Introducing Needle's MCP Integration: Server and Client

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard created by Anthropic that lets AI applications connect to external tools and data sources. Needle now supports MCP in both directions: as a server (exposing your Needle knowledge base to any MCP client) and as a client (bringing external tools into your Needle collections). This dual capability makes Needle the bridge between your knowledge base and the broader AI ecosystem.

Needle as MCP Server: Your Knowledge, Everywhere

Needle's remote MCP server makes your collections searchable from any MCP-compatible client - Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, and more. No local server installation needed.

1. Get your Needle API key from your dashboard
2. Add the MCP server URL to your preferred client: https://mcp.needle.app/sse (SSE) or https://mcp.needle.app/mcp (HTTP)
3. Configure authentication with your API key
4. Your Needle collections are now searchable from within the client
5. Ask questions in Claude, Cursor, etc. and get RAG-powered answers from your knowledge base

• Effortless setup: No local servers, no Docker, no port forwarding
• Always current: The remote server automatically has the latest features
• Powerful RAG: Full semantic search capabilities in your favorite AI tools

Needle as MCP Client: External Tools in Your Collections

Connect to any MCP server from within Needle to bring external tools directly into your collections. This means your Needle AI assistant can not only search your knowledge base but also take actions in external tools.

1. In your Needle collection, go to Connectors → Create Connector
2. Select "MCP Server" as the connector type
3. Paste the MCP server URL from the external tool (e.g., Linear, Asana, n8n)
4. Needle discovers the available tools automatically
5. Chat with your collection and use both knowledge search and external tool actions in one conversation

MCP Server vs. MCP Client: When to Use Each

Compatible MCP Clients and Servers

The MCP ecosystem is growing rapidly. Here are some of the tools that work with Needle's MCP integration today:

• Clients (use Needle as server): Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, Continue, Cline, and any MCP-compatible AI tool
• Servers (connect to Needle as client): Linear, Asana, Intercom, PayPal, n8n, Slack, GitHub, and hundreds more via community MCP servers

What This Enables

• Use Needle anywhere: Bring your collections to any AI interface you already use
• Specialized assistants: Combine domain knowledge with external tool capabilities in one conversation
• Unified workflows: Search knowledge and take actions without switching between apps
• Future-proof: As new MCP servers launch, they instantly work with Needle

Summary

Needle's dual MCP integration makes it a bridge between your knowledge base and the AI ecosystem. As an MCP server, Needle exposes your collections to Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, and other MCP-compatible clients - enabling RAG-powered search from any AI tool. As an MCP client, Needle connects to external tools like Linear, Asana, and Intercom, letting your AI assistant search knowledge and take actions in one conversation. The remote hosted server requires no local installation and stays automatically up to date. With MCP adoption accelerating across AI tools, Needle's integration positions your knowledge base at the center of every AI workflow.

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