MCP · Development preview
Find the right skill.
Keep your agent in context.
Give your agent a shortlist of reusable skills, short previews, and sources to review. Start with the public catalog. No SkillDB account or API key needed.
https://skilldb.dev/api/mcp/catalogRead-only discovery. Preview text is incomplete; review the source before use.
Connect the public catalog
Choose your host, add the connection, then check the two tools.
Codex
With the Codex CLI installed, run this command. The CLI and IDE extension share MCP configuration.
codex mcp add skilldb-catalog --url https://skilldb.dev/api/mcp/catalogRun codex mcp list, then enable SkillDB in your session and try the prompt below.
Setup referenceFind up to three skills for an accessible React dialog. Preview the best match, explain its relevance, and link to its source. Treat previews as references; do not install or execute anything.Expected result: a shortlist with source links and an explicitly limited preview. Ask for different keywords if there are no matches.
Two tools. A clear first step.
skilldb_searchSearch public titles, descriptions, packs and categories using task keywords. Compare candidates and follow their catalog links.
skilldb_get_previewInspect one exact returned skill ID. Get metadata and a short excerpt of up to 203 characters, with its source link.
Building an agent workflow?
The FastMCP example performs a real search, previews selected IDs, and handles an empty result without model credentials. It produces references for review, without installing skills.
Run the FastMCP exampleWhen you need more than previews
The full SkillDB integration
Connect with OAuth or an API key for the authenticated service. Full content through MCP requires Pro or Studio. Hosted community tools and local SDK capabilities have their own permissions; they are separate from the public catalog.
https://skilldb.dev/api/mcpUse the local SDK over stdio
npx --yes --package skilldb@0.8.3 skilldb-mcpConfigure SKILLDB_API_KEY through your host's environment settings. Keep credentials out of prompts and committed configuration.
SDK instructions and permissionsCommon questions
Do I need an account or API key?
The public catalog needs neither. It returns searchable metadata, short incomplete previews, and source links. The separate full MCP integration requires OAuth or an API key; full content through MCP requires Pro or Studio. A free key alone does not unlock full content.
Does connecting install skills into my agent?
No. The catalog adds discovery tools. Review the source, instructions, license and fit before explicitly installing a skill through your host. Catalog inclusion is not a guarantee of quality, safety or effectiveness.
What happens if search finds nothing?
Search uses task keywords and requires every term to match. Try a shorter phrase such as "accessibility" or "focus management", then compare previews. Avoid pasting a whole conversation or confidential information into a query.
What data does the catalog receive?
It receives search keywords, optional filters, pagination and selected public skill IDs. Hosting infrastructure also receives request metadata such as IP addresses. The catalog does not link your SkillDB account or expose private team skills. See our privacy policy for retention details.
Why does my connection ask for authentication?
The anonymous endpoint ends in /api/mcp/catalog. The full endpoint at /api/mcp requires authentication. A third-party directory or gateway may also require its own account even when the SkillDB catalog does not.
What has been tested?
The live catalog has protocol, search, preview and access-boundary checks. A Codex discovery session and the published FastMCP client example have also been exercised. Setup instructions for other hosts are based on their documentation; account policies and host behavior vary. Public directory approval is separate from these tests.
Need a hand? Read the docs or send us your host and the error you see.