---
title: MCP Server Setup Guide
slug: ai/mcp-server/setup-guide
excerpt: >-
  Set up the Pine Labs MCP Server in your AI client. Choose between API
  Execution (hosted, recommended) and CLI (local) flows.
hidden: false
sidebar_order: 4
metadata:
  title: Pine Labs MCP Server Setup Guide — API Execution & CLI | Pine Labs Online
  description: >-
    Step-by-step guide to set up the Pine Labs MCP Server. Choose between the
    hosted API Execution flow (recommended for Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code)
    or the local CLI tool. Includes prerequisites, credentials, and
    verification.
  keywords: >-
    MCP setup, Pine Labs MCP installation, Claude Desktop MCP, Cursor MCP, VS
    Code MCP, MCP CLI setup
  robots: 'index,follow'
---

Pick the setup path that matches how you want to run the Pine Labs MCP Server.

<CardGrid>
  <Card
    title="API Execution (Hosted)"
    description="Connect Claude Desktop, VS Code, Cursor, and other MCP clients directly to the Pine Labs hosted MCP endpoint. No infrastructure to deploy."
    href="/ai/mcp-server/setup-guide-api-execution"
    icon="server"
  />
  <Card
    title="CLI (Local)"
    description="Install the pinelabs-mcp CLI to run an MCP server locally. Includes auto-configuration helpers for popular AI clients."
    href="/ai/mcp-server/setup-guide-cli"
    icon="terminal"
  />
</CardGrid>

## Prerequisites (both paths)

<Steps>
  <Step number={1} title="Pine Labs Online merchant account">
    [Sign up](https://dashboardv2.pluralonline.com/signup) and enable API access.
  </Step>
  <Step number={2} title="Generate API credentials">
    [Log in](https://dashboardv2.pluralonline.com/login) and copy your `X-Client-Id` and `X-Client-Secret` from the dashboard.
  </Step>
  <Step number={3} title="MCP-compatible AI client">
    Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code (with Copilot in agent mode), Windsurf, OpenCode, GitHub Copilot, or OpenAI Codex.
  </Step>
  <Step number={4} title="Node.js 18+ (CLI) or no install (Hosted)">
    The hosted flow needs no local runtime. The CLI flow requires Node.js 18 or higher.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Callout type="tip" title="Which path should I pick?">
Use **API Execution** for the fastest setup with the fewest moving parts — Pine Labs hosts everything for you. Use the **CLI** if you want local control, custom endpoints, or to test in air-gapped environments.
</Callout>