What Is MCP?
The Model Context Protocol is an open standard that lets AI assistants interact with external services through a structured set of named tools. Instead of copy-pasting data or writing custom integrations, you describe what you want in plain language and the AI figures out which tool to call and how to call it. MCP handles the communication layer so your assistant always has access to live, accurate data from the services you connect.What the Take Time MCP Server Does
The Take Time MCP Server wraps the Take Time REST API as a collection of MCP-compatible tools. When your AI client connects to the server, it gains the ability to read your schedule, log completed sessions, create new study blocks, and ask for AI-generated schedule recommendations — all without leaving the conversation. The server translates natural language requests into the appropriate API calls, returns the results in a format the assistant can reason about, and presents them back to you in plain English.Supported Clients
The Take Time MCP Server works with any client that supports the Model Context Protocol:- Claude Desktop — Anthropic’s native desktop app
- Cursor — AI-powered code editor with MCP support
- VS Code Copilot — GitHub Copilot with MCP extension
- Any other MCP-compatible client
Available Tools
The server exposes 9 tools organized into three categories:Read Tools
These tools query your existing data without making any changes.| Tool | What It Does |
|---|---|
list_blocks | Retrieve study blocks with optional date and subject filters |
list_subjects | List all your activity profiles |
get_stats | Fetch completion stats, streak data, and the activity heatmap |
get_schedule | Retrieve the full weekly schedule for any week |
Write Tools
These tools create or modify data in your account.| Tool | What It Does |
|---|---|
create_block | Schedule a new study block |
update_block | Edit an existing block, including marking it as done |
create_subject | Create a new activity profile |
suggest_schedule | Request AI-generated schedule recommendations |
Delete Tools
| Tool | What It Does |
|---|---|
delete_block | Permanently remove a study block from your schedule |
Authentication
The MCP Server reads your Take Time API key from theTAKETIME_API_KEY environment variable. You set this once in your client’s MCP configuration — after that, every tool call is authenticated automatically. Your key is never sent to the AI model itself; it stays on your local machine and is used only to communicate directly with the Take Time API.
Next Steps
Installation
Set up the MCP Server for Claude Desktop, Cursor, or VS Code in minutes.
Tools Reference
Browse the full reference for all 9 tools, their parameters, and return shapes.
Examples
See real-world prompts and what the AI does under the hood.