# Project MCP Setup Templates

## When to Use This Skill

Use this skill when you need to quickly create a `.mcp.json` file for a new project with common MCP server configurations. This skill provides pre-configured templates so you don't have to look up MCP settings every time.

**Triggers:**
- User mentions creating or setting up `.mcp.json` for a project
- User wants to configure MCPs for a specific project type (technical, prose, minimal)
- User asks to "set up MCPs" or "configure MCP servers"

**Do NOT use for:**
- Configuring MCPs in plugins (use `claude-code:mcp-config` skill)
- Creating MCP servers (use `example-skills:mcp-builder` skill)

## Available Templates

### 1. Technical Projects
Full-featured setup for software development:
- **gitea**: Issue and PR management for Gitea-hosted repos
- **ya-memory**: Persistent memory across conversations
- **ya-rag**: Document indexing and semantic search
- **sequential-thinking**: Complex problem-solving
- **rubber-duck**: Debugging assistant

### 2. Prose/Writing Projects
Minimal setup focused on writing:
- **ya-memory**: Character tracking, world-building notes
- **rubber-duck**: Brainstorming and feedback

### 3. Minimal Projects
Bare essentials:
- **ya-memory**: Basic memory only

### 4. Custom
Let the user specify which MCPs they want from their user configuration.

## Template Definitions

### Technical Template

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "gitea": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["mcp-server-gitea"],
      "env": {
        "GITEA_BASE_URL": "${GITEA_BASE_URL:-https://code.movq.us}",
        "GITEA_TOKEN": "${GITEA_TOKEN}"
      }
    },
    "ya-memory": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["--from", "git+https://github.com/russellballestrini/ya-memory-mcp.git", "ya-memory-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "YA_MEMORY_BASE_DIR": "${YA_MEMORY_BASE_DIR:-~/.ya-memory}"
      }
    },
    "ya-rag": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["--from", "git+https://github.com/russellballestrini/ya-rag-mcp.git", "ya-rag-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "YA_RAG_BASE_DIR": "${YA_RAG_BASE_DIR:-~/.ya-rag}"
      }
    },
    "sequential-thinking": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-sequential-thinking"]
    },
    "rubber-duck": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["--from", "git+https://github.com/russelballestrini/rubber-duck-mcp.git", "rubber-duck-mcp"]
    }
  }
}
```

### Prose Template

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ya-memory": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["--from", "git+https://github.com/russellballestrini/ya-memory-mcp.git", "ya-memory-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "YA_MEMORY_BASE_DIR": "${YA_MEMORY_BASE_DIR:-~/.ya-memory}"
      }
    },
    "rubber-duck": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["--from", "git+https://github.com/russelballestrini/rubber-duck-mcp.git", "rubber-duck-mcp"]
    }
  }
}
```

### Minimal Template

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ya-memory": {
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": ["--from", "git+https://github.com/russellballestrini/ya-memory-mcp.git", "ya-memory-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "YA_MEMORY_BASE_DIR": "${YA_MEMORY_BASE_DIR:-~/.ya-memory}"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

## Usage Instructions

When this skill is invoked:

1. **Ask the user which template they want** (unless they already specified):
   - Technical (software development with full tooling)
   - Prose (writing projects)
   - Minimal (just memory)
   - Custom (user specifies MCPs)

2. **For Custom**, ask which MCPs they want to include from:
   - gitea
   - ya-memory
   - ya-rag
   - sequential-thinking
   - rubber-duck
   - (or any others they specify)

3. **Check if `.mcp.json` already exists** in the current directory:
   - If yes, ask if they want to overwrite or merge
   - If merge, combine configurations

4. **Generate the `.mcp.json` file** with the selected template

5. **Inform the user**:
   - Where the file was created
   - What MCPs were included
   - That they need to restart Claude Code or use `/mcp reload` to load the new configuration
   - Any required environment variables they need to set

## Environment Variables Reference

Document these common environment variables:

- **GITEA_BASE_URL**: Gitea instance URL (default: https://code.movq.us)
- **GITEA_TOKEN**: Gitea API token (required for gitea MCP)
- **YA_MEMORY_BASE_DIR**: Memory storage location (default: ~/.ya-memory)
- **YA_RAG_BASE_DIR**: RAG index location (default: ~/.ya-rag)

## Example Interactions

**Example 1: Quick technical setup**
```
User: Set up MCPs for this project
Assistant: I'll help you set up a .mcp.json file. What type of project is this?
- Technical (software development)
- Prose (writing)
- Minimal (just memory)
- Custom

User: Technical
Assistant: [Creates .mcp.json with technical template]
```

**Example 2: Direct request**
```
User: Create a .mcp.json with just memory and rubber duck
Assistant: [Creates .mcp.json with those two MCPs]
```

**Example 3: Merge existing**
```
User: Add gitea to my MCP config
Assistant: I see you already have a .mcp.json with ya-memory. I'll add gitea to it.
[Merges gitea into existing config]
```

## Key Points

- **Project-specific**: These `.mcp.json` files are for individual projects, not global
- **Restartable**: Changes require Claude Code restart or `/mcp reload`
- **Committable**: These files can be committed to version control (but not with secrets)
- **Environment variables**: Use `${VAR}` syntax with optional defaults like `${VAR:-default}`
- **Additive**: Can be added to existing projects without affecting user-level MCPs

## Related Skills

- **claude-code:mcp-config**: For plugin MCP configuration
- **example-skills:mcp-builder**: For creating new MCP servers