Claude Assist MCP MCP Server

Model Context Protocol (MCP) tool to interact with Claude Desktop on macOS

Local serverstdioPython

What is the Claude Assist MCP MCP server?

Model Context Protocol (MCP) tool to interact with Claude Desktop on macOS. That is what the claude assist mcp mcp server brings to an AI assistant: the same capability, reachable through the Model Context Protocol rather than a separate app or dashboard.

The short version

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that enables Claude Code to communicate with Claude Desktop. This server allows Claude Code to send prompts to Claude Desktop and poll for responses.

  • Send prompts from Claude Code to Claude Desktop
  • Automatic polling for responses with configurable timeout
  • List available conversations in Claude Desktop
  • Error handling and retry logic
  • Comprehensive logging

Getting it running

Setup follows the usual MCP pattern — install or clone the server, register it in your client's configuration file, restart the client. The configuration blocks on this page cover the common clients.

The tools it exposes

The server publishes 11 tools. What each one is for:

  • Tool — ask
  • Parameters — { "prompt": "What is dependency injection?" }
  • description — What changes to review (e.g., "authentication fix")
  • polling_interval — How often to check for response (default: 1.5s)
  • timeout — Maximum wait time for response (default: 30s)
  • get_conversations — The get_conversations tool exposed by this server
  • Workarounds — 1. Use Claude's API: For programmatic access to responses, consider using Claude's API directly instead of desktop automation 2. **Manual
  • Setup — 1. Copy the example command to your Claude Commands directory: bash cp examples/claude-peer-review.md ~/.claude/commands/
  • Usage — The peer review command accepts up to 3 arguments: - description: What changes to review (e.g., "authentication fix") - polling_interval: How
  • Linting — The Linting tool exposed by this server
  • Tools — The Tools tool exposed by this server

What it needs from you

Configuration is passed through the environment: SKIP_CLAUDE_POLLING, LOG_LEVEL. Treat anything key-shaped as a real credential — scope it to the minimum the server needs, and rotate it if it ever lands in a shared config.

Things to watch

  • It runs with your machine's permissions. That is convenient and also the reason to think about what you point it at before you approve a tool call.
  • With 11 tools registered it takes up a noticeable share of the context window; turn it off in projects that never touch Claude Assist MCP.
  • Keep per-call confirmation enabled while you learn its behaviour; it is the cheapest safeguard you have.

How it compares

This sits in the file and storage access group, where several servers overlap in what they claim to do but differ sharply once you actually set them up. Claude Assist MCP's toolset — Tool, Parameters, description and 8 more — is a fair guide to whether it matches your workflow. It is maintained by dpaluy; worth a glance at recent repository activity before you build anything load-bearing on it.

We check each listing at SyncDev against the project's documentation before it goes live — if something here drifts out of date, it is a bug worth reporting.

Available tools

ToolWhat it does
Toolask
Parameters{ "prompt": "What is dependency injection?" }
descriptionWhat changes to review (e.g., "authentication fix")
polling_intervalHow often to check for response (default: 1.5s)
timeoutMaximum wait time for response (default: 30s)
get_conversationsThe get_conversations tool exposed by this server.
Workarounds1. **Use Claude's API**: For programmatic access to responses, consider using Claude's API directly instead of desktop automation 2. **Manual verification**: After sending a prompt, manually check the Claude Desktop wind
Setup1. Copy the example command to your Claude Commands directory: bash cp examples/claude-peer-review.md ~/.claude/commands/
UsageThe peer review command accepts up to 3 arguments: - **description**: What changes to review (e.g., "authentication fix") - **polling_interval**: How often to check for response (default: 1.5s) - **timeout**: Maximum wai
LintingThe Linting tool exposed by this server.
ToolsThe Tools tool exposed by this server.

How to install the Claude Assist MCP MCP server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "claude-desktop": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["mcp-claude-desktop"]
    }
  }
}

Configuration as documented by the project. Restart the client after saving.

Configuration

VariableDescriptionRequired
SKIP_CLAUDE_POLLINGConfiguration value read at startup.Optional
LOG_LEVELConfiguration value read at startup.Optional

Example prompts to try

  • Use Claude Assist MCP to Tool.
  • Use Claude Assist MCP to Parameters.
  • Use Claude Assist MCP to description.

Frequently asked questions

It connects Claude Assist MCP to MCP-compatible AI assistants such as Claude and Cursor, exposing 11 tools (Tool, Parameters, description, and more) that the assistant can call on your behalf. Instead of copying data back and forth by hand, the assistant works with Claude Assist MCP directly.