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Prerequisites

Before installing the MCP server, you’ll need:
  1. Pica Account - Create a free account
  2. Pica API Key - Get your API key from Settings > API Keys
  3. Connected Integrations - Connect integrations from the Connections page
  4. MCP-Compatible IDE - Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, or any MCP client

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Installation

The easiest way to install the Pica MCP Server is via NPM: 
npm install -g @picahq/mcp
Alternatively, you can use it directly with npx without installation: 
npx @picahq/mcp

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Other Installation Methods

  • Smithery
  • Docker
  • From Source
Install via Smithery for Claude Desktop:
npx -y @smithery/cli install @picahq/mcp --client claude

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Configuration

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Set Your API Key

The MCP server requires your Pica API key to authenticate requests. Set it as an environment variable: 
export PICA_SECRET=your_pica_secret_key
Get your API key from the Pica dashboard.

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IDE Setup

  • https://mintcdn.com/pica-236d4a1e/kLG8rLJY_ZkadQp9/images/cursor.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=kLG8rLJY_ZkadQp9&q=85&s=15834048a0a2eec7556d98df5fe97a10 Cursor
  • https://mintcdn.com/pica-236d4a1e/kLG8rLJY_ZkadQp9/images/windsurf.svg?fit=max&auto=format&n=kLG8rLJY_ZkadQp9&q=85&s=06407c601a486d2f9f99c9285eac8db4 Windsurf
To use the MCP server in Cursor:
  1. Open Cursor and go to Cursor Settings
  2. Select MCP Settings from the menu
  3. Add the following configuration to your MCP JSON file:
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "pica": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["@picahq/mcp"],
      "env": {
        "PICA_SECRET": "your-pica-secret-key"
      }
    }
  }
}
  1. Save the file and restart Cursor
Cursor MCP Settings
Testing in Cursor:Try asking Cursor:
  • “What connections do I have access to?”
  • “Show me all Gmail actions I can perform”
  • “Send an email using Gmail to hello@picaos.com”
  • “Build a React form component that sends emails with Gmail”

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Examples

Once set up, you can use the MCP server for three main purposes:
  • Execute Actions
  • Generate Code
  • Get Insights

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Direct Action Execution

Ask your AI to perform actions on integrated platforms:
Get my last 5 emails from Gmail
The AI will use the MCP server to fetch your recent emails and display them.
Send a message to #general channel in Slack: "Meeting in 10 minutes"
The AI will post the message to your Slack workspace.
Create a calendar event for tomorrow at 2pm titled "Product Review"
The AI will create the event in your Google Calendar.
Create a lead in Salesforce for John Doe at Acme Corp with email john@acme.com
The AI will create the lead in your Salesforce CRM.

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Advanced Configuration

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Manual Installation

If you want more control over the installation: 
# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/picahq/mcp.git
cd mcp

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Build the server
npm run build

# For development with auto-rebuild
npm run watch
Manual IDE Configuration: 
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "pica": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": [
        "/path/to/pica-mcp-server/build/index.js"
      ],
      "env": {
        "PICA_SECRET": "YOUR_PICA_SECRET_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

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Deploy to Vercel

You can deploy the MCP server to Vercel for remote access:
  1. Install dependencies including Vercel adapter: 
    npm install @vercel/mcp-adapter zod
  2. Deploy to Vercel: 
    vercel
  3. Configure your MCP client to use the remote server:
    • For Cursor: https://your-project.vercel.app/api/mcp
    • For Claude/Cline: Use npx mcp-remote https://your-project.vercel.app/api/mcp
See the DEPLOYMENT.md file in the repository for detailed instructions.

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Troubleshooting

Problem: The AI can’t connect to the MCP server.Solutions:
  • Verify your PICA_SECRET is set correctly in the configuration
  • Check that the MCP server is running (restart your IDE)
  • Ensure you have an active internet connection
  • Try running npx @picahq/mcp manually to test
Problem: Getting 401 or authentication errors.Solutions:
Problem: The server reports no connections available.Solutions:
Problem: Actions fail to execute.Solutions:
  • Check the action knowledge first using get_pica_action_knowledge
  • Verify all required parameters are provided
  • Ensure your connection has proper permissions for the action
  • Check for rate limits or API-specific restrictions

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Next Steps

Claude Desktop Setup

Specific setup guide for Claude Desktop

Browse Integrations

Explore all 150+ available integrations

API Reference

Learn about the underlying Pica APIs

GitHub Repository

View source code and contribute

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Get Help

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