Setup Instructions ### General (Transports) - Streamable HTTP (recommended): `https://mcp.onkernel.com/mcp` - stdio via `mcp-remote` (for clients without remote MCP support): `npx -y mcp-remote https://mcp.onkernel.com/mcp` Use the streamable HTTP endpoint where supported for increased reliability. If your client does not support remote MCP, use `mcp-remote` over stdio. Kernel's server is a centrally hosted, authenticated remote MCP using OAuth 2.1 with dynamic client registration. ## Connect in your client ### Claude > Our remote MCP server is not compatible with the method Free users of Claude use to add MCP servers. #### Pro, Max, Team & Enterprise (Claude.ai and Claude Desktop) 1. Go to **Settings → Connectors → Add custom connector**. 2. Enter: **Integration name:** `Kernel`, **Integration URL:** `https://mcp.onkernel.com/mcp`, then click **Add**. 3. In **Settings → Connectors**, click **Connect** next to `Kernel` to launch OAuth and approve. 4. In chat, click **Search and tools** and enable the Kernel tools if needed. > On Claude for Work (Team/Enterprise), only Primary Owners or Owners can enable custom connectors for the org. After it's configured, each user still needs to go to **Settings → Connectors** and click **Connect** to authorize it for their account. #### Claude Code CLI ```bash claude mcp add --transport http kernel https://mcp.onkernel.com/mcp # Then in the REPL run once to authenticate: /mcp ``` ### Cursor Click [here](cursor://anysphere.cursor-deeplink/mcp/install?name=kernel&config=eyJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL21jcC5vbmtlcm5lbC5jb20vbWNwIn0%3D) to install Kernel on Cursor. #### Manual setup 1. Press **⌘/Ctrl Shift J**. 2. Go to **MCP & Integrations → New MCP server**. 3. Add this configuration: ```json { "mcpServers": { "kernel": { "url": "https://mcp.onkernel.com/mcp" } } } ``` 4. Save. The server will appear in Tools. ### Goose Click [here](goose://extension?cmd=npx&arg=-y&arg=mcp-remote&arg=https%3A%2F%2Fmcp.onkernel.com%2Fmcp&timeout=300&id=kernel&name=Kernel&description=Access%20Kernel%27s%20cloud-based%20browsers%20via%20MCP) to install Kernel on Goose in one click. #### Goose Desktop 1. Click `Extensions` in the sidebar of the Goose Desktop. 2. Click `Add custom extension`. 3. On the `Add custom extension` modal, enter: - **Extension Name**: `Kernel` - **Type**: `STDIO` - **Description**: `Access Kernel's cloud-based browsers via MCP` - **Command**: `npx -y mcp-remote https://mcp.onkernel.com/mcp` - **Timeout**: `300` 4. Click `Save Changes` button. #### Goose CLI 1. Run the following command: ```bash goose configure ``` 2. Select `Add Extension` from the menu. 3. Choose `Command-line Extension`. 4. Follow the prompts: - **Extension name**: `Kernel` - **Command**: `npx -y mcp-remote https://mcp.onkernel.com/mcp` - **Timeout**: `300` - **Description**: `Access Kernel's cloud-based browsers via MCP` ### Visual Studio Code ```json { "mcpServers": { "kernel": { "url": "https://mcp.onkernel.com/mcp", "type": "http" } } } ``` 1. Press **⌘/Ctrl P** → search **MCP: Add Server**. 2. Select **HTTP (HTTP or Server-Sent Events)**. 3. Enter: `https://mcp.onkernel.com/mcp` 4. Name the server **Kernel** → Enter. ### Windsurf 1. Press **⌘/Ctrl ,** to open settings. 2. Navigate **Cascade → MCP servers → View raw config**. 3. Paste: ```json { "mcpServers": { "kernel": { "command": "npx", "args": ["-y", "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.onkernel.com/mcp"] } } } ``` 4. On **Manage MCPs**, click **Refresh** to load Kernel MCP. ### Zed 1. Press **⌘/Ctrl ,** to open settings. 2. Paste: ```json { "context_servers": { "kernel": { "source": "custom", "command": "npx", "args": ["-y", "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.onkernel.com/mcp"] } } } ``` ### Smithery You can connect directly to `https://mcp.onkernel.com/mcp`, or use Smithery as a proxy using its provided URL. - Use Smithery URL in any MCP client: 1. Open [Smithery: Kernel](https://smithery.ai/server/kernel). 2. Copy the URL from "Get connection URL". 3. Paste it into your MCP client's "Add server" flow. - Use Kernel in Smithery's Playground MCP client: 1. Open [Smithery Playground](https://smithery.ai/playground). 2. Click "Add servers", search for "Kernel", and add it. 3. Sign in and authorize Kernel when prompted. ### Others Many other MCP-capable tools accept: - **Command:** `npx` - **Arguments:** `-y mcp-remote https://mcp.onkernel.com/mcp` ```json { "kernel": { "command": "npx", "args": ["-y", "mcp-remote", "https://mcp.onkernel.com/mcp"] } } ``` Configure these values wherever the tool expects MCP server settings. ## Tools ### Browser Automation - `create_browser` - Launch a new browser session with options (headless, stealth, persistence, timeout, profile) - `get_browser` - Get browser session information - `list_browsers` - List active browser sessions - `delete_browser` - Terminate a browser session ### Profile Management - `setup_profile` - Create or update browser profiles with guided setup process - `list_profiles` - List all available browser profiles - `delete_profile` - Delete browser profile permanently ### App Management - `list_apps` - List apps in your Kernel organization with optional filtering - `invoke_action` - Execute actions in Kernel apps - `get_deployment` - Get deployment status and logs - `list_deployments` - List all deployments with optional filtering - `get_invocation` - Get action invocation details ### Documentation & Search - `search_docs` - Search Kernel platform documentation and guides ## Resources - `browsers://` - Access browser sessions (list all or get specific session) - `profiles://` - Access browser profiles (list all or get specific profile) - `apps://` - Access deployed apps (list all or get specific app) ## Prompts - `kernel-concepts` - Get explanations of Kernel's core concepts (browsers, apps, overview) ## Troubleshooting - Cursor clean reset: ⌘/Ctrl Shift P → run `Cursor: Clear All MCP Tokens` (resets all MCP servers and auth; re-enable Kernel and re-authenticate). - Clear saved auth and retry: `rm -rf ~/.mcp-auth` - Ensure a recent Node.js version when using `npx mcp-remote` - If behind strict networks, try stdio via `mcp-remote`, or explicitly set the transport your client supports ## Examples ### Invoke apps from anywhere ``` Human: Run my web-scraper app to get data from reddit.com Assistant: I'll execute your web-scraper action with reddit.com as the target. [Uses invoke_action tool to run your deployed app in the cloud] ``` ### Create persistent browser sessions ``` Human: Create a stealth browser session that I can reuse for testing login flows Assistant: I'll create a persistent, stealth-enabled browser that maintains state between uses. [Uses create_browser tool with persistence and stealth options] ``` ### Set up browser profiles for authentication ``` Human: Set up a profile for my work accounts Assistant: I'll create a profile and guide you through the setup process. [Uses setup_profile tool] Human: I'm done setting up my accounts Assistant: Perfect! I'll close the browser session and save your profile. [Uses delete_browser tool to save profile] ``` ## 🤝 Contributing We welcome contributions! Please see our contributing guidelines: 1. **Fork the repository** and create your feature branch 2. **Make your changes** and add tests if applicable 3. **Run the linter and formatter**: ```bash bun run lint bun run format ``` 4. **Test your changes** thoroughly 5. **Submit a pull request** with a clear description ### Development Guidelines - Follow the existing code style and formatting - Add TypeScript types for new functions and components - Update documentation for any API changes - Ensure all tests pass before submitting ## 📄 License This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the [LICENSE](LICENSE) file for details. ## 🔗 Related Projects - [Model Context Protocol](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/) - The protocol specification - [Kernel Platform](https://onkernel.com) - The platform this server integrates with - [Clerk](https://clerk.com) - Authentication provider - [@onkernel/sdk](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@onkernel/sdk) - Kernel JavaScript SDK ## 💬 Support - **Issues & Bugs**: [GitHub Issues](https://github.com/onkernel/kernel-mcp-server/issues) - **MCP Feedback**: [github.com/kernelxyz/mcp-feedback](https://github.com/kernelxyz/mcp-feedback) - **Documentation**: [Kernel Docs](https://onkernel.com/docs) • [MCP Setup Guide](https://onkernel.com/docs/mcp-server) - **Community**: [Kernel Discord](https://discord.gg/FBrveQRcud) --- Built with ❤️ by the [Kernel Team](https://kernel.so)