How to add developer tools to Claude with MCP

Claude can write code, explain algorithms, and review pull requests. It can't look up a DNS record, validate an email, or sign a JWT. The knowledge is there, but the tools aren't. You end up copying from a browser tab or running commands in a terminal and pasting the output back into your conversation.

MCP (Model Context Protocol) fixes that. You connect an MCP server, and Claude gains callable tools it can use mid-conversation. The Botoi MCP server gives Claude 49 developer tools through a single connection.

What MCP does

MCP is an open protocol from Anthropic. It lets AI assistants call external tools through a structured interface. The assistant sends a JSON-RPC request; the MCP server executes it and returns the result. No copy-pasting terminal output. No browser tab switching. The assistant picks the right tool, calls it, and works with the structured JSON response inline.

Setup: Claude Desktop

Open claude_desktop_config.json and add the Botoi server:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "botoi": {
      "type": "streamable-http",
      "url": "https://api.botoi.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}

The config file lives at ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json on macOS, and %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json on Windows. You can also get there from Settings > Developer > Edit Config inside Claude Desktop.

Restart Claude Desktop after saving. The 49 tools appear in the tool list at the bottom of the chat input.

Setup: Claude Code

One terminal command:

claude mcp add botoi --transport streamable-http https://api.botoi.com/mcp

Claude Code registers the server and discovers the tools on your next conversation. No config file to edit.

Setup: Cursor

Create or edit .cursor/mcp.json in your project root:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "botoi": {
      "url": "https://api.botoi.com/mcp",
      "type": "streamable-http"
    }
  }
}

Cursor also supports adding MCP servers through Settings > MCP. Either method works.

Setup: VS Code

Add the mcp.servers key to your settings.json:

{
  "mcp": {
    "servers": {
      "botoi": {
        "type": "streamable-http",
        "url": "https://api.botoi.com/mcp"
      }
    }
  }
}

This works with GitHub Copilot in VS Code. Open the Copilot chat and the tools are available through agent mode.

Your first tool call

After connecting the MCP server, ask Claude something that requires an external lookup:

"Look up the DNS records for example.com"

Here's what happens behind the scenes:

You: "Look up the DNS records for example.com"

Tool call: lookup_dns
Input: { "domain": "example.com", "type": "A" }

Result:
{
  "domain": "example.com",
  "type": "A",
  "records": [
    { "value": "93.184.216.34", "ttl": 3600 }
  ],
  "resolver": "1.1.1.1",
  "query_time_ms": 11
}

Claude identifies this as a DNS lookup, calls the lookup_dns tool with the domain and record type, and gets structured JSON back. It then formats the result and presents it in your conversation. No dig command, no browser tab, no copy-paste.

Chaining tools in one conversation

The real power shows up when Claude chains multiple tools together. Try this prompt:

"Check the WHOIS info for stripe.com, verify its SSL certificate, and detect what tech stack it uses."

Claude breaks this into three tool calls and runs them in sequence.

Step 1: WHOIS lookup

Tool call: lookup_whois
Input: { "domain": "stripe.com" }

Result:
{
  "domain": "stripe.com",
  "registrar": "SafeNames Ltd.",
  "creation_date": "2009-09-11",
  "expiry_date": "2028-09-11",
  "status": ["clientDeleteProhibited", "clientTransferProhibited"],
  "name_servers": ["ns1.p16.dynect.net", "ns2.p16.dynect.net"]
}

Step 2: SSL certificate check

Tool call: lookup_ssl
Input: { "domain": "stripe.com" }

Result:
{
  "domain": "stripe.com",
  "issuer": "DigiCert Inc",
  "valid_from": "2025-11-15T00:00:00Z",
  "valid_to": "2026-12-14T23:59:59Z",
  "days_remaining": 259,
  "protocol": "TLSv1.3",
  "grade": "A+"
}

Step 3: Technology detection

Tool call: lookup_tech_detect
Input: { "url": "https://stripe.com" }

Result:
{
  "url": "https://stripe.com",
  "technologies": [
    { "name": "React", "category": "JavaScript frameworks" },
    { "name": "Next.js", "category": "Web frameworks" },
    { "name": "Cloudflare", "category": "CDN" },
    { "name": "Stripe", "category": "Payment processors" }
  ]
}

Claude combines all three results into a single summary: the domain's registrar and expiry, its SSL grade and certificate details, and the frameworks and services running on the site. Three tool calls, one conversation, zero context switches.

All 49 tools by category

Category	Count	Tools
Lookup	12	ip_lookup, dns_lookup, whois_lookup, ssl_check, email_validate, http_headers, url_metadata, domain_availability, tech_detect, vpn_detect, phone_lookup, company_lookup
Text and data	10	base64_encode, base64_decode, json_format, json_validate, markdown_to_html, html_to_markdown, csv_to_json, yaml_to_json, json_to_yaml, xml_to_json
Developer	12	hash, uuid_generate, jwt_sign, jwt_verify, cron_describe, password_generate, url_encode, url_decode, regex_test, text_diff, semver_parse, timestamp_convert
Security	5	aes_encrypt, aes_decrypt, totp_generate, credit_card_validate, pii_detect
Transform	5	minify_js, minify_css, sql_format, code_format, json_to_typescript

The full tool list with parameter schemas is at api.botoi.com/v1/mcp/tools.json.

Adding an API key for higher limits

Anonymous access works without any configuration. You get 5 requests per minute and 100 requests per day, rate-limited by IP. That's enough for occasional lookups during a coding session.

For heavier use, add an API key to your MCP config by including an Authorization header:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "botoi": {
      "type": "streamable-http",
      "url": "https://api.botoi.com/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

This pattern works for Claude Desktop, Cursor, and VS Code. For Claude Code, pass the header when adding the server:

Get a free API key at botoi.com/api. The free tier gives you 1,000 requests per day with no credit card required. Paid plans start at $9/month for 10,000 requests per day.

Get started

1. Copy the config snippet for your editor from the setup sections above
2. Restart your editor or start a new Claude Code session
3. Ask Claude: "Look up the DNS records for example.com"
4. If the tool call works, you're connected. All 49 tools are available.

Check the full MCP setup docs for advanced configuration, or browse the API docs for the complete list of 150+ endpoints behind the MCP server.