Knock Setup

Setup

End-to-end Knock setup for a coding agent: connect tooling, design and build notification workflows, then wire them into the application. Work through the rules below in order.

While working, keep every response to one short line — no summaries, no menus, no extra questions unless a step fails. The only exceptions are the opening encouragement + account ask (step 1), the workflow proposals, a prior-confirmation restatement (2–3 lines max), the implementation confirmation ask, the import-users id ask, the wrap-up signup-email ask (only when whoami has no email), the final wrap-up output, the ChatGPT and Codex in-app plugin surfacing, Codex CLI /plugins path, and new-session handoff in rules/connect-codex.md, and the Claude connector instructions in rules/connect-claude.md (directory link + connected ask), which have their own formats. When you end with a confirmation question (account, workflows, implementation, import-users id, wrap-up signup email, or wrap-up guides ask), that question must be the very last line of the message, on its own, and bolded.

How to use this skill

Grok Bot: if this is Grok Bot (desktop/iOS teammate, Agent Computer, or /workspace), stop here and follow rules/connect-grok-bot.md instead of the steps below.

1. Open with encouragement, then confirm Knock account (required first action — do this before anything else)

   • ChatGPT and Codex (in-app or Codex CLI): skip this whole step. Do not ask about a Knock account. Do not install skills. Go to step 2 and follow rules/connect-codex.md. Plugin sign-in covers signup. The Codex IDE extension is unsupported — that rule will stop.
   • Opening (first message only). Before the account ask, say a short word of encouragement (about 2–3 sentences): they are going to save a lot of time building notifications with Knock, this was a good call, and we will give it our best shot to get them set up as fast as possible. Keep it warm and plain — not a feature pitch, not a menu of next steps.
   • Default: always ask. That same first message must then ask whether they have a Knock account. Do not add MCP, run OAuth, install skills, discover workflows, or call Knock tools until they answer.
   • Skip the ask only if the user's message explicitly says they started from the Knock dashboard (e.g. pasted a dashboard setup prompt, or says "from the Knock dashboard"). MCP already configured, a prior chat, or guessing they might have an account does not count — still ask. Still include the opening encouragement in that first message.
   • If they say no: do not send them to the dashboard to sign up separately. Tell them in one line that they'll create their account during the sign-in step — signup, onboarding, and returning here all happen in that one browser flow — then continue to Connect Knock tooling.
   • End the ask as the last line, bolded, e.g. Do you already have a Knock account?

2. Connect Knock tooling for the current tool (hard gate — do not discover, propose, or build workflows until a Knock MCP tool call, or knock whoami on the CLI path, has succeeded)

   • Route by tool family, then follow the surface check at the top of that rule (app vs CLI) — do not pick a path from this list alone:
     • Cursor (editor or Cursor CLI) → rules/connect-cursor.md — editor uses MCP; Cursor CLI is routed to rules/connect-knock-cli.md
     • Claude (app or Claude Code) → rules/connect-claude.md — app adds Knock from the connectors directory (give the user the directory link and wait); Claude Code is routed to rules/connect-knock-cli.md
     • ChatGPT or Codex → rules/connect-codex.md — identify the host interface (in-app, Codex CLI, or IDE extension). Do not use shell access to decide. In-app and Codex CLI use the Knock plugin; the IDE extension stops. Do not install skills separately.
     • Any other terminal/CLI agent → rules/connect-knock-cli.md — install the Knock CLI and auth with knock login
   • If the tool is unknown, ask which one, then follow the matching rule.
   • On the Knock CLI path, do not set up MCP at any point in this skill — no claude mcp add, no codex mcp add, no mcp.json edits, no connector ask. Use knock CLI equivalents wherever later steps mention Knock MCP tools.
   • Auth proof: call list_environments or execute_mapi_read GET /v1/whoami (MCP), or run knock whoami (CLI), and wait for success. Checking that MCP or the CLI is installed is not enough.

3. Discover workflows (rules/discover-workflows.md) — only after step 2 auth proof

   • If this conversation already has an approved build list from knock-lifecycle-opportunities or knock-product-messaging-strategy, skip rediscovery (see prior-confirmation gate in that rule).
   • Otherwise learn the product, propose high-value workflows, and confirm which to build.

4. Build workflows (rules/build-workflows.md)

   • Create confirmed workflows in the Knock development environment via MCP.

5. Recommend an implementation approach (rules/recommend-implementation.md)

   • Pick one trigger path, ask the user to confirm, then create branch knock-implementation before file changes.
   • For a Knock Data Source (CDP or custom HTTP), follow rules/implement-data-source.md.

6. Wrap up (rules/wrap-up.md)

   • Always send a test. Follow the MCP path or Knock CLI path in rules/wrap-up.md (do not mix). Shared recipient rules: whoami email + name, or ask for signup email only if missing. Then next steps, dashboard link, and close with Knock agent help.
   • Always mention setting up in-app notifications via knock-in-app-ui. If guides were created or mentioned, note that guides need app wiring — then ask before starting knock-in-app-ui (do not proceed until the user says yes).

Extension rules (not on the first pass)

Use these when preparing for production or when the user asks — they are optional after the main flow:

• Import users (rules/import-users.md) — choose a stable Knock user id, research how users are stored, set KNOCK_API_KEY, and write a dry-run-first bulk-identify script. Do not run against production unless the user explicitly asks.

Rule files reference

• rules/connect-cursor.md — Cursor: surface check, then editor MCP + skills install (Cursor CLI routes to connect-knock-cli.md)
• rules/connect-claude.md — Claude: surface check, then app directory connector (Claude Code routes to connect-knock-cli.md)
• rules/connect-codex.md — ChatGPT and Codex: host-interface surface check, then in-app plugin or Codex CLI /plugins
• rules/connect-grok-bot.md — Grok Bot escape hatch: intro, MCP connect, then route
• rules/connect-knock-cli.md — shared Knock CLI path: install + knock login auth for CLI-based tools
• rules/discover-workflows.md — Product discovery and workflow proposals
• rules/build-workflows.md — Build confirmed workflows with Knock MCP
• rules/recommend-implementation.md — Choose a trigger path, confirm, branch, then implement
• rules/implement-data-source.md — Source setup: identify user, mappings, MCP prompts, testing
• rules/wrap-up.md — Test send (separate MCP vs Knock CLI paths) + next steps, dashboard link, and Knock agent help
• rules/import-users.md — Extension: bulk-identify users for production readiness

Quick reference

• MCP server URL: https://mcp.knock.app/mcp
• ChatGPT / Codex plugin: https://chatgpt.com/plugins/plugin_asdk_app_6a8dddd50424819196928510eff4c70f
• Knock CLI: install with npm install -g @knocklabs/cli, auth with knock login (docs)
• Install open-source skills: npx skills add knocklabs/skills
• Prefer Knock MCP tools (or Knock CLI commands on the CLI path) for workflow, step, and template creation after tooling is connected