> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://alike.help/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Connect an MCP client

> Add Alike's MCP server to Claude, Cursor, VS Code, Codex, ChatGPT, and other clients by hand.

The installer adds Alike's MCP server to your coding agents. Use this page to add it by hand, for example to an app that the installer does not support, or on a machine where you do not want hooks.

## Server details

| | |
| - | - |
| URL | `https://alike.network/api-general/mcp` |
| Transport | Streamable HTTP |
| Sign-in | OAuth in your browser. Each client signs in once |
| Server name | Use `alike` |

You do not need an API key. Do not put a token in the client's settings. The client opens a browser, you sign in to Alike, and you approve the client.

The web app has a setup page with one-click buttons for many clients: [alike.network/mcpsetup](https://alike.network/mcpsetup).

> [!NOTE]
>
> Pairing a machine with `npx @alikeai/setup` does not sign in the MCP clients on that machine. Pairing covers the hooks only. Each MCP client has its own sign-in.

## Clients

> [tab] Claude Code
>
> ```bash theme={null}
> claude mcp add --transport http alike https://alike.network/api-general/mcp
> ```
>
> Start Claude Code, run `/mcp`, choose **alike**, and sign in in the browser.

> [tab] Claude (web and desktop)
>
> 1. Open **Settings → Connectors**.
> 2. Select **Add custom connector**.
> 3. Enter the name `Alike` and the URL `https://alike.network/api-general/mcp`.
> 4. Sign in to Alike and approve.
>
> You can use the connector in the Claude mobile apps after you add it on the web or desktop. You cannot add it in the mobile apps.

> [tab] Cursor
>
> Add this to `~/.cursor/mcp.json`:
>
> ```json theme={null}
> {
>   "mcpServers": {
>     "alike": { "url": "https://alike.network/api-general/mcp" }
>   }
> }
> ```
>
> Restart Cursor. Approve the server and sign in when Cursor asks.

> [tab] VS Code
>
> Requires VS Code 1.102 or later. Add this to `.vscode/mcp.json` in a project, or to your user `mcp.json`:
>
> ```json theme={null}
> {
>   "servers": {
>     "alike": { "type": "http", "url": "https://alike.network/api-general/mcp" }
>   }
> }
> ```
>
> Use the server in Copilot agent mode. Sign in when VS Code asks.

> [tab] Codex
>
> Add this to `~/.codex/config.toml`:
>
> ```toml theme={null}
> experimental_use_rmcp_client = true
>
> [mcp_servers.alike]
> url = "https://alike.network/api-general/mcp"
> ```
>
> Restart Codex, then sign in:
>
> ```bash theme={null}
> codex mcp login alike
> ```
>
> Codex does not open the browser by itself. You must run `codex mcp login`.

> [tab] ChatGPT
>
> 1. Turn on Developer Mode: **Settings → Apps → Advanced settings**.
> 2. Add a custom connector with the URL `https://alike.network/api-general/mcp`.
> 3. Sign in to Alike and approve.

> [tab] Windsurf
>
> Add this to `~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json`:
>
> ```json theme={null}
> {
>   "mcpServers": {
>     "alike": { "serverUrl": "https://alike.network/api-general/mcp" }
>   }
> }
> ```
>
> Windsurf uses `serverUrl`, not `url`.

> [tab] Antigravity
>
> Add this to `~/.gemini/config/mcp_config.json`:
>
> ```json theme={null}
> {
>   "mcpServers": {
>     "alike": { "serverUrl": "https://alike.network/api-general/mcp" }
>   }
> }
> ```

> [tab] JetBrains Junie
>
> Add this to `~/.junie/mcp/mcp.json`:
>
> ```json theme={null}
> {
>   "mcpServers": {
>     "alike": { "url": "https://alike.network/api-general/mcp" }
>   }
> }
> ```

> [tab] Cline
>
> Add the server in Cline's **Remote Servers** tab, or add this to `cline_mcp_settings.json`. For the Cline CLI, use `~/.cline/mcp.json`:
>
> ```json theme={null}
> {
>   "mcpServers": {
>     "alike": { "type": "streamableHttp", "url": "https://alike.network/api-general/mcp" }
>   }
> }
> ```
>
> If the connection fails, change the transport to SSE.

> [tab] Zed
>
> Add this to `~/.config/zed/settings.json`:
>
> ```json theme={null}
> {
>   "context_servers": {
>     "alike": { "url": "https://alike.network/api-general/mcp" }
>   }
> }
> ```
>
> Do not add headers. Zed then asks you to sign in when it connects.

> [tab] Continue
>
> Add this to `~/.continue/config.yaml`:
>
> ```yaml theme={null}
> mcpServers:
>   - name: alike
>     type: streamable-http
>     url: https://alike.network/api-general/mcp
> ```

For other clients, use the URL above with the client's "remote MCP server" or "Streamable HTTP" option. The setup page at [alike.network/mcpsetup](https://alike.network/mcpsetup) lists more clients.

## MCP without hooks

With MCP only, your agent can use all of Alike's tools. But Alike adds no context by itself: no brief at session start, and no notes while it works. Transcript capture also does not run. To get context, ask the agent at the start of each session:

> Call Alike's `resolve_work_item` for this branch, and tell me what Alike knows about it.

To get hooks and capture, run the installer. See [Install Alike](https://alike.help/install/install.md).

## The approval page

When a client signs in, Alike shows an approval page with **Approve** and **Deny**. The client gets the same access that you have in the web app. It sees only the data that you can see.

After you approve, Alike copies a first prompt to your clipboard. Paste it into the client to try Alike.

## Tools for builders

When your account uses the builder experience, the client sees the builder tools. Scheduling, planning, reminder, meeting, and hand-off tools are hidden until the agent asks for them. See [MCP tools](https://alike.help/reference/mcp-tools.md#more-tools).

If you change your experience between builder and knowledge work in **Settings**, reconnect the client to get the new list of tools.

## Limits

* Alike limits how many requests a person, and a network, can send each minute. People who share one network address, for example in an office or at an event, share the network limit.
* When a limit is reached, the client gets the error `Rate limit exceeded. Retry after N seconds.` Wait the number of seconds, then continue.
* Large results are shortened. The result then contains `truncated: true`. Ask for fewer items, or ask for the next page.
* A message to a colleague can have up to 10,000 characters. Alike refuses a longer one. A message to another of your sessions is cut at 10,000 characters.

## Errors

| Error | Meaning | What to do |
| - | - | - |
| HTTP 401, `Authentication failed` | The client is not signed in, its sign-in expired, or your account has no workspace yet | Sign in again from the client, for example `/mcp` in Claude Code. If the client keeps asking you to sign in, finish setup in the web app. See [Sign up](https://alike.help/get-started/sign-up.md) |
| `… not found, or you don't have permission to read it.` | The item does not exist, or you cannot see it. Alike does not say which | Check the ID. Ask the owner to share the item |
| A result with `retryable: true` | A short problem on Alike's side | The agent tries the same request again once |
| `Unknown tool` | The client used a tool name that does not exist | Ask the agent to list Alike's tools again. Check the name in [MCP tools](https://alike.help/reference/mcp-tools.md) |
| `recipient_not_on_alike` | The person that the agent tried to reach does not use Alike | Ask the agent to invite the person. See [Invite people](https://alike.help/use/teammates.md#invite-people) |
| `sender_required` | The agent sent an ask or a proposal to another of your sessions, but did not name its own session | Ask the agent to send it again with its own session ID from the brief |
| `invalid_answer` | A reply does not match the message, for example `accept` on a question, or the answer does not have the expected form | Ask the agent to use a reply that matches the message |


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