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What is MCP?

Model Context Protocol (MCP) is a system that lets AI apps, like Claude Desktop, connect to external tools and data sources. It gives a clear and safe way for AI assistants to work with local services and APIs while keeping the user in control.

This MCP server allows Claude Desktop and anything using the Model Context Protocol to securely interact with all these connections through natural language requests.

With Pica MCP Server, you can:

• Access Multiple Data Sources: Query databases, fetch files, and retrieve information across services
• Automate Workflows: Trigger actions and automate tasks across your connected platforms
• Enhance LLM Capabilities: Give Claude Desktop powerful real-world capabilities through API access

Pica supports 70+ connections (with more added regularly) across categories like:

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Setup

Follow the guide below or watch this video for a quickstart:

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Using npx

You can use this package directly with npx:

npx @picahq/pica-mcp

Or install it globally:

npm install -g @picahq/pica-mcp

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Installing via Smithery

To install pica for Claude Desktop automatically via Smithery:

npx -y @smithery/cli install @picahq/pica --client claude

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Environment Setup

This server requires a Pica API key. Set the environment variable:

export PICA_SECRET=your_pica_secret_key

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Using Docker

Build the Docker Image:

docker build -t pica-mcp-server .

Run the Docker Container:

docker run -e PICA_SECRET=your_pica_secret_key pica-mcp-server

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Manual Installation

Install dependencies:

npm install

Build the server:

npm run build

For development with auto-rebuild:

npm run watch

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Using Claude Desktop

To use with Claude Desktop, add the server config:

On MacOS: ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

On Windows: %APPDATA%/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

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Docker

To use the Docker container with Claude Desktop, update your claude_desktop_config.json with:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "pica-mcp-server": {
      "command": "docker",
      "args": [
        "run",
        "--rm",
        "-i",
        "-e", "PICA_SECRET=YOUR_PICA_SECRET_KEY",
        "pica-mcp-server"
      ]
    }
  }
}

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Manual

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "pica-mcp-server": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": [
        "/path/to/pica-mcp-server/build/index.js"
      ],
      "env": {
        "PICA_SECRET": "YOUR_PICA_SECRET_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

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Debugging

Since MCP servers communicate over stdio, debugging can be challenging. We recommend using the MCP Inspector, which is available as a package script:

npm run inspector

The Inspector will provide a URL to access debugging tools in your browser.

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Usage

Once you’ve added the server config and connected some platforms in the Pica dashboard, restart Claude Desktop and try out some examples:

• What connections do I have access to?
• Send an email using gmail to hello@picaos.com
• What actions can I perform with google sheets?
• Create an event in my calendar
• List 5 users from my postgres users table
• Send a message in slack to the #general channel with today’s weather

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Demo