Claude Code Install

Switchboard can run as a stdio MCP server behind Claude Code. The CLI defaults to a dry-run snippet and can write project-scoped Claude Code config when you pass --write.

Dry Run

switchboard status
switchboard doctor
switchboard install claude

The generated snippet uses Claude Code's mcpServers JSON shape:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "switchboard": {
      "command": "switchboard",
      "args": ["--cwd", "/path/to/your/repo", "mcp"],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}

Use project scope when the Switchboard repo config should travel with the project, or local/user scope when it should stay machine-specific.

Write Project Config

Write .mcp.json for the current repo:

switchboard install claude --write

If .mcp.json already exists, Switchboard creates a timestamped backup next to it before writing. Restore one with:

switchboard install claude --rollback .mcp.json.switchboard-backup-<timestamp>

Claude Code can also register the stdio server with its CLI:

claude mcp add switchboard -- switchboard --cwd /path/to/your/repo mcp

User scope is managed by Claude Code itself via claude mcp add --scope user switchboard -- switchboard mcp; Switchboard prints that command from switchboard install claude --scope user and does not edit ~/.claude.json.

After installing, run /mcp inside Claude Code to verify the server is listed.

For debugging without the daemon-backed adapter, run switchboard --cwd /path/to/your/repo serve.

Reference: https://code.claude.com/docs/en/mcp