MCP server for delegating tasks to specialized AI sub-agents across coding tools
To add sub-agents-mcp to Claude, run the install command below or copy the ready-made config for Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor and VS Code further down. Restart your client after adding it and its tools show up in your next conversation. It needs 12 environment variables, listed below.
Install
npx -y sub-agents-mcp@0.15.1Environment variables
AGENTS_DIRSet in your MCP configAGENT_TYPESet in your MCP configAGENT_PERMISSIONSet in your MCP configAGENT_MODELSet in your MCP configAGENT_EFFORTSet in your MCP configCURSOR_API_KEYSet in your MCP configCLI_API_KEYSet in your MCP configEXECUTION_TIMEOUT_MSSet in your MCP configSESSION_ENABLEDSet in your MCP configSESSION_DIRSet in your MCP configSESSION_RETENTION_DAYSSet in your MCP configAGENTS_SETTINGS_PATHSet in your MCP configInstall with your client
claude mcp add sub-agents --env AGENTS_DIR=<YOUR_AGENTS_DIR> --env AGENT_TYPE=<YOUR_AGENT_TYPE> --env AGENT_PERMISSION=<YOUR_AGENT_PERMISSION> --env AGENT_MODEL=<YOUR_AGENT_MODEL> --env AGENT_EFFORT=<YOUR_AGENT_EFFORT> --env CURSOR_API_KEY=<YOUR_CURSOR_API_KEY> --env CLI_API_KEY=<YOUR_CLI_API_KEY> --env EXECUTION_TIMEOUT_MS=<YOUR_EXECUTION_TIMEOUT_MS> --env SESSION_ENABLED=<YOUR_SESSION_ENABLED> --env SESSION_DIR=<YOUR_SESSION_DIR> --env SESSION_RETENTION_DAYS=<YOUR_SESSION_RETENTION_DAYS> --env AGENTS_SETTINGS_PATH=<YOUR_AGENTS_SETTINGS_PATH> -- npx -y sub-agents-mcp@0.15.1
Run this in a terminal to add the server to Claude Code.
What this does
sub-agents-mcp exposes a set of tools to Claude over the Model Context Protocol. After you add it to claude_desktop_config.json (snippet above) and restart Claude Desktop, those tools become callable inside any conversation.
Requirements
This server needs the following environment variables to be set before it can run:
AGENTS_DIR AGENT_TYPE AGENT_PERMISSION AGENT_MODEL AGENT_EFFORT CURSOR_API_KEY CLI_API_KEY EXECUTION_TIMEOUT_MS SESSION_ENABLED SESSION_DIR SESSION_RETENTION_DAYS AGENTS_SETTINGS_PATH
Set these via the env object in your MCP config (see claude_desktop_config.json snippet above).
Frequently asked questions
How do I install sub-agents-mcp?
Run the Claude Code command in the install section to add sub-agents-mcp to Claude Code, or copy the ready-made config for your client from the install section on this page. Restart your client afterwards and the tools appear in your next conversation.
Which clients work with sub-agents-mcp?
This page carries setup and config for Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor and VS Code. Any other MCP client that accepts a standard server config can connect to sub-agents-mcp as well.
Does sub-agents-mcp need an API key?
Yes. Before it can run, set these environment variables: AGENTS_DIR, AGENT_TYPE, AGENT_PERMISSION, AGENT_MODEL, AGENT_EFFORT, CURSOR_API_KEY, CLI_API_KEY, EXECUTION_TIMEOUT_MS, SESSION_ENABLED, SESSION_DIR, SESSION_RETENTION_DAYS, AGENTS_SETTINGS_PATH. They go in the env block of your MCP config.
Imported from the Official MCP Registry. The details above come from the registry entry; the maker can claim this listing to correct them, add docs, and see its traffic.
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