MCP Server Setup

The Cursorist MCP server connects Cursor's AI agent to the plugin platform. Once configured, the agent can list, install, and upgrade plugins directly in conversation — no switching to the terminal.

What is MCP?

Model Context Protocol (MCP) is a standard for connecting AI assistants to external tools and data. Cursor uses MCP servers to extend what the agent can do — browse databases, run commands, or manage plugins.

Quick Setup

The fastest way to connect is through cursor.ist:

Go to cursor.ist/settings/mcp
Log in if needed
Click Install MCP
Confirm in Cursor when prompted

This generates an MCP install deeplink with your API key pre-configured.

Manual Configuration

Add the following to .cursor/mcp.json in your project:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "cursorist": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@cursorist/mcp-server@latest"],
      "env": {
        "CURSORIST_API_URL": "https://cursor.ist/api",
        "CURSORIST_PLUGIN_MODE": "true",
        "CURSORIST_API_KEY": "your-api-key"
      }
    }
  }
}

Environment Variables

Variable	Description
`CURSORIST_API_URL`	API base URL (default: `https://cursor.ist/api`)
`CURSORIST_PLUGIN_MODE`	Set to `true` for plugin-aware mode
`CURSORIST_API_KEY`	API key for authenticated requests (get from cursor.ist/settings)

What the Agent Can Do

With the MCP server running, Cursor's agent gains these capabilities:

Capability	Description
`list_plugins`	Search and browse available plugins
`get_plugin`	Fetch plugin details, versions, and assets
`install_plugin`	Install a plugin into the current project
`upgrade_plugin`	Upgrade an installed plugin to the latest version

Example Workflow

After setup, you can interact with plugins in Cursor's chat:

"Install the acme/engineering/starter plugin for this project."

The agent calls install_plugin through MCP, downloads the assets, and sets up the plugin — all without leaving the editor.

API Endpoints Used

The MCP server communicates with these Cursorist API endpoints:

Endpoint	Method	Purpose
`/api/mcp/token`	POST	Generate or refresh API key
`/api/mcp/deeplink`	GET	Get pre-built MCP install deeplink
`/api/plugins/:org/:team`	GET	List plugins in a team
`/api/plugins/:org/:team/:plugin`	GET	Get plugin details
`/api/plugins/:org/:team/:plugin/versions/:version`	GET	Get version assets