> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://bilt.me/docs/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# MCP Quickstart

> Connect Bilt to Claude, Cursor, or OpenClaw in under 5 minutes

Use Bilt from your favorite AI client. AI agents can create projects, build apps, and deploy — all through natural language via MCP (Model Context Protocol).

**Estimated time:** 5 minutes

By the end of this guide, your AI client will be connected to Bilt with all 7 MCP tools available, ready to build and deploy apps from chat.

## Prerequisites

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card>
    **MCP client**

    Claude Desktop, OpenClaw, Cursor, or any MCP-compatible client
  </Card>

  <Card>
    **Bilt API token**

    Free account at [bilt.me/sign-up](https://bilt.me/sign-up)
  </Card>
</CardGroup>

## Step 1: Get your API token

<Steps>
  <Step title="Sign up or log in">
    Go to [bilt.me/sign-up](https://bilt.me/sign-up)
  </Step>

  <Step title="Generate an API key">
    Navigate to **Settings → API Keys** in your dashboard
  </Step>

  <Step title="Copy the token">
    Your token looks like: `bilt_live_abc123...`

    <Warning>
      **Save this token.** It's only shown once. Never commit it to version control.
    </Warning>
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Step 2: Configure your client

<Tabs>
  <Tab title="Claude Desktop">
    ### macOS

    Edit: `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json`

    ### Windows

    Edit: `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json`

    ### Configuration

    ```json theme={null}
    {
      "mcpServers": {
        "bilt": {
          "transport": {
            "type": "sse",
            "url": "https://mcp.bilt.me/mcp/sse",
            "headers": {
              "Authorization": "Bearer bilt_live_YOUR_TOKEN_HERE"
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
    ```

    <Info>
      Replace `YOUR_TOKEN_HERE` with your actual API token.
    </Info>
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="OpenClaw">
    Edit: `~/.openclaw/openclaw.json`

    ```json theme={null}
    {
      "mcpServers": {
        "bilt": {
          "transport": {
            "type": "sse",
            "url": "https://mcp.bilt.me/mcp/sse",
            "headers": {
              "Authorization": "Bearer bilt_live_YOUR_TOKEN_HERE"
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
    ```

    Restart OpenClaw:

    ```bash theme={null}
    openclaw gateway restart
    ```
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Cursor">
    Create `.cursor/mcp_config.json` in your project directory:

    ```json theme={null}
    {
      "mcpServers": {
        "bilt": {
          "transport": {
            "type": "sse",
            "url": "https://mcp.bilt.me/mcp/sse",
            "headers": {
              "Authorization": "Bearer bilt_live_YOUR_TOKEN_HERE"
            }
          }
        }
      }
    }
    ```

    Reload: `Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + P → "Reload Window"`
  </Tab>

  <Tab title="Other clients">
    Use these connection details for any MCP-compatible client:

    * **Server URL**: `https://mcp.bilt.me/mcp/sse`
    * **Transport**: SSE (Server-Sent Events)
    * **Auth**: Bearer token in `Authorization` header
    * **Token format**: `Bearer bilt_live_...`

    See [Other Clients](/docs/integrations/other-clients) for detailed instructions.
  </Tab>
</Tabs>

## Step 3: Verify the connection

After restarting your client, check that Bilt is connected:

<CodeGroup>
  ```text Prompt theme={null}
  What MCP servers are available?
  ```

  ```text Expected response theme={null}
  Connected MCP servers:
  - bilt (7 tools available)
    • bilt_list_projects
    • bilt_get_project
    • bilt_create_project
    • bilt_get_session
    • bilt_send_message
    • bilt_cancel_workflow
    • bilt_get_messages
  ```
</CodeGroup>

<Check>
  If you see all 7 tools, you're connected.
</Check>

## Step 4: Build your first app

Try this in your AI client:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Create a project">
    ```text theme={null}
    Use Bilt to create a new project called "my-first-app"
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Build features">
    ```text theme={null}
    Build a todo list app with add, delete, and mark complete
    ```
  </Step>

  <Step title="Deploy">
    ```text theme={null}
    Deploy my-first-app to production
    ```
  </Step>
</Steps>

Your agent handles the full flow — creating the project, sending build instructions, monitoring progress, and returning a live preview URL.

<Info>
  If `bilt_send_message` returns `status: "queued"`, the request was accepted but has not started yet. Ask the agent to call `bilt_get_session` for the same project until `hasActiveWorkflows` is false before sending unrelated follow-up work.
</Info>

## Troubleshooting

<AccordionGroup>
  <Accordion title="Tools not appearing">
    1. Verify the config file path is correct for your OS
    2. Check JSON syntax (use a validator)
    3. Fully restart the client (quit and reopen)
    4. Check client logs for connection errors
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="401 Unauthorized">
    1. Token must start with `bilt_live_`
    2. Check for extra spaces in the config
    3. Regenerate at [bilt.me](https://bilt.me) → Settings → API Keys
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Connection timeout">
    1. Check internet connectivity
    2. Ensure firewall allows HTTPS (port 443)
    3. Test manually:

    ```bash theme={null}
    curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_TOKEN" \
      https://mcp.bilt.me/health
    ```
  </Accordion>

  <Accordion title="Rate limit errors">
    Current limit: 60 requests/minute. Wait 60 seconds and retry. Contact support for higher limits.
  </Accordion>
</AccordionGroup>

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="API Reference" icon="book" href="/docs/api-reference/overview">
    All 7 MCP tools with parameters and examples
  </Card>

  <Card title="Integration guides" icon="plug" href="/docs/integrations/claude-desktop">
    Detailed setup for each client
  </Card>
</CardGroup>