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Pilot your community from Claude with the MCP server

Bonfire ships a native Model Context Protocol (MCP) server at /api/mcp. Connecting an MCP client like Claude lets you drive your community in natural language — create channels, configure gamification, run analytics — backed by the same typed actions as the AI Owner Copilot, with confirmation gates and an audit log.

1. Get an API key

The MCP server authenticates with a Bearer key. In Admin → API Keys, create a key with the scopes you need (e.g. content:write, analytics:read). See Authenticate with the Bonfire API.

2. Configure the MCP client

Point your client at your community's MCP endpoint. For Claude, add the server to your MCP config:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "bonfire": {
      "url": "https://your-community.onbonfire.com/api/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer bf_live_xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx"
      }
    }
  }
}

Reload the client. The bonfire server's tools become available.

3. Run actions in natural language

Ask Claude to operate your community. Examples:

  • "Create a #wins channel in the Members space group."
  • "Set up a 7-day streak badge and show the leaderboard."
  • "Summarize member growth and churn for the last 30 days."
  • "Toggle on the Module Store entry for events."

Each action maps to one of the typed admin actions. Destructive or wide-reaching actions present a confirmation gate before executing, and every action is recorded in the audit log (Admin → Audit Log).

What it can do

The MCP server exposes the same set of typed actions as the Owner Copilot — creating channels, configuring gamification, setting up courses, running analytics, toggling modules, and inviting admins. Read-only requests (analytics, listings) need no confirmation; write actions do.

Related

  • AI Owner Copilot
  • Authenticate with the Bonfire API
  • Community as Code (CLI)

FAQ

Is this the same as the Owner Copilot? Yes — same typed actions and confirmation/audit guardrails, exposed over MCP so external clients like Claude can drive them.

Does it bypass permissions? No. The key's scopes gate what the MCP server may do. Use least-privilege keys.

Can members use it? No. MCP keys come from Admin, so this is an owner/admin capability.

Is it production-ready? The MCP server is a pilot. Test in a staging community before automating critical changes.