Databricks Apps

Databricks Apps

Tools

Primary: Use mcp__apps__* tools (create, deploy, show, list_deployments, start, stop) SQL Execution: mcp__databricks__run_sql executes SQL with user permissions Fallback: CLI (databricks apps ...) only when MCP tools cannot handle the operation

Logs

App logs are not available via API. Users must check logs in the browser:

1. Open Databricks workspace
2. Navigate to Compute > Apps
3. Select the app and view Logs tab

Environment

• App name: $SESSION_APP_NAME
• Auto deploy: APP_AUTO_DEPLOY=true triggers automatic deployment on session end

Core Workflow

1. Check Status: mcp__apps__show_app → Check compute_status.state, user_api_scopes, resources
2. Check Logs: Direct user to check logs in browser (see Logs section above)
3. After Config Change: mcp__apps__stop_app → mcp__apps__start_app to restart

Authorization (OBO)

Cannot be configured in app.yaml. Use mcp__apps__update to set user_api_scopes.

4 Scopes Required for Unity Catalog Table Access

All Scopes

sql, catalog.schemas:read, catalog.tables:read, unity-catalog, serving, vector-search, genie, jobs, secrets

Security Best Practices

Principle of Least Privilege: Only grant scopes that the app actually needs.

• For read-only table access: sql, catalog.schemas:read, catalog.tables:read, unity-catalog
• For Model Serving only: serving
• For Vector Search only: vector-search

Avoid granting all scopes at once. Start with minimal scopes and add more only when errors indicate they are needed.

Resource Environment Variables

When you need DATABRICKS_RESOURCE_SQL_WAREHOUSE_ID etc., also configure resources:

{
  "name": "sql_warehouse",
  "sql_warehouse": { "id": "WAREHOUSE_ID", "permission": "CAN_USE" }
}

SQL Execution with OBO Token

SQL Execution from Session

Use mcp__databricks__run_sql. Executed with user's OBO token.

SQL Execution in Apps Code

from databricks import sql
import os

connection = sql.connect(
    server_hostname=os.environ["DATABRICKS_HOST"],
    http_path=f"/sql/1.0/warehouses/{os.environ['DATABRICKS_RESOURCE_SQL_WAREHOUSE_ID']}",
    access_token=os.environ["DATABRICKS_API_TOKEN"]
)

Auto-injected Environment Variables:

• DATABRICKS_HOST: Workspace URL
• DATABRICKS_API_TOKEN: OBO token (only when user_api_scopes is configured)
• APP_PORT: Port the app should bind to

Troubleshooting Quick Reference

Details: troubleshooting.md

Service Principal

Use only when user context is unavailable (e.g., background jobs). Details: cli-reference.md

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