Product blog · Recipe
Call local ASB skills from Cursor via MCP
A concrete recipe: run Automation Skill Builder on your machine, expose packaged skills as MCP tools, and invoke them from Cursor — without moving desktop execution to the cloud.
Conclusion first
Yes — Cursor can call local Automation Skill Builder (ASB) skills through MCP. ASB stays the local control plane; Cursor is the assistant client. Runtime skill calls and license quota checks happen on your host, not on a vendor desktop cloud.
http://127.0.0.1:8800/mcp/sse (SSE). Confirm the exact URL and any auth header in Settings → Communication / MCP — UI values win over this article if they differ.Prerequisites
- ASB desktop app running; Control Panel opens (often
http://127.0.0.1:8800). - At least one packaged skill (or use built-in tools while designing).
- Cursor installed with MCP support enabled.
- Optional: service secret / token if you secured the MCP endpoint in Settings.
Steps
1. Enable MCP in ASB
Open Settings → Communication / MCP. Complete the on-screen steps for your client. Review tool visibility so Cursor only sees tools you intend to expose. Restart ASB if the UI asks.
2. Point Cursor at the local MCP server
Add an MCP server entry in Cursor (project or global MCP settings). Example SSE shape — replace URL/headers with what ASB Settings shows:
{
"mcpServers": {
"automation-skill-builder": {
"url": "http://127.0.0.1:8800/mcp/sse"
}
}
}
If your Settings page documents a bearer token, add the Authorization header your client expects. Do not paste secrets into public repos.
3. Verify tools, then call a skill
- Restart Cursor (or reload MCP) if tools do not appear.
- Ask Cursor to list available ASB tools / skills.
- Run a low-risk skill once and confirm the run appears in ASB (Usage / run history).
What stays local
- Skill execution and quota enforcement on the host.
- Desktop / browser / file / API actions driven by ASB — not by a remote operator sandbox.
- License file model: paid tiers refresh
license.jsonperiodically; not a per-call cloud entitlement API.
FAQ
Is MCP required to use ASB?
No. Core authoring and runs work via the web UI and HTTP API. MCP is optional when you want Cursor (or other assistants) to call packaged capabilities.
Cursor vs VS Code?
Same local ASB server. VS Code often uses an mcp.servers SSE entry; Cursor uses its MCP config UI/file. See also MCP everywhere and third-party MCP patterns.
Connection fails?
Confirm ASB is running, port matches Settings, firewall allows loopback, and tool visibility includes what you need. Manual: §12.3 AI cannot connect.