Tool Discovery & Search
This skill helps you discover available tools, MCP servers, and plugins. If a tool doesn't exist locally, it automatically searches for solutions.
When This Skill Applies
Activate this skill when:
- User asks about available tools or capabilities
- User wants to know if Claude can do something
- User mentions "MCP", "plugin", "integration", or "tool"
- User seems uncertain about how to accomplish a task
- User asks "is there a way to..." or "can you..."
Current Available Tools
Core Claude Code Tools
Always available without configuration:
- Bash: Execute shell commands, run scripts, system operations
- Read: Read file contents, view code, examine configurations
- Edit: Modify existing files with precise edits
- Write: Create new files, overwrite existing ones
- Glob: Find files by pattern (e.g.,
**/*.js) - Grep: Search code for patterns, find text across files
- WebSearch: Search the web for information
- WebFetch: Fetch and read web page content
- LSP: Language server features (go to definition, find references, hover info)
- NotebookEdit: Edit Jupyter notebooks
- Skill: Invoke other skills
- Task: Spawn specialized agents for complex tasks
- TodoWrite: Create and manage task lists
- AskUserQuestion: Ask clarifying questions with options
Connected MCP Servers
Your currently configured MCP servers:
Beeper (messaging & chat)
- Tool:
mcp__beeper__search_chats - Purpose: Search and interact with chat messages across platforms
- Use when: Working with messages, chat history, or messaging platforms
Claude in Chrome (browser automation)
Tools available:
mcp__claude-in-chrome__javascript_tool: Execute JavaScript in browsermcp__claude-in-chrome__read_page: Read page accessibility treemcp__claude-in-chrome__find: Find elements on pagemcp__claude-in-chrome__form_input: Fill form fieldsmcp__claude-in-chrome__computer: Mouse/keyboard controlmcp__claude-in-chrome__navigate: Navigate URLsmcp__claude-in-chrome__screenshot: Take screenshotsmcp__claude-in-chrome__gif_creator: Record browser actions as GIFmcp__claude-in-chrome__upload_image: Upload images to pagesmcp__claude-in-chrome__get_page_text: Extract page textmcp__claude-in-chrome__tabs_*: Manage browser tabsmcp__claude-in-chrome__read_console_messages: Debug JavaScriptmcp__claude-in-chrome__read_network_requests: Monitor network activitymcp__claude-in-chrome__shortcuts_*: Use browser shortcuts/workflows
Use when: Web scraping, browser automation, testing web apps, form filling, web interaction
Episodic Memory (conversation history)
- Tool:
mcp__plugin_episodic-memory_episodic-memory__search - Purpose: Search previous Claude Code conversations
- Use when: Recalling past decisions, finding previous solutions, remembering context
Installed Plugins
Your currently enabled plugins:
- superpowers@superpowers-marketplace: Advanced development workflows
- episodic-memory@superpowers-marketplace: Cross-session memory
Tool Discovery Process
When a user needs a tool that isn't currently available:
Step 1: Understand the Need
Ask clarifying questions:
- What specific task are you trying to accomplish?
- What data/services do you need to interact with?
- What format is the input/output?
Step 2: Search Existing Resources
Check these locations for potential solutions:
-
MCP Registry - Search official MCP servers:
bash1# Search the MCP registry on GitHub 2gh search repos "mcp server" topic:mcp -
Claude Plugins Marketplace:
bash1# Check official plugins 2ls ~/.claude/plugins/marketplaces/claude-plugins-official/plugins/ 3ls ~/.claude/plugins/marketplaces/claude-plugins-official/external_plugins/ -
Awesome MCP Servers: Search https://github.com/punkpeye/awesome-mcp-servers
-
NPM/PyPI for MCP:
bash1# Search npm for MCP servers 2npm search mcp-server 3 4# Search PyPI 5pip search mcp
Step 3: Present Options
Once you find relevant tools:
- Describe the tool: What it does and how it helps
- Installation method: How to install it
- Configuration needed: What setup is required
- Example usage: Show how it would solve the user's problem
Step 4: Offer Installation Assistance
Ask the user:
- "I found [tool name] that can [capability]. Would you like me to help install it?"
- Provide installation commands
- Help configure
.mcp.jsonor plugin settings
Common Tool Categories & Solutions
Database Access
- PostgreSQL:
@modelcontextprotocol/server-postgres - SQLite:
@modelcontextprotocol/server-sqlite - MySQL: Search npm for
mcp-server-mysql
API Integrations
- GitHub:
@modelcontextprotocol/server-github - GitLab: Available in official plugins
- Slack: Available in official plugins
- Linear: Available in official plugins
- Stripe: Available in official plugins
Development Tools
- Playwright: Browser testing (official plugin)
- Firebase: Firebase integration (official plugin)
- Docker: Search for MCP docker servers
- Kubernetes: Search for MCP k8s servers
Productivity
- Google Drive: Search MCP registry
- Notion: Search MCP registry
- Calendar: Search MCP registry
AI & Data
- Sentry: Error tracking
- Memory/RAG: Episodic memory (already installed!)
- Vector DBs: Search for Pinecone, Weaviate MCP servers
How to Install New MCP Servers
Method 1: NPM-based MCP Server
bash1# Install globally 2npm install -g @modelcontextprotocol/server-NAME 3 4# Add to ~/.claude.json
Then add configuration to ~/.claude.json:
json1{ 2 "mcpServers": { 3 "server-name": { 4 "command": "npx", 5 "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-NAME"], 6 "env": { 7 "API_KEY": "your-key-here" 8 } 9 } 10 } 11}
Method 2: Python MCP Server
bash1# Install with pip 2pip install mcp-server-NAME 3 4# Add to ~/.claude.json
Configuration:
json1{ 2 "mcpServers": { 3 "server-name": { 4 "command": "python", 5 "args": ["-m", "mcp_server_name"], 6 "env": { 7 "API_KEY": "your-key-here" 8 } 9 } 10 } 11}
Method 3: Custom MCP Server
bash1# Clone repository 2git clone https://github.com/org/mcp-server-name 3cd mcp-server-name 4npm install 5 6# Add to ~/.claude.json with full path
Search Strategy
When searching for a tool:
- Start broad: "mcp server for [use case]"
- Check official sources: Anthropic's MCP registry, official plugins
- Search GitHub:
gh search repos "mcp [service name]" - Check awesome lists: awesome-mcp-servers, awesome-claude
- Search package managers: npm, PyPI, crates.io
Example Interactions
User: "Can Claude access my Google Calendar?"
Response pattern:
- "Let me search for a Google Calendar MCP server..."
- Use WebSearch or gh search to find options
- Present findings: "I found [X] MCP server that provides Google Calendar integration"
- Explain installation and configuration
- Offer to help set it up
User: "Is there a way to interact with Docker?"
Response pattern:
- Check if docker MCP exists
- Search GitHub/npm for docker MCP servers
- Present options with pros/cons
- Guide installation if user wants to proceed
User: "What tools do I have?"
Response pattern:
- List core tools
- List connected MCP servers with their capabilities
- List installed plugins
- Mention discovery capabilities: "I can also search for new tools if you need something specific"
Proactive Discovery
When you notice the user struggling with a task:
- Suggest: "This task might be easier with [tool]. Would you like me to search for an MCP server that can help?"
- Offer: "I can search the MCP registry for solutions if you'd like"
Important Notes
- Always verify tool compatibility before suggesting installation
- Check if tools require API keys or authentication
- Warn about security implications of tools that access sensitive data
- Prioritize official Anthropic MCP servers when available
- Test that installed tools work before declaring success
Quick Reference Commands
bash1# Search MCP registry 2gh search repos topic:mcp "keyword" 3 4# List installed MCP servers 5cat ~/.claude.json | grep -A 5 mcpServers 6 7# List available plugins 8ls ~/.claude/plugins/marketplaces/ 9 10# Check skill availability 11ls ~/.claude/skills/ 12 13# Search npm for MCP 14npm search mcp-server
When to Use This Skill
✅ User asks "what can Claude do?" ✅ User wants to know available integrations ✅ User needs a capability that might require a new tool ✅ User mentions a service/API by name ✅ User seems uncertain about how to proceed
❌ User has a clear plan and knows what tools to use ❌ Task is straightforward with existing tools ❌ User is already using a specific tool successfully