Connect to IDE (Cursor MCP)

Add a one-click "Connect to IDE" button so readers can add your docs as an MCP server in Cursor

2 min read 407 words

Add a "Connect to IDE" button to your docs that opens Cursor and prompts readers to install your documentation as an MCP server. One click adds your docs to their IDE for AI-assisted development.

What It Does

When enabled, a Connect to IDE link appears in the action bar share menu (next to Copy URL, Open LLM text, etc.). Clicking it:

  1. Opens Cursor (or prompts to install it)
  2. Prompts to add your docs MCP server
  3. One-click install — no manualmcp.jsonediting

The button uses Cursor's MCP install deeplinks (cursor://scheme).

Prerequisites

You must host a Streamable HTTP MCP server that serves your documentation. Bengal generates the button and deeplink — it does not provide the MCP server.

The MCP server should:

  • Expose an endpoint (e.g.https://docs.example.com/mcp)
  • Speak the MCP Streamable HTTP transport
  • Serve your docs content as tools, resources, or prompts

Enable in Bengal

Add tobengal.toml(or your config directory):

[connect_to_ide]
enabled = true
mcp_url = "https://docs.example.com/mcp"  # Your hosted MCP endpoint
server_name = "My Docs"  # Optional; shown in Cursor when installing (default: Docs)

Tip

Use the full URL to your MCP endpoint. Bengal strips trailing slashes automatically.

Hosting an MCP Server

Bengal does not ship an MCP server. You have several options:

Approach Description
Build your own Use the MCP Python SDK or FastMCP withtransport="streamable-http". Read your built site (e.g. public/) and expose it via tools/resources.
Third-party service Some doc platforms offer MCP endpoints. If you use one, pointmcp_urlto their endpoint.
Self-hosted proxy Run a small service that reads your static output and serves it via MCP. Deploy alongside your docs (e.g. same domain,/mcppath).

For a minimal Python example, see the MCP Streamable HTTP guide and FastMCP docs.

Where the Button Appears

The button is included in the default theme's action bar share dropdown, which appears on documentation pages. Themes can override or relocate it by customizingpartials/action-bar.html or partials/connect-to-ide.html.

Disable

The feature is disabled by default. Omitconnect_to_idefrom config, or set:

[connect_to_ide]
enabled = false

See Also