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Local MCP Guide

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Businessmap Help
  • Updated

Installing and Configuring the Businessmap MCP Server

 

IMPORTANT: If you are not actively looking to configure local MCP server on your computer, we recommend you switch to the Remote MCP server guide here: 

Remote MCP Guide

 

The following article covers setting up Local MCP server on your computer.

1. MCP Setup in Cursor

Important: Running MCP in Cursor requires Node.js with npm installed on your machine.

Cursor automatically loads MCP configurations from:

.cursor/mcp.json

To configure Businessmap MCP in Cursor:

  1. Open the file above.

  2. Include the MCP configuration, which should look like this (depending on whether you need both servers or just one of them):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "businessmap-cards": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "@bmapio/mcp-client-cards"
      ],
      "env": {
        "COMPANY_NAME": "XXX",
        "API_KEY": "XXX"
      }
    },
    "businessmap-docs": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "@bmapio/mcp-client-docs"
      ],
      "env": {
        "COMPANY_NAME": "XXX",
        "API_KEY": "XXX"
      }
    }
  }
}

Cursor will automatically install or refresh the MCP server when this file changes. If the configuration is successful, you should see Cursor connected to the MCP:


 

2. MCP Setup in Claude Desktop

Important: Running MCP in Claude Desktop requires Node.js with npm installed on your machine.

  1. Open Settings → Developer.

  2. Add a new MCP server by editing the Config file (click Edit Config to locate the file on your file system)

  3. Include the MCP configuration, which should look like this  (depending on whether you need both servers or just one of them):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "businessmap-cards": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "@bmapio/mcp-client-cards"
      ],
      "env": {
        "COMPANY_NAME": "XXX",
        "API_KEY": "XXX"
      }
    },
    "businessmap-docs": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "@bmapio/mcp-client-docs"
      ],
      "env": {
        "COMPANY_NAME": "XXX",
        "API_KEY": "XXX"
      }
    }
  }
}

After steps 1, 2 and 3 above, restart Claude Desktop (quit/kill the process and start it again). If the installation is successful, you should see the server listed and connected.

3. MCP Setup via Claude Code CLI

Important: Running MCP in Claude Code CLI requires Node.js with npm installed on your machine. MCP is not currently supported in the VisualStudio mode of Claude Code.

Setup steps:

  1. Navigate to the project folder where you want the MCP server available.

  2. Run the following command, replacing the subdomain/apikey placeholders:

    For Cards:

claude mcp add --transport stdio businessmap-cards \
  --env COMPANY_NAME=YOUR_SUBDOMAIN \
  --env API_KEY=YOUR_API_KEY \
  -- npx @bmapio/mcp-client-cards

      For Docs:

claude mcp add --transport stdio businessmap-docs \
 --env COMPANY_NAME=YOUR_SUBDOMAIN \
 --env API_KEY=YOUR_API_KEY \
 -- npx @bmapio/mcp-client-docs

This registers the Businessmap MCP server for use inside Claude Code. To verify the installation, run claude and start the commend /mcp. If the installation is correct, you will see the server connected as shown below:

 

Good to Know

  • Each AI tool (Cursor, Claude Desktop, Claude Code) can introspect the MCP server itself, meaning the full list of tools and their parameters can be discovered directly from within the AI assistant—no need to manually browse an API reference.

  • MCP enables complex AI workflows, such as multi-step card operations, performed in a single prompt.

  • The configuration is lightweight: only a subdomain and API key are required.

  • To use the MCP server, you need to have the Security control "Enable AI" on: 

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