Claude Code + Other Apps
Outcome: You'll understand what MCPs are and see what's possible when Claude connects to external services.
What's an MCP?
MCP stands for Model Context Protocol. It's how Claude Code connects to external services—apps, databases, APIs that live outside your local files.
Without MCPs, Claude can only see what's in your workspace. With MCPs, Claude can:
- Pull transcripts from Fireflies
- Access project data from Teamwork
- Read and send Slack messages
- Query databases
- Connect to almost anything with an API
Think of MCPs as bridges. Your Claude Code session is on one side. External services are on the other. MCPs let Claude cross over and interact with them.
Popular MCPs
Here are some commonly used ones to give you a sense of what's possible:
| MCP | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Fireflies | Auto-syncs meeting transcripts into your workflow |
| Teamwork | Access project tasks, timelines, and updates |
| Slack | Read channels, send messages, search history |
| Notion | Access pages, databases, and docs |
| GitHub | Manage repos, issues, PRs beyond local git |
| Google Drive | Access docs and sheets |
| Postgres/MySQL | Query databases directly |
You don't need all of these. Pick the ones that connect to tools you actually use.
How MCPs Work
Here's the nice thing about using an agent: you don't have to figure out MCP setup on your own.
Just ask Claude:
"Hey, help me set up an MCP for [service name]. Walk me through it."
Claude will:
- Check if there's an existing MCP server for that service
- Guide you through installation
- Help you configure credentials
- Test the connection
That's it. The agent handles the complexity for you.
Hands-On: Explore Available MCPs + Set Up Your First One
Part 1: See what's available
Browse the community directory to see what MCPs exist:
- Awesome MCP Servers - 76k+ stars, comprehensive list organized by category
Think about which external tools you use most—those are your candidates for setup.
Part 2: Set up an MCP
In the next sections (4.2 and 4.3), we'll walk through setting up the Teamwork and Fireflies MCPs step by step. These will be your first real MCP connections.
Once you've done one, you'll know the pattern for any MCP.