Claude Code — MCP Configs
- File format
- JSON
- Discovery paths
-
.claude.json,.mcp.json - Syllago install method
- JSON merge
- Symlink support
- No
- Config file
-
.mcp.json - Transports
-
stdio,sse,streamable-http
Features
How each feature converts to syllago's canonical format. See format conversion for what these statuses mean.
Fields
Native frontmatter or config fields this provider exposes. The first column is the provider's own field name; the canonical key column links to syllago's cross-provider equivalent.
| Config key | Conversion | Canonical key | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
oauth | Translated Conversion type: Translated Actively mapped to the target provider’s equivalent field during conversion. Learn more → | — | OAuth 2.0 with dynamic client registration, CIMD discovery, token storage in keychain/credentials file, and auto-refresh. |
transport | Translated Conversion type: Translated Actively mapped to the target provider’s equivalent field during conversion. Learn more → | — | Three transport types: stdio (local process), SSE (deprecated), HTTP/streamable-HTTP (recommended for remote with OAuth support). |
allowedMcpServers | Conversion type: No canonical equivalent — appended as prose in a conversion notes block so nothing is silently lost. Learn more → | — | Enterprise control via managed-mcp.json (exclusive) or allowedMcpServers/deniedMcpServers (policy) keyed by serverName, serverCommand, or serverUrl. |
ENABLE_TOOL_SEARCH | Not portable Conversion type: Not portable Unique to this provider — can’t be carried across providers. Learn more → | — | MCP tool schemas are deferred via ToolSearch; controlled by ENABLE_TOOL_SEARCH (default/true/auto/auto:N/false), requires Sonnet 4+ or Opus 4+. |
MAX_MCP_OUTPUT_TOKENS | Not portable Conversion type: Not portable Unique to this provider — can’t be carried across providers. Learn more → | — | MAX_MCP_OUTPUT_TOKENS (default 25k) caps tool output; per-tool _meta annotations raise text limit up to 500k chars; oversized results spill to file. |
mcpServers | Not portable Conversion type: Not portable Unique to this provider — can’t be carried across providers. Learn more → | — | Plugins bundle MCP servers via .mcp.json or plugin.json mcpServers key; uses ${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_ROOT}/${CLAUDE_PLUGIN_DATA} variables. |
Other features
Behaviors, conventions, and capabilities that aren't tied to a single named field — things like path-based activation, discovery rules, and lifecycle behavior.
| Feature | Conversion | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Dynamic Tool Updates via list_changed Notifications | Translated Conversion type: Translated Actively mapped to the target provider’s equivalent field during conversion. Learn more → | Claude Code honors MCP list_changed notifications, auto-refreshing available tools/prompts/resources without reconnecting. |
enterprise_management | Translated Conversion type: Translated Actively mapped to the target provider’s equivalent field during conversion. Learn more → | mcp_managed_config: managed-mcp.json for exclusive control, or allowedMcpServers/deniedMcpServers in managed settings for policy-based control |
env_var_expansion | Translated Conversion type: Translated Actively mapped to the target provider’s equivalent field during conversion. Learn more → | mcp_env_var_expansion: ${VAR} and ${VAR:-default} syntax in command, args, env, url, and headers fields of .mcp.json |
| Environment Variable Expansion in .mcp.json | Translated Conversion type: Translated Actively mapped to the target provider’s equivalent field during conversion. Learn more → | ${VAR} and ${VAR:-default} expansion in command, args, env, url, and headers fields of .mcp.json. |
oauth_support | Translated Conversion type: Translated Actively mapped to the target provider’s equivalent field during conversion. Learn more → | mcp_oauth_authentication: OAuth 2.0 for HTTP MCP servers; dynamic client registration; token storage in macOS keychain or credentials file; auto-refresh |
resource_referencing | Translated Conversion type: Translated Actively mapped to the target provider’s equivalent field during conversion. Learn more → | mcp_resources: MCP resources accessible via @server:protocol://path syntax; appear in @ autocomplete; auto-fetched when referenced |
| Three Installation Scopes (local, project, user) | Translated Conversion type: Translated Actively mapped to the target provider’s equivalent field during conversion. Learn more → | Three install scopes: local (~/.claude.json per-project, default), project (.mcp.json shareable), user (~/.claude.json global). |
transport_types | Translated Conversion type: Translated Actively mapped to the target provider’s equivalent field during conversion. Learn more → | mcp_transport_types: stdio (local process), SSE (deprecated, still supported), HTTP/streamable-HTTP (recommended for remote) |
| MCP Elicitation (Mid-Task User Input) | Conversion type: No canonical equivalent — appended as prose in a conversion notes block so nothing is silently lost. Learn more → | MCP servers request mid-task user input via elicitation protocol (form or URL mode); interceptable by Elicitation hook events. |
| MCP Prompts as Slash Commands | Conversion type: No canonical equivalent — appended as prose in a conversion notes block so nothing is silently lost. Learn more → | MCP server prompts surface as /mcp__<servername>__<promptname> slash commands with space-separated arguments. |
| MCP Resources via @-Mention | Conversion type: No canonical equivalent — appended as prose in a conversion notes block so nothing is silently lost. Learn more → | MCP resources referenced via @server:protocol://path syntax; appear in @ autocomplete and auto-fetched when included. |
| Claude Code as an MCP Server | Not portable Conversion type: Not portable Unique to this provider — can’t be carried across providers. Learn more → | claude mcp serve exposes Claude's internal tools (View, Edit, LS, etc.) over MCP for consumption by other clients. |
| Import MCP Servers from Claude Desktop | Not portable Conversion type: Not portable Unique to this provider — can’t be carried across providers. Learn more → | claude mcp add-from-claude-desktop interactively imports server configs from Claude Desktop (macOS and WSL only). |
| MCP Channels for Push Messages | Not portable Conversion type: Not portable Unique to this provider — can’t be carried across providers. Learn more → | MCP servers declaring claude/channel capability can push messages into a session (CI results, alerts, webhooks); opted in via --channels flag. |
Sources
| Source |
|---|
| https://code.claude.com/docs/en/mcp.md |