Local MCP Server
Connect any MCP-compatible AI agent to Prometheux using the Model Context Protocol (MCP) — an open standard that enables AI assistants to interact with external tools and data sources.
The local MCP server (prometheux-mcp) runs on your machine and provides a simple, reliable way to integrate AI agents with your Prometheux ontologies. It works with Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, and any other client that supports MCP stdio servers.
We recommend the local server for coding agents like Claude Code and Cursor. It uses stdio transport with direct credential configuration — no OAuth browser flow required — which makes it more reliable and easier to set up in development environments.
Why Use Local MCP?
Best for: Coding agents (Claude Code, Cursor), Claude Desktop, development environments, on-premise deployments
Pros:
- Simple pip install
- Runs locally (no external dependencies)
- Full control over credentials
- Works with any Prometheux instance (cloud or on-premise)
- No OAuth flow required — credentials are passed directly as environment variables
- Compatible with any MCP client that supports stdio transport
Cons:
- Needs to be installed on each machine
Use this when:
- You're using a coding agent (Claude Code, Cursor)
- You're using Claude Desktop
- You want a simple, local installation
- You're developing or testing locally
If you want to connect from Claude Web, ChatGPT, Genie Code, or other browser-based clients, check out the Remote MCP Server and the Client Guides.
Quick Start
Prerequisites
- Prometheux account with access to a deployed instance
- Claude Desktop installed on your machine (download here)
- Your credentials: token, username, and organization from your Prometheux admin
Installation
- Automated (Recommended)
- Manual Install
Easiest method - download and run our installation script:
macOS/Linux:
curl -sSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/prometheuxresearch/px-mcp-server/main/install.sh -o install.sh
chmod +x install.sh
./install.sh
Windows (PowerShell):
Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/prometheuxresearch/px-mcp-server/main/install.ps1" -OutFile "install.ps1"
.\install.ps1
The script will:
- ✅ Install
pipx(if not already installed) - ✅ Install
prometheux-mcppackage from PyPI - ✅ Prompt for your credentials (URL, token, username, organization)
- ✅ Automatically configure Claude Desktop
- ✅ Create backups of existing configuration
Then just restart Claude Desktop and you're ready!
Manual installation using pipx:
pipx installs the package in an isolated environment and works reliably with Claude Desktop on all platforms.
macOS:
brew install pipx
pipx ensurepath
pipx install prometheux-mcp
Windows:
pip install pipx
pipx ensurepath
pipx install prometheux-mcp
Linux:
pip install pipx
pipx ensurepath
pipx install prometheux-mcp
After installation, you'll need to manually configure Claude Desktop (see Configuration section below).
Configuration
If you used the automated installation script, configuration was done automatically. Skip to the Usage section below.
For manual installations only:
1. Get Your Credentials
You'll need:
- Server URL (e.g.,
https://api.prometheux.aior your on-premise URL) - Authentication token
- Username
- Organization
Contact your Prometheux admin or check your account settings for these credentials.
2. Configure Claude Desktop
Edit the Claude Desktop configuration file:
- macOS:
~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json - Windows:
%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json - Linux:
~/.config/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
- Configuration
- With Debug Mode
{
"mcpServers": {
"prometheux": {
"command": "/Users/YOUR_USERNAME/.local/bin/prometheux-mcp",
"args": ["--url", "https://api.prometheux.ai"],
"env": {
"PROMETHEUX_TOKEN": "your_token_here",
"PROMETHEUX_USERNAME": "your_username",
"PROMETHEUX_ORGANIZATION": "your_organization"
}
}
}
}
Run this in your terminal to find the full path:
- macOS/Linux:
which prometheux-mcp - Windows:
where prometheux-mcp(in PowerShell or Command Prompt)
Common paths after pipx install:
- macOS:
/Users/YOUR_USERNAME/.local/bin/prometheux-mcp - Windows:
C:\\Users\\YOUR_USERNAME\\.local\\bin\\prometheux-mcp.exe - Linux:
/home/YOUR_USERNAME/.local/bin/prometheux-mcp
Use double backslashes (\\) for Windows paths in JSON.
The server automatically constructs the full API path using your username and organization: {url}/jarvispy/{organization}/{username}/mcp/messages
For on-premise deployments or custom URLs, replace https://api.prometheux.ai with your own server URL:
"args": ["--url", "https://your-custom-domain.com"]
Add --debug flag to see detailed logs in Claude Desktop's console:
{
"mcpServers": {
"prometheux": {
"command": "/Users/YOUR_USERNAME/.local/bin/prometheux-mcp",
"args": ["--url", "https://api.prometheux.ai", "--debug"],
"env": {
"PROMETHEUX_TOKEN": "your_token_here",
"PROMETHEUX_USERNAME": "your_username",
"PROMETHEUX_ORGANIZATION": "your_organization"
}
}
}
}
Replace the command path with your actual path (see previous tab for how to find it).
3. Restart Claude Desktop
Completely quit Claude Desktop (Cmd+Q on macOS, or close from system tray) and reopen it. The MCP server will start automatically when Claude launches.
Configure Cursor
Cursor supports MCP servers via a mcp.json configuration file. You can configure it at the project level or globally.
| Scope | Path |
|---|---|
| Project | .cursor/mcp.json (inside your project root) |
| Global | ~/.cursor/mcp.json (your home directory) |
Add the following configuration:
{
"mcpServers": {
"prometheux": {
"command": "/Users/YOUR_USERNAME/.local/bin/prometheux-mcp",
"args": ["--url", "https://api.prometheux.ai"],
"env": {
"PROMETHEUX_TOKEN": "your_token_here",
"PROMETHEUX_USERNAME": "your_username",
"PROMETHEUX_ORGANIZATION": "your_organization"
}
}
}
}
After saving, go to Settings (Cmd+Shift+J) → Tools & MCP and toggle the server on. The tools will be available in new chat sessions.
Run which prometheux-mcp (macOS/Linux) or where prometheux-mcp (Windows) to find the correct path for the command field.
Configure Claude Code
Claude Code (terminal CLI) supports adding MCP servers via the claude mcp add command.
Add the server:
claude mcp add --scope user \
-e PROMETHEUX_TOKEN='your_token_here' \
-e PROMETHEUX_USERNAME='your_username' \
-e PROMETHEUX_ORGANIZATION='your_organization' \
-- prometheux /Users/YOUR_USERNAME/.local/bin/prometheux-mcp --url https://api.prometheux.ai
This registers the server globally (user scope). Restart Claude Code for the changes to take effect.
Verify the connection:
claude mcp list
You should see prometheux listed as connected.
To remove: claude mcp remove prometheux
To list all servers: claude mcp list
Usage
Once configured, just chat naturally with your AI agent. The agent will automatically use the Prometheux MCP tools when relevant.
See the MCP overview page for example conversations and a complete list of available tools.
Troubleshooting
"command not found" or "Server disconnected" error
Claude Desktop can't find the prometheux-mcp command.
Solution:
If you used manual installation, try the automated installation script instead - it handles all path configuration automatically:
# macOS/Linux
curl -sSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/prometheuxresearch/px-mcp-server/main/install.sh -o install.sh && chmod +x install.sh && ./install.sh
# Windows
Invoke-WebRequest -Uri "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/prometheuxresearch/px-mcp-server/main/install.ps1" -OutFile "install.ps1"; .\install.ps1
Manual fix:
macOS:
- Find the full path:
which prometheux-mcp - Use that full path in your config (usually
/Users/YOUR_USERNAME/.local/bin/prometheux-mcp) - Restart Claude Desktop completely (Cmd+Q, then reopen)
Windows:
- Find the full path:
where prometheux-mcp(in PowerShell or Command Prompt) - Use that full path in your config with double backslashes (e.g.,
C:\\Users\\YOUR_USERNAME\\.local\\bin\\prometheux-mcp.exe) - Restart Claude Desktop
Linux:
- Find the full path:
which prometheux-mcp - Use that full path in your config (usually
/home/YOUR_USERNAME/.local/bin/prometheux-mcp) - Restart Claude Desktop
GUI applications like Claude Desktop may not inherit your terminal's PATH. Using the full path is more reliable than the short command.
"Connection refused" error
The MCP server can't reach your Prometheux instance.
Solution:
- Verify your server URL is correct and accessible
- Test the connection:
curl https://your-server-url/mcp/info - Check if you're behind a VPN or firewall that might block access
- For on-premise installations, ensure the server is running
"Authentication failed" error
Your credentials are incorrect or expired.
Solution:
- Double-check your token, username, and organization in the config
- Verify the credentials with your Prometheux admin
- Ensure there are no extra spaces or quotes in the JSON config
- Check if your token has expired and needs renewal
Claude doesn't use the tools
Claude might not realize the tools are relevant to your query.
Solution:
- Be more explicit: "Use the prometheux tools to list concepts in project X"
- Check Claude Desktop's console for MCP errors (View → Developer → Toggle Developer Tools)
- Enable debug mode in your config (
--debugflag) and check logs - Verify the server is connected: look for the hammer icon in Claude Desktop
Advanced Usage
Using MCP Programmatically
You can also use the Prometheux MCP package as a Python library:
import asyncio
from prometheux_mcp.config import Settings
from prometheux_mcp.client import PrometheuxClient
async def main():
# Configure connection
settings = Settings(
url="https://api.prometheux.ai",
token="your_token",
username="your_username",
organization="your_org"
)
# Create client
async with PrometheuxClient(settings) as client:
# List concepts
concepts = await client.list_concepts("project-123")
print(f"Found {concepts['count']} concepts")
# Run a concept
result = await client.run_concept(
project_id="project-123",
concept_name="my_concept",
force_rerun=True
)
print(f"Derived {result['total_records']} records")
asyncio.run(main())
Local Development
To test MCP locally with your development instance:
{
"mcpServers": {
"prometheux-local": {
"command": "prometheux-mcp",
"args": ["--url", "http://localhost:8000", "--debug"],
"env": {
"PROMETHEUX_TOKEN": "dev_token",
"PROMETHEUX_USERNAME": "dev_user",
"PROMETHEUX_ORGANIZATION": "dev_org"
}
}
}
}
Learn More
- MCP Protocol Specification: modelcontextprotocol.io
- Local MCP Server (GitHub): prometheuxresearch/px-mcp-server
- Local MCP Server (PyPI): prometheux-mcp
- Remote MCP Server: See Remote MCP Server for Claude Web integration
- Python SDK: See Python SDK Reference for alternative integration methods
- REST API: See REST API Reference for direct HTTP access
Related Resources
- Concepts API - Learn about the concept API
- Python SDK - Alternative programmatic access
- Chat API - Interactive AI chat interface