Optional AI helper (MCP)

For people who already use Cursor, Claude Code, or Claude Desktop. Completely optional — skip this if you want zero AI near your family files.

What this is

MCP (Model Context Protocol) is a local bridge so an AI coding tool can call a few Atto commands — for example, build a strip-safe context pack or open a research deep link.

Runs on your Mac — you turn it on in your AI app’s settings
Does not upload your vault to Atto’s servers (there isn’t a vault cloud)
Cannot silently change your tree — Approve stays in the Mac app
Not required to buy or use Atto

Do I need to “upload a skill” somewhere?

No. You don’t publish Atto to a skill marketplace to use this. You install the engine from your kit (same as the Setup PDF), enable the optional MCP extra, then paste a small JSON snippet into Cursor or Claude Desktop. That’s it.

(A separate “family-history” Cursor skill exists for developers who clone the repo — buyers don’t need it.)

Setup (kit buyers)

Assumes you already installed the atto engine from the DIY kit wheel (see the Setup PDF). If the Mac app works, you’re ready for this optional step.

1 · Install the MCP extra

In Terminal, from the folder that has your kit wheel:

cd ~/Downloads   # or wherever the kit files are
uv tool install --force "./atto-*.whl[mcp]"
atto-mcp --help

If atto-mcp --help prints usage text, the binary is on your PATH (usually ~/.local/bin).

2 · Point Cursor (or Claude) at it

Add an atto server in your MCP config. Cursor: project .cursor/mcp.json or user ~/.cursor/mcp.json. Claude Desktop: the app’s MCP / developer config (same shape).

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "atto": {
      "command": "atto-mcp",
      "args": [],
      "env": {
        "ATTO_VAULT_ROOT": "/Users/YOUR_USERNAME/AttoVault"
      }
    }
  }
}

Replace YOUR_USERNAME with your Mac username (or whatever folder you use for the vault). Restart Cursor / Claude after saving.

3 · Use it carefully

Ask the AI to call tools like a context pack or find-plan — treat output as suggestions
Never paste full SSNs or passport scans into chat if you can avoid it
Tree merges: open Approve in the Atto Mac app — MCP will not approve for you
Only enable MCP on a machine you trust; gated ops need an explicit confirm phrase

I’d rather skip AI entirely

That’s the default. Use the Mac app only. You can ignore this page, never install [mcp], and never add MCP JSON. Your kit still works.

Back to home Buy the DIY kit — $299