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Claude Code

MCP Integrations

Extend Claude Code with MCP servers to connect your tools and automate multi-step workflows.

Overview

MCP servers connect Claude Code to external tools, services, and data sources through a standardized protocol. That makes integrations reusable across workflows and enables more reliable automation.

Start with one high-value server, keep permissions tight, and add review gates before enabling write actions.

Popular integrations

Google Workspace

medium

Gmail, Calendar, Drive, and Docs for productivity workflows

Capabilities
Email triageSchedulingDoc summariesBriefs

Slack

easy

Team communication and channel context

Capabilities
SummariesAction itemsTriageAnnouncements

Notion

medium

Workspace for notes, databases, and docs

Capabilities
Read databasesCreate pagesUpdate properties

Linear

easy

Issue tracking and project management

Capabilities
Query issuesUpdate statusSummaries

GitHub

easy

Repos, PRs, issues, and CI status

Capabilities
Review diffsSummarize PRsTrack CI

Databases

medium

Direct query access for analysis and reporting

Capabilities
Run queriesAnalyze schemasExport data

Setup guide

1

Identify a server

Choose an MCP server provided by the tool vendor, community, or your internal team.

  • Official MCP docs
  • Vendor API docs
  • Internal server registry
2

Install or deploy

Install via package manager or deploy as a service. Prefer local servers for sensitive data.

  • Pin versions
  • Use a staging environment first
3

Configure authentication

Set up OAuth or API keys with least-privilege scopes and separate dev/prod credentials.

  • Store secrets securely
  • Rotate tokens regularly
4

Connect in Claude Code

Add the server using the MCP CLI or configuration. Choose a scope that fits your workflow (local, project, or user).

  • Use project scope for team-shared configs
  • Keep config in version control
5

Test and validate

List tools/prompts, run a simple read-only query, and confirm outputs match expectations.

  • Add logging
  • Document a smoke test

Integration categories

Communication & Collaboration

SlackTeamsDiscordZoom

Use cases: Summaries, meeting briefs, action items, broadcasts

Project Management

LinearJiraAsanaTrello

Use cases: Triage, status reporting, sprint updates

Documentation & Knowledge

NotionConfluenceGitBook

Use cases: Knowledge capture, documentation search, playbooks

Development Tools

GitHubGitLabBitbucket

Use cases: PR review, issue summaries, CI status

Data & Analytics

PostgreSQLMySQLBigQuery

Use cases: Querying, reporting, analytics automation

Productivity

Google WorkspaceMicrosoft 365Todoist

Use cases: Email triage, calendar coordination, personal workflows

Real-world use case examples

Customer Support Automation

Summarize ticket queues, draft replies, and post daily status updates.

Integrations Used
TicketingSlackDocs

DevOps Workflows

Summarize CI failures, propose fixes, and draft rollback checklists.

Integrations Used
GitHubCI/CDChat

Content Research Pipeline

Search, summarize sources, and draft briefs with citations.

Integrations Used
SearchFetchDocs

Sales Intelligence

Compile account updates and meeting briefs for upcoming calls.

Integrations Used
CRMEmailCalendar

Engineering Analytics

Generate weekly sprint health and quality reports.

Integrations Used
DatabaseGitHubLinear

Personal Knowledge Management

Capture notes, extract tasks, and keep a structured knowledge base.

Integrations Used
NotionDocsTasks

Building custom MCP servers

When existing servers don’t meet your needs, build a custom MCP server using the SDK. This is especially useful for internal tools, custom policies, or performance optimizations.

Tool-specific workflows

Example: Your company uses a proprietary CRM or internal tool

Approach: Build a custom MCP server using the SDK to expose tool APIs

Data transformation needs

Example: You need ETL before data is useful

Approach: Create a server that cleans and normalizes data before exposure

Security requirements

Example: You need extra filtering or approval gates

Approach: Wrap APIs with additional auth and policy checks

Performance optimization

Example: External APIs have rate limits

Approach: Add caching, batching, and throttling in the server

Security considerations

Credential Management

Use environment variables or secret managers; avoid hardcoding keys.

Least Privilege Access

Grant only the minimum permissions needed and audit regularly.

Data Privacy

Filter sensitive data and avoid exposing secrets to tools.

Audit Logging

Log tool calls and errors for visibility and accountability.

Best practices

Start with read-only integrations before enabling write permissions
Test each MCP server independently before combining multiple servers
Document configuration and prompts for team consistency
Use separate credentials for dev and production
Monitor usage and costs for third-party services
Keep servers updated for security patches
Add logging for tool calls and failures

Troubleshooting

MCP server not appearing in Claude Code

  • Check configuration syntax and scope
  • Verify the server is installed and running
  • Restart Claude Code to reload configuration
  • Review server logs for startup errors

Authentication failures

  • Verify API keys and tokens
  • Check token expiration and scopes
  • Confirm OAuth redirect URIs
  • Review vendor authentication docs

Rate limiting or quota errors

  • Cache results to reduce calls
  • Batch requests where possible
  • Add delays between calls
  • Upgrade service plan if needed

Related resources

Email + CalendarTask ManagementBrowser ResearchMCP for Beginners Guide