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docs: pin mcp.json vs .mcp.json for dual Cursor + Claude Code plugins - #312

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Dahhrk:cursor/doc-mcp-json-precedence-252-8641
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docs: pin mcp.json vs .mcp.json for dual Cursor + Claude Code plugins#312
Dahhrk wants to merge 2 commits into
cursor:mainfrom
Dahhrk:cursor/doc-mcp-json-precedence-252-8641

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@Dahhrk

@Dahhrk Dahhrk commented Sep 3, 2026

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Summary

Warn dual Cursor + Claude Code authors: shipping both mcp.json and .mcp.json with different payloads can make a Marketplace clone start the wrong server. Pin mcpServers in plugin.json to the intended file.

Does not claim Cursor auto-picks mcp.json when both exist. Issue #252 observed the clone starting .mcp.json.

Fixes #252

Changes

  • create-plugin/skills/review-plugin-submission/SKILL.md — dual-file trap, pin mcpServers to control which file is used, checklist item
  • create-plugin/skills/create-plugin-scaffold/SKILL.md — scaffold mcp.json; if .mcp.json also ships, pin mcpServers
  • README.md — annotate mcp.json as the documented Cursor default filename

No runtime loader, schema, or validator changes.

cursoragent and others added 2 commits September 3, 2026 10:58
- review-plugin-submission: add MCP filename precedence section
  documenting that mcp.json wins for Cursor, .mcp.json is Claude
  Code's default, and mcpServers pin overrides both. Add checklist
  item for dual-file repos.
- create-plugin-scaffold: add step 6 with MCP filename guidance —
  create mcp.json (not .mcp.json) for Cursor, pin mcpServers if
  the repo also ships .mcp.json for Claude Code.
- README: annotate mcp.json in the repo structure as Cursor default.

Fixes cursor#252

Co-authored-by: Dark <Dahhrk@users.noreply.github.com>
Review feedback: do not assert which file Cursor loads when both
mcp.json and .mcp.json exist — issue cursor#252 shows the clone started
.mcp.json, so the runtime behavior is not documented.

- Rewrite 'MCP filename precedence' → 'MCP filename handling'
- Remove 'Cursor loads mcp.json', 'not auto-discovered', 'never
  falls back', 'never loads the wrong one'
- Keep: mcpServers pin in plugin.json, dual-file trap warning,
  single-shared-file alternative, checklist item

Co-authored-by: Dark <Dahhrk@users.noreply.github.com>
@Dahhrk Dahhrk changed the title docs: document mcp.json vs .mcp.json precedence for dual Cursor + Claude Code plugins docs: pin mcp.json vs .mcp.json for dual Cursor + Claude Code plugins Sep 3, 2026
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Marketplace clone loads .mcp.json over documented mcp.json when both exist in a dual Cursor + Claude Code plugin repo

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