# Tiong Creative assistant (MCP server)

Lets an AI assistant on your Mac, such as Claude Desktop, use your Tiong Creative apps while
they are open. Ask "what's on this month" and it reads Due Again and Gift Keeper; say "mark the car insurance
done" and Due Again records it and works out the next date, the same as if you had clicked.

It only works with the apps, and only while each app has **Settings → Assistant → Allow
assistant access** turned on. With it off, or the app closed, the assistant is told so and
nothing else happens.

## Apps

| App                        | Reads                                                                                                            | Changes                                            |
| -------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------- |
| Due Again 1.1.0 or later   | items with status and next due date, an item's history                                                           | add an item, record that an item was done          |
| Gift Keeper 1.3.0 or later | people with interests, sizes and preferences; upcoming occasions with budget, spend and whether a gift is chosen | add a gift idea for a person, mark a gift as given |

More apps follow, and the assistant can also open an app for you, but only after you agree.

## Setup

You need Node.js 20 or later and Claude Desktop. Add this to Claude Desktop's config file
(Settings → Developer → Edit Config), then restart Claude Desktop:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "tiongcreative": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@tiongcreative/assistant-mcp"]
    }
  }
}
```

In each app, turn on **Allow assistant access** in Settings → Assistant. Open the app, then ask
Claude what's on.

For Claude Code: `claude mcp add tiongcreative -- npx -y @tiongcreative/assistant-mcp`.

## How it stays on your Mac

- The server opens no network connection of its own. It talks to each app on 127.0.0.1 only.
- While assistant access is on, the app writes a small file in its own data folder holding its
  port and a token made fresh for that launch, readable only by your user account. The server
  reads it and sends the token with each request. The file is removed when you turn the setting
  off or quit the app, so there is nothing to copy or store.
- What the assistant reads goes to whichever AI service it uses. Turn access on only for an
  assistant you trust.
- The package holds no secrets and never contacts tiongcreative.com.au.

## Development

```bash
npm install
npm test            # needs ../due-again checked out: runs its server on a temp data folder
npm run validate
```

Registering a local checkout with Claude Code: `claude mcp add tiongcreative -- node /path/to/src/index.js`.

## Licence

Released under the MIT licence.