Setup guide

Paste one prompt. Sign in once.

Ask your AI to install DeerDawn for itself. It detects the client, performs the setup it can automate, and pauses only when you need to approve an action or sign in.

One-prompt setupClaude CodeManual setupWhere to add itMake it automaticLocal install (advanced)
Fastest setup

Let your AI handle it

Paste this into the AI tool you want to connect. DeerDawn's hosted guide gives it the exact instructions for Codex, Claude Code, Cursor, Claude, ChatGPT, VS Code, or another MCP client.

Fetch and follow the DeerDawn setup instructions at https://deerdawn.com/agent-setup/prompt.md. Detect which AI tool you are running in, install or configure DeerDawn for me, pause only when I need to approve an action or sign in, then verify the connection and help me save my first project brief.

The agent preserves existing configuration and stops for browser sign-in or any approval your client requires.

Claude Code

One command, whole setup

Claude Code registers MCP servers through its CLI, so there is no config file to paste. This one command signs you in through the browser, registers DeerDawn, installs the SessionStart and Stop capture hooks, and writes the start-of-session instruction into your ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md so every session starts briefed.

Run in your terminal
npx -y @deerdawn/mcp-server@latest setup

Claude Code only. Codex registers through its own CLI (see Where to add the URL); every other tool uses the URL below.

Open Claude Code once before running this. The hooks and CLAUDE.md step needs ~/.claude/settings.json to exist, and the command will tell you to re-run if it does not.

Manual fallback

Connect it yourself

Every MCP-compatible tool connects the same way: add DeerDawn as a remote MCP server using the URL below, then sign in through your browser. DeerDawn handles the OAuth handshake (including dynamic client registration) automatically. There is nothing to paste but the URL.

DeerDawn MCP URL
https://api.deerdawn.com/mcp
1
In your AI tool, add a custom / remote MCP server (sometimes called a connector) and paste the URL above. Leave any OAuth client fields blank.
2
Click Connect. A DeerDawn tab opens. Sign in and press Connect to authorize.
3
You're returned to your tool and the DeerDawn tools (start_session, recall, manage_memory, …) are ready to use.
Prefer a key? Any tool that only supports header auth can skip OAuth: set Authorization: Bearer <your-api-key> with a key from app.deerdawn.com/api-keys.
Per-tool menu

Where to add the URL

The URL and browser sign-in are identical everywhere. What differs is how much you need in front of you: two of these need nothing installed at all.

In your browser

Nothing to install. Works on a phone.
Claude.ai
Settings → Connectors → Add custom connector
ChatGPT.com
Settings → Connectors → Add MCP server (choose OAuth)

In your editor

Paste the URL into a settings menu.
Cursor
Settings → MCP → Add server, or add a "url" entry in .cursor/mcp.json
VS Code / Copilot
Command palette → MCP: Add Server → HTTP → paste the URL
Windsurf, Gemini, others
Add a custom remote / HTTP MCP server with the URL

One terminal command

Registers the server and signs you in.
Claude Code
Run npx -y @deerdawn/mcp-server@latest setup
Codex
Run codex mcp add deerdawn --url … then codex mcp login deerdawn
Claude Code: one command
npx -y @deerdawn/mcp-server@latest setup
Codex: register and sign in
codex mcp add deerdawn --url https://api.deerdawn.com/mcp
codex mcp login deerdawn

To register the Claude Code server without the hooks or the CLAUDE.md instruction, use claude mcp add -s user --transport http deerdawn https://api.deerdawn.com/mcp/claude instead.

Claude.ai

Nothing to install. The connector form is under Settings → Connectors, behind Add custom connector.

1
Open Settings → Connectors and choose Add custom connector.
2
Paste the DeerDawn MCP URL. Leave the OAuth client fields blank.
3
Click Connect. A DeerDawn tab opens. Sign in and approve the connection.

ChatGPT.com

Nothing to install. The connector form is under Settings → Connectors, behind Add MCP server.

1
Open Settings → Connectors and choose Add MCP server.
2
Paste the DeerDawn MCP URL. Choose OAuth as the authentication type.
3
Click Connect. A DeerDawn tab opens. Sign in and approve the connection.
Make it automatic

Brief every new chat automatically

Add a short instruction so your AI calls DeerDawn automatically, reading the brief at the start and keeping it current as you work, without you asking each time.

Claude.ai: add to a Project's instructions
At the start of every conversation, silently call start_session from DeerDawn before responding. Use the returned context (current task, decisions, stack) to answer without asking me to re-explain the project.

If start_session includes a "Since last session" catch-up, open with at most two sentences: the most meaningful change, anchored in time ("Last session (yesterday) you shipped X"), then the open thread as an offer ("Y is still open. Want to pick that up?"). Then stop and let me steer. Do not recite the full brief. If nothing changed, confirm readiness in one line. Never invent progress, decisions, or landmines that are not in the context.

After any of the following, call manage_memory with action "update" and a 1-2 sentence summary:
- A decision is made
- The task or status changes
- Something meaningful is built or fixed
- I confirm an approach ("yes", "good", "do it", "ship it")

Do not mention that you are calling these tools unless I ask.

Where it goes: Settings → Capabilities → Personal preferences (or a Project’s instructions).

ChatGPT: add to custom instructions
At the start of every conversation, call start_session from DeerDawn before responding. Use the returned context to orient yourself (current task, recent decisions, open questions) without asking me to re-explain.

If start_session includes a "Since last session" catch-up, open with at most two sentences: the top change anchored in time, then the open thread as an offer. Do not recite the full brief; if nothing changed, confirm readiness in one line. Never invent progress that is not in the context.

After any decision, task change, or meaningful progress, call manage_memory with action "update" and a brief summary of what changed and why.

Call these tools silently. Do not narrate the tool calls unless I ask.

Where it goes: Settings → Personalization → Custom instructions.

Advanced / optional

Local install for coding tools

The universal URL above is all most people need. Coding assistants can optionally run DeerDawn as a local npx -y @deerdawn/mcp-server@latest process instead. It signs in the same way (browser), and adds two things the remote URL can't:

  • Writes .deerdawn-context.md / .cursorrules into your repo so the brief loads with no tool call.
  • Installs SessionStart / Stop hooks that capture and update the brief automatically.

Claude Code

1
Run this in your terminal. Claude Code registers MCP servers via its CLI. It does not read a ~/.claude/mcp.json file.
Run in your terminal
claude mcp add -s user deerdawn -e DEERDAWN_API_URL=https://api.deerdawn.com -e DEERDAWN_SURFACE_ID=claude_code -- npx -y @deerdawn/mcp-server@latest
2
Restart Claude Code. On first use a browser tab opens for sign-in. Sign in with your DeerDawn account.
Nothing else to run. Once you are signed in, the local server adds its capture hooks to ~/.claude/settings.json and writes the session-start instruction into your ~/.claude/CLAUDE.md on its own, so every session starts briefed.

Cursor

Hosted (recommended). Add this entry to .cursor/mcp.json in your project, or ~/.cursor/mcp.json globally. If the file already has an mcpServers block, add the deerdawn entry to it. There is no key in it: Cursor opens a browser tab for sign-in the first time it connects.

Hosted: .cursor/mcp.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "deerdawn": {
      "url": "https://api.deerdawn.com/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Local process (optional). Use this instead if you want the brief written into the repo as described above.

1
Add the config to .cursor/mcp.json in your project, or ~/.cursor/mcp.json globally.
Local: .cursor/mcp.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "deerdawn": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@deerdawn/mcp-server@latest"],
      "env": {
        "DEERDAWN_API_URL": "https://api.deerdawn.com"
      }
    }
  }
}
2
Restart Cursor. Sign in via browser when prompted.
DeerDawn writes the brief to .cursorrules automatically so Cursor starts every session briefed on the latest project state.

Codex (OpenAI)

1
Add the config to ~/.codex/config.toml.
~/.codex/config.toml
[mcp_servers.deerdawn]
command = "npx"
args = ["-y", "@deerdawn/mcp-server@latest"]
startup_timeout_sec = 120

[mcp_servers.deerdawn.env]
DEERDAWN_API_URL = "https://api.deerdawn.com"
2
Restart Codex. Sign in via browser when prompted.

Claude Desktop & ChatGPT Desktop

1
Add the same config to the app's MCP config file:
  • Claude (macOS): ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
  • ChatGPT (macOS): ~/Library/Application Support/com.openai.chat/mcp_servers.json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "deerdawn": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@deerdawn/mcp-server@latest"],
      "env": {
        "DEERDAWN_API_URL": "https://api.deerdawn.com"
      }
    }
  }
}
2
Quit and reopen the app. Sign in via browser on first use.

Gemini & Perplexity

Neither tool can add an MCP server, so there is no URL to paste. DeerDawn reaches them through a browser userscript instead. It runs only on that site: it loads your brief into the chat, and it sends your messages and the replies from that chat to DeerDawn so the brief stays current.

1
Install a userscript manager in your browser (Tampermonkey or Violentmonkey).
2
Sign in at app.deerdawn.com/setup, open the Gemini or Perplexity row, and press Download userscript.
3
Open the downloaded file. Your userscript manager asks to install it.
4
Visit gemini.google.com or perplexity.ai. Your brief loads automatically.
The script is generated for your account and carries its own access key. Treat the file like a password and do not share it.

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