Zihin — Claude Code MCP server: features and installation
Zihin connects MCP clients to Zihin.ai agents and their tools. Use it to discover agents and bring platform-specific skills into your coding environment.
claude mcp add mcp-server -e ZIHIN_API_KEY=<ZIHIN_API_KEY> -- npx -y @zihin/mcp-serverWhat Zihin does
The @zihin/mcp-server package bridges a local MCP client and Zihin.ai over HTTP. The client communicates with the package through stdio, while the package forwards requests to the remote MCP endpoint. Available tools, resources, and prompts are discovered automatically. The API key determines the user's role and enforces access boundaries on the server side.
Zihin exposes skills covering agent creation, tool setup, triggers, troubleshooting, and governance. Clients can read them through zihin://skills/*, or you can place them in native IDE formats with install-skills. Claude Code uses .claude/skills/, Cursor uses .cursor/rules/*.mdc, and Codex receives a managed section in AGENTS.md alongside skill files under .zihin/skills/.
A ZIHIN_API_KEY is required for a normal connection and for fetching current skills. If the remote lookup fails, the installer can use copies bundled with the npm package. Offline installation works with --bundled; without that flag or an API key, the skill installer exits with an error. That requirement matters when setting up a project without network access.
What it helps with
- Connect Zihin.ai agents to Claude Code over MCP
- Discover available agents and call their tools
- Install Zihin skills in native IDE directories
- Access guidance for creating agents and configuring triggers
- Use packaged skill copies when the remote lookup fails
Example prompts for the agent
- Connect the Zihin MCP server using my
ZIHIN_API_KEYand show me its available tools. - List the Zihin.ai agents I can access and help me choose one for this task.
- Install the Zihin skills for Claude Code with
npx @zihin/mcp-server install-skills --client claude.
How to install Zihin
1Platform CLI
claude mcp add mcp-server -e ZIHIN_API_KEY=<ZIHIN_API_KEY> -- npx -y @zihin/mcp-serverReplace <…> with your own values
2Platform CLI: remote server
claude mcp add --transport http zihin https://llm.zihin.ai/mcp1Platform CLI: remote server
codex mcp add zihin --url https://llm.zihin.ai/mcp2Platform CLI
codex mcp add zihin --env ZIHIN_API_KEY=<ZIHIN_API_KEY> -- npx -y @zihin/mcp-serverReplace <…> with your own values
Config file
{
"mcpServers": {
"zihin": {
"url": "https://llm.zihin.ai/mcp"
}
}
}{
"mcpServers": {
"zihin": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@zihin/mcp-server"
],
"env": {
"ZIHIN_API_KEY": "<ZIHIN_API_KEY>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values
Config file
{
"servers": {
"zihin": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://llm.zihin.ai/mcp"
}
}
}{
"servers": {
"zihin": {
"type": "stdio",
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@zihin/mcp-server"
],
"env": {
"ZIHIN_API_KEY": "<ZIHIN_API_KEY>"
}
}
}
}Replace <…> with your own values
1Platform CLI: remote server
gemini mcp add -t http zihin https://llm.zihin.ai/mcp2Platform CLI
gemini mcp add -e ZIHIN_API_KEY=<ZIHIN_API_KEY> zihin npx -y @zihin/mcp-serverReplace <…> with your own values
Step by step, with commands for each platform: How to add an MCP server to Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, VS Code, Gemini CLI and more
Questions about Zihin
How do I install Zihin in Claude Code?
For a direct HTTP connection, run claude mcp add --transport http zihin https://llm.zihin.ai/mcp. To use the local package instead, run claude mcp add --env ZIHIN_API_KEY=<ZIHIN_API_KEY> --transport stdio zihin -- npx -y @zihin/mcp-server.
What does the Zihin MCP server do?
It links an MCP client to Zihin.ai and discovers the tools, resources, and prompts exposed by the service. It also provides skills for agent workflows and platform configuration.
Can I install Zihin skills offline?
Yes. Run npx @zihin/mcp-server install-skills --client claude --bundled to use the copies packaged with npm. Fetching current skills from the remote server requires ZIHIN_API_KEY.
