# Studio MCP
Make any CLI into an AI tool with `studio` MCP server.
> Bright Studio Apt ā Just enough, nothing more ā $0/mo OBO.
>
> Text 404 for more details!
## What's Included?
`studio` is the simplest possible way to add CLI tools that your AI Agent can use right now. Built on the [Model Context Protocol](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/), `studio` spawns a single tool mcp server with your command.
The tool turns everything after `studio` command into an MCP tool that can be called by Cursor, Claude, etc.
`studio` is great for patching CLIs into Claude, debugging MCPs or providing custom scripts to your LLM without having to deal with MCP.
It uses a very simple Mustache-like template syntax to provide inputs and descriptions telling the LLM how to use your command.
```sh
npx -y @studio-mcp/studio command "{ required_argument # Description of argument }" "[optional_args... # any array of arguments]"
```
`studio` turns this into an input schema for the MCP tool so that tool calls know what to send:
```json
{
"type": "object",
"properties": {
"required_argument": {
"type": "string",
"description": "Description of argument"
},
"optional_args": {
"type": "array",
"items": { "type": "string" },
"description": "any array of arguments"
}
},
"required": ["required_argument"]
}
```
You can run almost any command, but you might need to put the full path for scripts or commands installed via other package managers. Just run `which cmd` to find it's full path.
Since you're just renting the place, please be a good tenant and don't `rm -rf` anything.
## Move-In
These install instructions are like my lease agreement: full of gotchas.
Have your lawyer read it over. (You do have a lawyer right?)
You can install to your system with `npm` or use `npx` directly.
```sh
npm install -g @studio-mcp/studio
```
## Unpack (it's an apartment metaphor)
Most MCPs don't run in your shell environment š You'll probably need to add the full path somewhere.
We'll use the MacOS `say` command as an example command. If you're not on a Mac, use `echo` (it's worse than useless, but it's easy to understand).
### Claude Desktop
Go to the Claude Desktop settings and click Developer > Edit Config.
It should open your Claude Desktop MCP configuration. (e.g. `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json` on Mac):
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"say": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@studio-mcp/studio",
"say",
"-v",
"siri",
"{speech # A concise message to say outloud}"
]
}
}
}
```
### Cursor
Add to your `~/.cursor/mcp.json` (in your home or project directory) or go to Tools section of the Cursor UI.
_Note:_ A bug in Cursor breaks args with spaces.
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"say": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@studio-mcp/studio",
"say",
"-v",
"siri",
"{speech#say_outloud}"
]
}
}
}
```
### VSCode
It's a lot of the same here. Don't get confused betwee studio and stdio (that's how I got the name).
```json
{
"mcp": {
"servers": {
"echo": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@studio-mcp/studio",
"echo",
"{text#What do you want to say?}"
]
}
}
}
}
```
## Template Syntax
Studio uses templates to keep your studio tidy.
```bash
studio say -v "{voice# Choose your Mac say voice}" "[args...#Any additional args]"
```
This creates a Studio server with two arguments: `voice` and `args`.
Everything after the `#` will be used as the description for the LLM to understand.
Studio templates are a modified mustache format with descriptions: `{name # description}` but they also add shell like optional `[--flag]` booleans, `[optional # an optional string]` and `[args... # array with 0 or more strings]` for additional args:
- `{name}`: Required string argument
- `[name]`: Optional string argument
- `[name...]`: Optional array argument (spreads as multiple command line args)
- `[--flag]`: Optional boolean named `flag` that prints `--flag` only when true.
- `{name...}`: Required array (1 or more arguments required).
Inside a tag, there is a name and description:
- `name`: The argument name that will be shown in the MCP tool schema. Only letter numbers and underscores (dashes and underscores are interchangeable, case-insensitive).
- `description`: A description of what the argument should contain. Reads everything after the `#` to the end of the template tag.
Note: Double curly braces `{{name}}` are still supported for backward compatibility, but single braces `{name}` are preferred and used throughout the docs.
#### What about {cool_template_feature: string /[A-Z]+/ # Fancy tags}?
This is a simple studio, not one of those fancy 1 bedroom flats.
Maybe the landlord will get around to it at some point (but your rent will go up).
## Utilities Included
To build and test locally:
```bash
make
make test
studio echo "{text # what you want said to you}"
```
### Did something break?
The landlord _definitely_ takes care of the place...
- more than none tests
- files! lots of 'em!
- maybe even some test coverage
- you still need Proof of Renters Insurance
Uncovered portions are tenant's responsibility. (no one appreciates how hard it is for us landlords)
## Home Is Where You Make It
This is your studio too. Bugs, bedbugs, features, ideas? Swing by the repo during open-house:
š <https://github.com/studio-mcp/studio>
## Lease Terms: MIT
Move in under standard terms, no fine print. Full text here: [MIT License](https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT).
