Quickstart: Delimit in your AI coding assistant (MCP)
For connected Claude Code, Codex, Cursor and Antigravity sessions: start with a local decision that survives a new session. The API merge gate is a separate path below. Setup writes different config files for each assistant; Copilot and Muse use the delimit chat wrapper.
Install
npx delimit-cli setup
setup detects the AI assistants on your machine and installs the Delimit MCP server into each. Nervous? Preview first:
npx delimit-cli setup --dry-run # show config changes without writing anything npx delimit-cli setup --yes # non-interactive, accept defaults
Then verify:
npx delimit-cli doctor # inspect setup and available tools npx delimit-cli status # inspect local status
Restart your assistant so it picks up the new MCP server.
Carry a decision into another session
npx delimit-cli remember "Rejected Redis for sessions: no persistence guarantee on our plan" npx delimit-cli recall redis
Start a fresh connected assistant session and ask it to check Delimit memory. Free MCP users can ask for delimit_memory_recent; semantic delimit_memory_search requires Pro. The CLI recall redis is local term lookup. Nothing is inserted into a new conversation automatically unless project instructions arrange it.
What your assistant can now do
Once setup has run, your assistant has the Delimit tools directly. Ask it in plain language; these are the tools it will reach for:
Separate API merge gate (free checks):
| Tool | What it does |
|---|---|
| delimit_lint | Lint a spec change against policy — one pass/fail verdict |
| delimit_diff | Structural diff: endpoints, schemas, params added/removed/changed |
| delimit_semver | Deterministic MAJOR/MINOR/PATCH/NONE classification |
| delimit_scan | Auto-detect specs, frameworks, security issues, tests |
| delimit_seal_verify | Verify a signed attestation receipt offline |
Context that survives sessions and models:
The free recent-memory tool and ledger (delimit_ledger_add, delimit_ledger_context, delimit_ledger_done) use local records across connected assistants. Ask the next assistant to read them; it does not receive them automatically.
Multi-model deliberation — for judgment calls the gate can't settle:
npx delimit-cli deliberate "Is dropping the deprecated v1 /users field a safe MINOR?"
This needs your own model CLI logins or API keys; check available providers with npx delimit-cli models.
Adopt with minimum privilege
You don't have to trust the whole tool surface on day one. If your MCP client supports per-tool allowlists, start with the read-only set: delimit_lint, delimit_diff, delimit_semver, delimit_policy, delimit_explain, delimit_scan, delimit_seal_verify. Check each tool and client permission before enabling it; setup may auto-approve Delimit tools. Enable side-effect tools (evidence, deploy, security audit) once the gate has earned its keep.
If something breaks
npx delimit-cli doctor --fix # auto-repair safe issues npx delimit-cli doctor --fix --dry-run npx delimit-cli setup --dry-run # re-check assistant config