ai-tools-pick MCP setup guide

Connect the AI Tools Pick human-curated tool library to your own ChatGPT / Claude / Cursor. Just ask in chat and get recommendations scored and ranked by task and criteria.

What you get (4 tools)

Tool	What it does
`search_tools`	Search tools by keyword / category / price / capability tag
`get_pick`	Fetch the editor's curated shortlist
`compare_tools`	Compare multiple tools side by side
`recommend_for_task`	Give a task + requirements (e.g. "free, can self-host coding"), get the best-matching Top tools

Example: in chat say "use ai_tools_pick to find me a free autonomous coding agent (limit 3)", and it calls the tools and lists matches like Roo Code / Augment / OpenCode.

Why it's worth installing

No hallucination: recommendations come from a human-reviewed tool library, not the model guessing.
Respects criteria: you say free / agent-mode, it only returns matches.
Local, zero-dependency: no pip install, no API key, no account.
Privacy-friendly: the server reads only the local curated library and never sends your queries to third parties.
Free and time-saving: no need to search, compare, and try tools one by one.

Prerequisites

Python 3.10+ (most systems have it; run python --version to confirm).
No pip install needed (the server is pure standard library).
Download the repo and keep mcp_server.py, tools_data.py, and data/ in the same directory.

Install (pick your client)

ChatGPT (Developer Mode / Apps SDK / Connectors)

Open ChatGPT desktop or web, go to Settings.
Find Developer Mode / Advanced / MCP / Connectors.
Choose Add custom MCP server, transport = stdio.
Paste the command below, save, and the status becomes "connected".

python "your-path/ai-tools-pick-engine/mcp_server.py"

Menu names vary by ChatGPT version (Developer Mode / Apps SDK / Connectors); they all mean "add a stdio custom server". Follow OpenAI's official docs; replace your-path with the actual repo directory.

Claude Desktop

Edit the config file (macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json; Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ai_tools_pick": {
      "command": "python",
      "args": ["your-path/ai-tools-pick-engine/mcp_server.py"]
    }
  }
}

After saving, restart Claude Desktop. Again replace your-path with the real directory.

Cursor / Windsurf / Codex

In each client's Settings → MCP, choose "Add server (stdio)" with the same command. This project's config.toml is wired this way.

Verify

In chat, ask:

use ai_tools_pick's recommend_for_task to find an autonomous coding agent, requirements: free, limit 3

If it calls the tool and lists matches, you're connected ✅.

FAQ

Can't connect: check python is on PATH; or use the full path C:/your/python.exe "C:/your-path/mcp_server.py".
Tools don't show: confirm mcp_server.py, tools_data.py, and data/ are in the same directory.
JSON error: don't modify mcp_server.py's stdout output — it only speaks JSON-RPC.

Notes

Recommendation results may contain affiliate links (to support ongoing maintenance). We stick to human curation and criteria-based matching, not ad dumping. The tool library grows as the repo updates.