MCP servers

An MCP server is a small program or web service that gives an agent extra tools, for example "list open issues" or "query the database". MCP stands for Model Context Protocol. You add a server once in Termul, and Termul offers it to every new agent chat.

Add MCP servers

You add servers by pasting JSON. Termul reads the mcpServers format that Claude Desktop and many MCP server READMEs use, so you can usually copy the config from the server's own docs.

1. Open Settings with Ctrl+, (Cmd+, on macOS) and click MCP Servers.
2. Click Add server.
3. Paste the JSON in MCP JSON.
4. Click Save.

You can paste many servers at once in an mcpServers block, or a single server object on its own. If one server in the block has a mistake, Termul adds the others and tells you which one failed.

There are three kinds of server:

• stdio: a program that runs on your computer. Give its command, and optional args and env.

  { "mcpServers": { "issues": { "command": "npx", "args": ["-y", "@acme/issues-mcp"] } } }

• HTTP: a web service. Give its url, and optional headers.

  { "mcpServers": { "docs": { "type": "http", "url": "https://docs.example.com/mcp" } } }

• SSE: an older kind of web service. Set "type": "sse" and give its url.

  { "mcpServers": { "metrics": { "type": "sse", "url": "https://metrics.example.com/sse" } } }

If you leave out type, Termul treats a server with a command as stdio and a server with only a url as HTTP. Fields that Termul does not use are dropped.

Check that a server works

Each server has a row with a colored dot.

To test a server, click its refresh button. To see the tools a server offers, click Show tools, or the tool count, such as 2 tools.

When Termul tests a server, it replaces $NAME references in env with the values from the environment Termul runs in.

Use the other buttons on the row to manage the server:

• The switch turns the server on or off. Agents get only the servers that are on.
• The pencil button opens the server's JSON for editing. Edit one server object here, without the mcpServers wrapper.
• The trash button deletes the server.

Sign in to a server

Some HTTP and SSE servers need you to sign in with your account on that service. Their dot turns yellow, and the row gets a Connect button.

1. Click Connect.
2. Sign in on the page that opens in your browser, and allow access.
3. Go back to Termul. The button changes to Disconnect, and Termul tests the server again.

In the browser version, the sign-in page opens in a new window. If nothing opens, allow pop-ups for the Termul site and try again. You have five minutes to finish signing in.

To remove the sign-in, click Disconnect.

Global and per-project servers

Choose servers for a new chat

When you start a new chat, the chat box shows how many MCP servers the chat gets. Click that count to see each server's status and turn servers on or off. The switches there are the same switches as in Settings, so the change applies to later chats too.

Termul always offers stdio servers. It offers HTTP and SSE servers only to agents that say they support them.