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MCP (Model Context Protocol) lets you extend Qualia with external tools. Connect services like Slack or GitHub—and Qualia can use them during your conversations.

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What is MCP?

MCP is a standard protocol for connecting AI assistants to external capabilities:
  • Servers provide tools (functions the AI can call)
  • Qualia connects to servers and exposes their tools
  • You control which servers are enabled and what permissions they have
When you add an MCP server, Qualia can then use those tools to accomplish tasks.

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Adding an MCP server

  1. Go to Settings > MCP Integrations
  2. Click Add Server
  3. Configure the server:

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Command-based (stdio)

For servers that run as local processes:
  • Name: Identifier for this server
  • Command: The executable to run (e.g., npx, python)
  • Arguments: Command-line arguments
  • Environment variables: Variables to set for the process

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URL-based (HTTP/SSE)

For servers accessible via HTTP:
  • Name: Identifier for this server
  • URL: The server endpoint
  • Headers: Authentication headers (optional)
The URL must be http or https. A server you run yourself is fine, whether that is http://localhost:3000/mcp or a machine on your network. Addresses that no MCP server of yours could occupy are rejected, including cloud instance metadata addresses such as 169.254.169.254, because the headers you configure are sent to whatever the URL points at. Headers may reference a credential you have connected in Settings, written as ${quadrillion:credential:LINEAR_API_KEY}. These references are only substituted when the backend serves a single user on localhost, which is the case for the desktop app. On a shared backend the server is skipped instead, because the URL decides where the secret is sent and whoever can edit the configuration is not necessarily the person the credential belongs to. Put the value directly in the header there, or supply it through the server’s own environment.

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Pasting configuration

You can paste JSON configuration directly:
This format is compatible with Cursor’s mcp.json, making it easy to share configurations.

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Managed connectors

Some connectors are managed by a native Qualia integration rather than configured by hand. They appear in the connector catalog, but signing in happens once in settings and the credentials are handled for you — there is no token to paste and nothing written to mcp.json. Databricks is worth calling out. In Qualia Cloud it is organization-scoped, so an admin configures the workspace once and each member then signs in individually; on desktop you configure and sign in yourself. Asking Genie questions in chat is not available yet; when it lands, answers will arrive labeled Powered by Genie with a link to the Space that produced them.

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Server status

Each server shows its connection status: Use the Enable/Disable toggle to control whether a server should connect.

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Managing tools

Click a server to expand its tool list. Each tool shows:
  • Name: What the tool is called
  • Description: What the tool does
  • Permission: How confirmations are handled

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Tool permissions

Control how each tool runs: New tools default to Require permission. When Qualia wants to use a tool with this setting, you’ll see a confirmation dialog showing what it wants to do. You can set Always allow from the confirmation dialog to approve future uses.

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Viewing schemas

Click Show schema on any tool to see its input schema — the parameters it accepts and their types. This helps you understand what the tool can do.

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Tool usage in chat

When Qualia uses an MCP tool:
  1. You see the tool name and arguments
  2. For “Require permission” tools, a confirmation dialog appears
  3. After approval (or for “Always” tools), the tool executes
  4. Results appear in the conversation
Only connect MCP servers you trust. Servers may access your data and chats.

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Refreshing tools

If a server’s tools change, click Refresh tools to rediscover them. This is useful during server development or after updates.

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Configuration file

MCP configuration is stored at ~/.quadrillion/mcp.json:
You can edit this file directly — changes are picked up automatically. The Settings UI suggests common servers you might want to connect.

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Troubleshooting

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Server won’t connect

  • Check the command/URL is correct
  • Verify required dependencies are installed
  • Look at the error message for specifics

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Tools not appearing

  • Click Refresh tools
  • Check server status is “Connected”
  • Verify the server actually provides tools

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Permission issues

  • Tools default to “Require permission”
  • Change to “Always” for trusted, frequently-used tools
  • Use “Never” for tools you want to block