5-Minute Quickstart Tutorial

🎆

See the MCP Server in action with our live demo - no setup needed!

Prerequisites

Alloy Account: Sign in
MCP Client: Claude Desktop (Download here), your backend application, or any MCP-compatible client
Credentials to Connectors: Ensure you have access to creating credentials for the connectors (Slack, HubSpot, Notion, etc.) you’re looking to support or interact with.

Step 1: Get Your API Key (1 minute)

Log into Alloy Dashboard

Navigate to Settings → API Keys

Click “Generate API Key”

Copy and save your API Key

Step 2: Create Your First Server (1 minute)

Open your terminal and run this command (replace YOUR_API_KEY with your API key):

curl -X POST https://mcp.runalloy.com/api/servers \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "name": "My First MCP Server",
    "description": "Connects AI assistants to business platforms"
  }'

You should see:

{
  "serverId": "my-first-mcp-server-a1b2c3d4",
  "name": "My First MCP Server",
  "description": "Connects AI assistants to business platforms",
  "accessToken": "mcp_token_xyz789",
  "url": "https://mcp.runalloy.com/mcp/my-first-mcp-server-a1b2c3d4",
  "accessUrl": "https://mcp.runalloy.com/mcp/my-first-mcp-server-a1b2c3d4/mcp_token_xyz789"
}

Important: Be sure to copy the accessUrl field as this is your server’s unique address.

Step 3: Connect Your MCP Client (1 minute)

For Claude Desktop:

Open Claude Desktop

Go to Settings → Connectors → Add Custom Connector

Paste your accessUrl in the “Remote MCP server URL” input box and name the connector.

Click “Add”

Your Alloy MCP server should now be accessible and you can click “Configure” to manage tools.

For Cursor (paid plan required):

Add to your .cursorrules or workspace settings:

{
  "mcp": {
    "servers": {
      "alloy": {
        "url": "YOUR_ACCESS_URL_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}

For Python Applications:

import requests
import json

# Your server details from Step 2
ACCESS_URL = "https://mcp.runalloy.com/mcp/my-first-mcp-server-a1b2c3d4/mcp_token_xyz789"

# List available tools
response = requests.post(ACCESS_URL, json={
    "jsonrpc": "2.0",
    "method": "tools/list",
    "id": 1
})

tools = response.json()
print(f"Available tools: {json.dumps(tools, indent=2)}")

# Execute an action (example: list Slack channels)
response = requests.post(ACCESS_URL, json={
    "jsonrpc": "2.0",
    "method": "tools/call",
    "params": {
        "name": "execute_action_alloy",
        "arguments": {
            "connectorId": "slack",
            "actionId": "conversations_list",
            "parameters": {"limit": 10}
        }
    },
    "id": 2
})

result = response.json()
print(f"Slack channels: {json.dumps(result, indent=2)}")

Step 4: Connect to Your Platform (1 minute)

To connect your MCP server to a platform, in your MCP client, type:

"Show me available platforms to connect"

The AI assistant will list available integrations. You can then choose to connect to a specific platform. The assistant will guide you through the authentication process:

For OAuth platforms: You’ll receive an authorization link
For API key platforms: You’ll be prompted to provide credentials

Once connected, the model should confirm that the connection was successful: “I’ve connected [Platform]“

Step 5: Your First Commands (1 minute)

Try these commands with your AI assistant:

Example Actions

For Slack:

"Send 'Hello from the MCP Server!' to the #general channel in Slack"

For HubSpot:

"Create a new contact in HubSpot with email john@example.com"

For Notion:

"Create a new page in Notion titled 'Meeting Notes'"

Each platform has different capabilities. Ask your AI assistant:

"What actions can I perform with [Platform]?"

Congratulations!

You’ve just:

Created an MCP server
Connected an AI assistant to a business platform
Performed automated actions through natural language

What’s Next?

Try More Commands

Get Creative:

"Create a task in [Your Platform]"
"Update a record with new information"
"Send a notification to your team"

Add More Platforms

"Show me available integrations"
"Help me connect to HubSpot"
"What can you do with Notion?"

Explore Advanced Features

Set Restrictions - Limit which platforms the AI can access:

curl -X PUT https://mcp.runalloy.com/api/servers/YOUR_SERVER_ID \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "restrictions": {
      "connectors": {
        "mode": "allowlist",
        "allowedIds": ["slack", "notion"]
      }
    }
  }'

Get Started

Core Concepts

API Reference

AI Integrations

Security

Troubleshooting

5-Minute Quickstart Tutorial

Prerequisites

Step 1: Get Your API Key (1 minute)

Step 2: Create Your First Server (1 minute)

Step 3: Connect Your MCP Client (1 minute)

For Claude Desktop:

For Cursor (paid plan required):

For Python Applications:

Step 4: Connect to Your Platform (1 minute)

Step 5: Your First Commands (1 minute)

Example Actions

Congratulations!

What’s Next?

Try More Commands

Add More Platforms

Explore Advanced Features

​Prerequisites

​Step 1: Get Your API Key (1 minute)

​Step 2: Create Your First Server (1 minute)

​Step 3: Connect Your MCP Client (1 minute)

​For Claude Desktop:

​For Cursor (paid plan required):

​For Python Applications:

​Step 4: Connect to Your Platform (1 minute)

​Step 5: Your First Commands (1 minute)

​Example Actions

​Congratulations!

​What’s Next?

​Try More Commands

​Add More Platforms

​Explore Advanced Features

Prerequisites

Step 1: Get Your API Key (1 minute)

Step 2: Create Your First Server (1 minute)

Step 3: Connect Your MCP Client (1 minute)

For Claude Desktop:

For Cursor (paid plan required):

For Python Applications:

Step 4: Connect to Your Platform (1 minute)

Step 5: Your First Commands (1 minute)

Example Actions

Congratulations!

What’s Next?

Try More Commands

Add More Platforms

Explore Advanced Features