Setting up Fulcrum MCP and the AI Toolkit in Claude Code (command line)

This article shows you how to install the AI Toolkit and connect Fulcrum MCP when you use Claude Code from a terminal. Because you install the AI Toolkit from GitHub, you get updates automatically when we release them.

If you use the Claude desktop app, or Claude Code in VS Code while signed in with your Claude account, see Setting up Fulcrum MCP and the AI Toolkit in the Claude desktop app instead.

Prerequisites

Claude Code installed on your computer. Fulcrum doesn't support Claude Code installation, so contact your IT team if you need help installing it.
An API token and your region's endpoint. See Getting your API token and endpoint for Fulcrum MCP.

Installing the AI Toolkit

In this section, you add the AI Toolkit from GitHub and install it as a Claude Code plugin.

Run these commands inside a Claude Code session. They don't work at the regular terminal prompt.

In your terminal, enter claude to start Claude Code.
Enter the following command to add the AI Toolkit source:

/plugin marketplace add https://github.com/fulcrumapp/fulcrum-ai-toolkit.git

Enter the following command to install the AI Toolkit:

/plugin install fulcrum-ai-toolkit@fulcrum-ai-toolkit

Expected outcome: To check, enter /plugin and open the Installed tab, where fulcrum-ai-toolkit appears.

Connecting Fulcrum MCP

You run this command at the regular terminal prompt, outside Claude Code.

Enter /exit to leave Claude Code.
Enter the following command. Replace YOUR_FULCRUM_API_TOKEN with your API token. If your organization isn't hosted in the United States, replace the URL with your region's endpoint.

claude mcp add --transport http fulcrum-app https://mcp.fulcrumapp.com/ --header "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_FULCRUM_API_TOKEN"

To confirm the connection, enter:

claude mcp list

Expected outcome: fulcrum-app appears with the status Connected. This can take a few seconds.

Testing the connection

Confirm that Claude Code can reach your organization.

Enter claude to start Claude Code.
Enter: "How many apps are in my Fulcrum organization?"

Expected outcome: Claude Code uses Fulcrum MCP to look up your apps and answers with the number.

If Claude Code can't connect, see Troubleshooting Fulcrum MCP and the AI Toolkit.

Keeping your token out of shared code

When you work in a code repository that others can see, don't write your token into project files. Store it in environment variables and reference them from your project's .mcp.json file instead.

Never commit your API token to a code repository. Anyone with access to the repository can use the token to view and change data in your organization.

On your computer, set an environment variable named FULCRUM_MCP_URL to your region's endpoint.
Set an environment variable named FULCRUM_API_TOKEN to your API token.
Add the following to your project's .mcp.json file:

{
     "mcpServers": {
       "fulcrum-app": {
         "type": "http",
         "url": "${FULCRUM_MCP_URL}",
         "headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer ${FULCRUM_API_TOKEN}" }
       }
     }
   }

4. Start Claude Code from your project folder. The first time, Claude Code asks you to approve the server from .mcp.json.

Notes

By default, the claude mcp add command connects Fulcrum only for the current project folder. To use Fulcrum in all your projects, add --scope user before fulcrum-app.
If a server with the same name exists in more than one place, the one added for the current project folder takes precedence over the one in .mcp.json. Use a different name, or remove the older one, to avoid a conflict.
Claude Code doesn't update the AI Toolkit automatically by default. To get the latest version, enter /plugin marketplace update fulcrum-ai-toolkit inside Claude Code. To turn on automatic updates, enter /plugin, open the Marketplaces tab, select fulcrum-ai-toolkit, then select Enable auto-update.
Your terminal may save the claude mcp add command, including your API token, in its command history.