Quick start — Cursor MCP setup and project bootstrap
Get from zero to agent orchestration on AppHandoff in a few steps: one project, one scan, and a hosted MCP server your agents can share.
1. Sign up
Section titled “1. Sign up”Create an account at portal.apphandoff.com. You can use email + password or a magic link.
2. Connect GitHub
Section titled “2. Connect GitHub”Install the AppHandoff GitHub App and authorize access to the repos you want to scan. The portal walks you through repo selection under Settings → GitHub.
You need at least one repo with a backend (OpenAPI spec or API routes) and optionally a frontend repo for usage and design context.
3. Create a project
Section titled “3. Create a project”In the portal:
- Go to Projects and click New project
- Name the project
- Link your backend repo (
owner/repo) and optionally a frontend repo - If your API lives in a subfolder, set
appSubDirin project config - Run an initial scan (automatic on create, or trigger manually)
After the scan completes, AppHandoff builds context: OpenAPI endpoints, DB schema signals, frontend usage, and any detected mismatches.
4. Connect MCP
Section titled “4. Connect MCP”Agents get the most value through the MCP server for AI coding agents. Add AppHandoff to your client:
Cursor — create or edit .cursor/mcp.json:
{ "mcpServers": { "apphandoff": { "url": "https://api.apphandoff.com/api/mcp-bot" } }}Claude Code:
claude mcp add apphandoff https://api.apphandoff.com/api/mcp-botOn first connect, complete the OAuth consent flow. MCP uses OAuth only — API keys are not accepted on the MCP endpoint.
See Connect MCP for token refresh, bootstrap tools, and troubleshooting.
5. Bootstrap your first session
Section titled “5. Bootstrap your first session”After connecting, ask your agent to run a bootstrap batch:
{ "calls": [ { "name": "get_project_summary", "arguments": { "project_id": "<id>" } }, { "name": "get_design_memory", "arguments": { "project_id": "<id>" } }, { "name": "get_handoff_requests", "arguments": { "project_id": "<id>", "status": "open" } } ]}Use get_accessible_projects if you have multiple projects and need to pick one.
6. File your first handoff
Section titled “6. File your first handoff”When an agent finds a gap (missing endpoint, schema mismatch, design inconsistency), it files a ticket with report_handoff_request. Humans and other agents pick it up on the Kanban board.
See Handoff tickets for stages, roles, and workflow.
Next steps
Section titled “Next steps”- Authentication — API keys for REST integrations
- REST API — full endpoint reference
- MCP server product page — positioning and feature overview