Sidebutton MCP Server

Run AI coding agents with agentic workflows, knowledge packs, and real browser control. Connect Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, ChatGPT, or any MCP

Local serverstdio

What is the Sidebutton MCP server?

Run AI coding agents with agentic workflows, knowledge packs, and real browser control. Connect Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, ChatGPT, or any MCP client. Exposed over MCP by the sidebutton mcp server, that capability becomes something an assistant can invoke while it works, not something you go and do afterwards.

Its toolset

Everything the assistant can do here goes through one of these:

  • run_workflow — Execute a workflow by ID
  • get_run_log — Get execution log for a run
  • list_workflows — List all available workflows
  • get_workflow — Get workflow YAML definition
  • list_run_logs — List recent workflow executions
  • publish_artifact — Publish evidence (screenshots, reports) from a session
  • get_browser_status — Check browser extension connection
  • capture_page — Capture selectors from current page
  • navigate — Navigate browser to URL
  • snapshot — Get page accessibility snapshot
  • click — Click an element
  • type — Type text into an element

Adding it to your client

Installation goes through your MCP client rather than a global install: point it at sidebutton on npm and it is fetched when the client starts. The copy-paste blocks for Claude Desktop, Claude Code and Cursor are further down this page.

Configuration

You will need 2 environment variables: OPENAI_API_KEY, ANTHROPIC_API_KEY. The server will not start without them, which is usually why the tools fail to appear on a first run. Keep credentials in your client's env block or a secrets manager rather than in a file you might commit.

When to reach for it

Among the browser automation options, the useful question is rarely "what can it do" but "what does it cost you to run" — permissions, credentials, and how much of your context its toolset consumes. Sidebutton's toolset — run_workflow, get_run_log, list_workflows and 11 more — is a fair guide to whether it matches your workflow. It is maintained by sidebutton; worth a glance at recent repository activity before you build anything load-bearing on it.

This entry was verified against Sidebutton's own documentation before publication; SyncDev keeps the directory reviewed rather than auto-generated.

Caveats

  • 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 14 tools registered it takes up a noticeable share of the context window; turn it off in projects that never touch Sidebutton.
  • Missing credentials fail quietly in some clients — if no tools show up, check the environment block first.
  • MCP clients confirm each tool call by default. Leave that on until you have watched what the sidebutton mcp server does with a few real requests.

Available tools

ToolWhat it does
run_workflowExecute a workflow by ID
get_run_logGet execution log for a run
list_workflowsList all available workflows
get_workflowGet workflow YAML definition
list_run_logsList recent workflow executions
publish_artifactPublish evidence (screenshots, reports) from a session
get_browser_statusCheck browser extension connection
capture_pageCapture selectors from current page
navigateNavigate browser to URL
snapshotGet page accessibility snapshot
clickClick an element
typeType text into an element
press_keySend keyboard keys
scrollScroll the page

How to install the Sidebutton MCP server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "sidebutton": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "sidebutton"],
      "env": {
        "OPENAI_API_KEY": "your-value",
        "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY": "your-value"
      }
    }
  }
}

Add to claude_desktop_config.json, then restart Claude Desktop.

Configuration

VariableDescriptionRequired
OPENAI_API_KEYCredential the server authenticates with.Yes
ANTHROPIC_API_KEYCredential the server authenticates with.Yes

Example prompts to try

  • Use Sidebutton to run workflow.
  • Use Sidebutton to get run log.
  • Use Sidebutton to list workflows.

Frequently asked questions

It connects Sidebutton to MCP-compatible AI assistants such as Claude and Cursor, exposing 14 tools (run_workflow, get_run_log, list_workflows, and more) that the assistant can call on your behalf. Instead of copying data back and forth by hand, the assistant works with Sidebutton directly.