How do I install the Dex Add MCP skill?

Run npx skillmds@latest add davekilleen/dex-add-mcp in your terminal (requires Node.js), paste this page's agent-chat prompt into Claude, Cursor, or any MCP-connected agent, or download the SKILL.md file and copy it into your agent's skills directory.

Is Dex Add MCP safe to use?

This skill has not completed SkillMD's automated safety review yet. SkillMD never runs a skill's scripts for you; review the SKILL.md before installing.

Which AI agents work with Dex Add MCP?

This skill is tagged as working with Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex. SKILL.md is an open format, so most agents that read a skills directory can load it too.

Is Dex Add MCP free to use?

Yes. Installing skills from SkillMD is free, and the skill stays under its author's original license.

Who published Dex Add MCP?

davekilleen (@davekilleen) published this skill. Their other Agent Skills are listed on their SkillMD profile.

Dex Add MCP by davekilleen — Agent Skill

Name: Dex Add MCP
Author: davekilleen

Dex Add MCP

Add a known MCP server to config using Dex-safe user scope. Use when the user has server details in hand and says 'add this MCP', 'register this server'. Not for discovering/installing from a marketplace; use `integrate-mcp`. Not for building one; use `create-mcp`.

davekilleen Updated Sep 17, 2026

File contents

Purpose

Add a new MCP server the safe way: user scope by default so your custom MCP survives Dex updates.

When to Use

You want to add an MCP server without touching .mcp.json
You want it to work across all projects (user scope)
You are not sure which scope to pick

Default Behavior (Recommended)

Use user scope unless you explicitly want to share with a team.

User scope (recommended)

claude mcp add --scope user <server-name> -- <command> <args>

Why: Survives Dex updates and applies across all projects.

Project scope (team-shared)

claude mcp add --scope project <server-name> -- <command> <args>

Why: Stored in .mcp.json and shared with everyone on this repo.

Examples

Add a local stdio MCP (user scope)

claude mcp add --scope user gmail --transport stdio -- node .scripts/mcp/gmail-mcp.js

Add a remote HTTP MCP (user scope)

claude mcp add --scope user notion --transport http https://mcp.notion.com/mcp

Add a project-shared MCP (explicit)

claude mcp add --scope project github --transport http https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/

Guardrails

If you are not sure, use user scope.
Only use project scope if everyone should get the server.
Do not add personal MCPs to .mcp.json.

Track Usage (Silent)

Update System/usage_log.md to mark MCP addition as used.

Analytics (Silent):

Call track_event with event_name mcp_added and properties:

(no properties — do NOT include server names)

This only fires if the user has opted into analytics. No action needed if it returns "analytics_disabled".

---name: dex-add-mcpdescription: Add a known MCP server to config using Dex-safe user scope. Use when the user has server details in hand and says 'add this MCP', 'register this server'. Not for discovering/installing from a marketplace; use `integrate-mcp`. Not for building one; use `create-mcp`.---## PurposeAdd a new MCP server the safe way: **user scope by default** so your custom MCP survives Dex updates.## When to Use- You want to add an MCP server without touching `.mcp.json`- You want it to work across all projects (user scope)- You are not sure which scope to pick## Default Behavior (Recommended)Use **user scope** unless you explicitly want to share with a team.### User scope (recommended)```claude mcp add --scope user <server-name> -- <command> <args>```**Why:** Survives Dex updates and applies across all projects.### Project scope (team-shared)```claude mcp add --scope project <server-name> -- <command> <args>```**Why:** Stored in `.mcp.json` and shared with everyone on this repo.## Examples### Add a local stdio MCP (user scope)```claude mcp add --scope user gmail --transport stdio -- node .scripts/mcp/gmail-mcp.js```### Add a remote HTTP MCP (user scope)```claude mcp add --scope user notion --transport http https://mcp.notion.com/mcp```### Add a project-shared MCP (explicit)```claude mcp add --scope project github --transport http https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/```## Guardrails- If you are not sure, **use user scope**.- Only use project scope if **everyone** should get the server.- Do not add personal MCPs to `.mcp.json`.---## Track Usage (Silent)Update `System/usage_log.md` to mark MCP addition as used.**Analytics (Silent):**Call `track_event` with event_name `mcp_added` and properties:- (no properties — do NOT include server names)This only fires if the user has opted into analytics. No action needed if it returns "analytics_disabled".

Frequently asked questions