Best use case
ck:use-mcp is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Utilize MCP server tools with intelligent discovery and execution.
Teams using ck:use-mcp should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/use-mcp/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How ck:use-mcp Compares
| Feature / Agent | ck:use-mcp | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Utilize MCP server tools with intelligent discovery and execution.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
SKILL.md Source
# MCP Tool Execution
Execute MCP operations via **Gemini CLI** to preserve context budget.
## Execution Steps
1. **Execute task via Gemini CLI** (using stdin pipe for MCP support):
```bash
# IMPORTANT: Use stdin piping, NOT -p flag (deprecated, skips MCP init)
# Read model from .claude/.ck.json: gemini.model (default: gemini-3-flash-preview)
echo "$ARGUMENTS. Return JSON only per GEMINI.md instructions." | gemini -y -m <gemini.model>
```
2. **Fallback to mcp-manager subagent** (if Gemini CLI unavailable):
- Use `mcp-manager` subagent to discover and execute tools
- If the subagent got issues with the scripts of `ck:mcp-management` skill, use `ck:mcp-builder` skill to fix them
- **DO NOT** create ANY new scripts
- The subagent can only use MCP tools if any to achieve this task
- If the subagent can't find any suitable tools, just report it back to the main agent to move on to the next step
## Important Notes
- **MUST use stdin piping** - the deprecated `-p` flag skips MCP initialization
- Use `-y` flag to auto-approve tool execution
- **GEMINI.md auto-loaded**: Gemini CLI automatically loads `GEMINI.md` from project root, enforcing JSON-only response format
- **Parseable output**: Responses are structured JSON: `{"server":"name","tool":"name","success":true,"result":<data>,"error":null}`
## Anti-Pattern (DO NOT USE)
```bash
# BROKEN - deprecated -p flag skips MCP server connections!
gemini -y -m <gemini.model> -p "..."
# ALSO BROKEN - --model flag with -p
gemini -y -p "..." --model gemini-3-flash-preview
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