LLM Reference

/llms.txt and /llms-full.txt are generated during the docs build.

NCP

Natural Context Provider is an MCP server and CLI that gives AI clients one context-efficient interface for MCP tool discovery, execution, TypeScript code mode workflows, scheduled jobs, skills, and Photon runtime extensions.

Start Here

• Home: Product overview for Natural Context Provider.
• README: Installation, quick start, client setup, examples, and feature overview.
• Claude Desktop setup: Configure NCP for Claude Desktop and desktop extension usage.
• CLI tools guide: Find, list, add, remove, and run MCP tools through NCP.
• Advanced usage: Code mode, multi-MCP orchestration, project configuration, and advanced workflows.
• Scheduler user guide: Scheduled MCP jobs and recurring automation.
• Search measurement: Keyword tracking, Search Console, and GA4 measurement guidance.

Core Claims

• NCP reduces MCP tool overload by exposing a small discovery and execution surface instead of every tool schema.
• NCP can route across MCP servers, skills, resources, and Photons from Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf, Cline, Continue, and other MCP-compatible clients.
• Code mode executes TypeScript workflows with MCP namespace access for multi-tool orchestration.
• Scheduling turns MCP tools and code mode workflows into repeatable jobs.

Product Keywords

NCP, Natural Context Provider, MCP, Model Context Protocol, MCP tool discovery, MCP router, MCP tool search, AI tool orchestration, code mode, MCP scheduler, scheduled MCP jobs, MCP skills, Photon runtime, Claude Desktop MCP, Cursor MCP, VS Code MCP.

Package

• npm: @portel/ncp
• GitHub: https://github.com/portel-dev/ncp
• Docs: https://portel-dev.github.io/ncp/
• License: Elastic License 2.0

Documentation Index

• NCP Documentation: NCP, the Natural Context Provider, is an MCP server and CLI that reduces tool overload for AI assistants. Instead of loading every MCP tool schema into Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code, or another MCP client, NCP exposes a small interface for discovery and execution.
• README: > 1 MCP to rule them all
• Keyword and Search Measurement: Use this guide to measure whether NCP documentation is discoverable by human search engines and AI answer engines.
• NCP Advanced Usage Guide: This guide covers advanced patterns, optimization strategies, and techniques for power users.
• FileWatcher: Dynamic Discovery of Skills and Photons: The FileWatcher enables automatic discovery and indexing of skills and photons without requiring NCP to restart. When you add, modify, or delete skill/photon files, NCP immediately detects and makes them available.
• MCP Validation Capability: Instead of assuming a validate tool exists, MCPs should announce validation support via capabilities during initialization. This follows MCP protocol patterns and allows clients to detect support programmatically.
• MCP Validation Protocol: The MCP Validation Protocol is a gold standard for validating tool parameters before execution. It enables MCPs to perform deep validation beyond simple schema checking - verifying paths exist, testing database connections, checking permissions, and more.
• MCP Version Management & Auto-Update: NCP automatically detects MCP version updates and manages cache invalidation efficiently.
• NCP 2.3.0 - Major Features Guide: Released: March 6, 2026
• OAuth 2.1 Implementation Summary: NCP now supports OAuth 2.1 with PKCE authentication for remote MCP servers, following the MCP specification 2025-03-26. This enables secure, standards-based authentication with automatic token management.
• Test Refactoring Summary: Project: NCP (Node Context Protocol)
• MCP Registry API - Available Filters & Data: Filter Options:
• MCP Registry Security Analysis: The MCP Registry (https://registry.modelcontextprotocol.io) is an unvalidated, open registry where anyone can publish MCP servers. Based on API analysis and video reviews, there is no verification or security vetting of submitted entries.
• Runtime Network Permissions - Implementation Complete ✅: Successfully integrated NCP's elicitation system with Code-Mode network policy manager to enable runtime permission dialogs for local network access. This allows MCPs like "LG Remote" to work securely with local devices while maintaining user control.
• Runtime CLI Discovery - Zero Maintenance: Instead of maintaining a static catalog of CLI tools, NCP now automatically discovers what's installed on your system at runtime. This approach:
• Scheduler Environment Compatibility: Test Date: 2025-10-20
• Create a test job: Comprehensive guide for testing the NCP scheduler system.
• Scheduler User Guide: Schedule any MCP tool to run automatically using natural language or cron expressions.
• NCP Security Architecture: This document describes the security measures implemented in NCP's Code-Mode execution environment.
• Anthropic Agent Skills Implementation - Issues Found: Problem: Two conflicting skill formats in the codebase.
• JavaScript/TypeScript Skills Execution in NCP: NCP skills are JavaScript/TypeScript first. Skills contain executable code examples in their SKILL.md documentation that AI can directly use in code mode. This approach provides:
• Authentication Guide: NCP supports authentication for MCPs that require API keys, tokens, or credentials. This guide shows you how to provide credentials non-interactively.
• Claude Desktop + NCP: Complete Guide: The easiest way to supercharge Claude Desktop with NCP's powerful MCP orchestration.
• CLI Tool Discovery - Cross-Platform Support: The CLI tool catalog now supports Linux, macOS, and Windows with platform-specific filtering.
• CLI Tools for NCP: NCP can integrate any CLI tool for discovery, making command-line utilities searchable alongside MCP servers. This solves a critical problem: AI has shell access but can't discover what tools are available.
• NCP for Claude Desktop: Complete installation and configuration guide for Claude Desktop users.
• NCP Setup for Cline: Open VS Code → Extensions → Search for "Cline" → Install
• NCP Setup for Continue: Open VS Code → Extensions → Search for "Continue" → Install
• NCP Setup for Cursor: Global configuration:
• NCP Setup for VS Code: Create .vscode/mcp.json in your workspace root:
• NCP Setup for Windsurf: Config file location:
• Code-Mode Phase 5: Monitoring & Audit: Status: ✅ Complete
• Confirm Modifications Before Executing: NCP includes server-side safety enforcement that asks for confirmation before tools make modifications. This protects against unwanted writes, deletes, and executions.
• Discovering New MCP Clients: This guide explains how to add support for new MCP clients to NCP's auto-import feature.
• Code-to-Photon: Workflow Automation Made Permanent: Version: 2.3.0+
• Daemon Integration & Cross-Process Events: Version: 2.3.0+
• Stateful Execution & Checkpoint/Resume: Version: 2.3.0+
• Protocol Transparency: NCP acts as a transparent intermediary - when a client (like Claude Desktop or Cursor) connects to NCP, NCP passes through the actual client information to all downstream MCP servers.
• Graceful Dialog Failure Handling: When NCP's confirmation dialog system fails due to platform limitations or missing dependencies, instead of blocking operations, NCP provides clear manual installation instructions to help users complete their desired actions.
• End-to-End (E2E) Automated Tests: Real automated tests that can run in CI/CD without user interaction.
• Native Dialog Cross-Platform Support: NCP's native dialog fallback system provides confirmation dialogs when MCP clients don't support elicitation. Each platform has different capabilities and limitations.
• Native Dialog Timeout & Retry Mechanism: When using native OS dialogs as fallback for MCP elicitation:
• NCP Registry Command Architecture: The ncp registry command would integrate MCP Registry functionality directly into the NCP CLI, enabling users to:
• NCP Testing Guide: This document outlines comprehensive testing strategies for NCP to ensure the MCP interface works correctly and there are no regressions before release.
• Screenshots Needed for Claude Desktop Guide: This directory should contain the following screenshots for the Claude Desktop documentation.
• Local Network MCPs/Photons: With Phase 4 network isolation, the default security policy blocks access to:
• MCP Registry Publishing Setup: NCP automatically publishes to the MCP Registry when a GitHub Release is created. This document explains the authentication setup.
• mcps.portel.dev API Contract: The NCP CLI now fetches provider information from mcps.portel.dev to enable dynamic, server-side provider registry management. This allows adding new providers without requiring CLI updates.
• Provider Registry - Simplified MCP Setup: The Provider Registry makes adding popular MCP servers incredibly easy. Instead of manually configuring commands and authentication, users can simply run ncp add <provider> and NCP handles the rest.
• Runtime Network Permissions: Code-Mode now supports runtime network permissions via elicitations. When code tries to access a restricted network (private IPs, localhost), the user is prompted for permission. This makes local network MCPs practical while maintaining security.
• SimpleMCP Configuration Management: SimpleMCP integrates with NCP's robust configuration system to handle credentials, API keys, and persistent settings. This guide explains how to configure your SimpleMCPs properly.
• SimpleMCP Dependency Management: SimpleMCPs support automatic dependency installation using inline declarations, similar to Python's UV (PEP 723). This allows MCP authors to use any npm package without requiring users to manually install dependencies.
• SimpleMCP Complex Examples: This document showcases advanced SimpleMCP examples that demonstrate the true power of the system. All examples follow the convention-over-configuration philosophy - no base classes, no decorators, just plain TypeScript classes with async methods.
• SimpleMCP Guide: SimpleMCP is a streamlined way to create internal MCPs for NCP. Instead of implementing the full MCP protocol, you just write a TypeScript class with methods - NCP handles the rest!
• SimpleMCP Quick Start: No framework coupling - just write plain TypeScript:
• Skills Progressive Disclosure: Anthropic Agent Skills use a three-level progressive disclosure architecture that loads context on-demand, making them infinitely scalable without bloating the context window.
• Test Implementation Status Report: Date: October 25, 2025
• Test Refactoring Guide: This document provides guidance for completing the test refactoring work for the new security and performance features.
• Testing New Security and Performance Features: This document describes the security and performance improvements added to NCP and their testing strategy.
• Workflow MCP - Intelligent Task Orchestration: The Workflow MCP uses Claude as an intelligent orchestrator to execute multi-step workflows, make decisions, and coordinate other SimpleMCPs. It's like having an AI assistant that can automate complex tasks by combining multiple tools.
• Workflow Modes - Tool Exposure Control: NCP supports three workflow modes that control which tools are exposed to AI clients. This prevents the problem where AI defaults to the most powerful tool and bypasses progressive disclosure.
• Workflow + Schedule Integration Guide: Two MCPs working together for intelligent task automation:
• Workflow MCP Testing Guide: Before testing, ensure: