Add me claude install for MCP-only Claude Code setup

Adds an MCP-only install path for Claude Code, matching the existing
`me opencode/codex/gemini install` pattern. The full Claude Code plugin
flow (hooks + slash commands + MCP via plugin marketplace) is unchanged.

Also exposes `-s, --scope` on `me claude install` (local|user|project,
default user) and `me gemini install` (user|project, default user) by
plumbing scope through the shared MCP install pipeline.

Author: jgpruitt

README.md

@@ -40,8 +40,9 @@ me memory search "how does authentication work"
 me opencode install
 me codex install
 me gemini install
+me claude install            # MCP-only
 
-# Claude Code uses the Memory Engine plugin
+# Or, for the full Claude Code plugin (hooks + slash commands + MCP):
 claude plugin marketplace add timescale/memory-engine
 claude plugin install memory-engine@memory-engine
 ```

docs/agents.txt

@@ -14,8 +14,9 @@ mcp:
     opencode: me opencode install
     codex_cli: me codex install
     gemini_cli: me gemini install
-    claude_code: claude plugin marketplace add timescale/memory-engine && claude plugin install memory-engine@memory-engine
-  description: Memory engine ships as an MCP server. OpenCode, Codex CLI, and Gemini CLI use agent-specific install commands. Claude Code uses the Memory Engine plugin.
+    claude_code: me claude install
+    claude_code_plugin: claude plugin marketplace add timescale/memory-engine && claude plugin install memory-engine@memory-engine
+  description: Memory engine ships as an MCP server. OpenCode, Codex CLI, Gemini CLI, and Claude Code all support MCP-only install via `me <agent> install`. Claude Code additionally supports a full plugin (hooks + slash commands + MCP) via Claude Code's plugin marketplace.
   compatible_clients:
     - Claude Code
     - Codex CLI

docs/cli/me-claude.md

@@ -4,11 +4,40 @@ Claude Code integration commands.
 
 ## Commands
 
+- [me claude install](#me-claude-install) -- register `me` as an MCP server with Claude Code (MCP-only)
 - [me claude hook](#me-claude-hook) -- invoked by the Claude Code plugin to capture events as memories
 - [me claude import](#me-claude-import) -- import Claude Code sessions from `~/.claude/projects`
 
 ---
 
+## me claude install
+
+Register `me` as an MCP server with Claude Code.
+
+This is the **MCP-only** install path: it adds the `me` tools to Claude Code without installing the full Memory Engine plugin. If you want hooks (auto-capture of Claude Code events) and slash commands, install the plugin instead -- see [me claude hook](#me-claude-hook).
+
+```
+me claude install [options]
+```
+
+| Option | Description |
+|--------|-------------|
+| `--api-key <key>` | API key to embed in the MCP config. |
+| `--server <url>` | Server URL to embed in the MCP config. |
+| `-s, --scope <scope>` | Claude Code config scope: `local`, `user`, or `project`. Default: `user`. |
+
+If no `--api-key` or `--server` is provided, values are resolved from `~/.config/me/credentials.yaml` (set by `me login` and `me engine use`).
+
+The `--scope` flag mirrors `claude mcp add --scope`:
+
+- `local` -- registration scoped to the current project on this machine only.
+- `user` -- registration available to all projects for your user (default).
+- `project` -- registration committed to the current project (e.g. checked into `.claude/`).
+
+For manual MCP client configuration, see [MCP Integration](../mcp-integration.md).
+
+---
+
 ## me claude hook
 
 Invoked by the Claude Code plugin. Reads the event JSON from stdin, resolves config from `CLAUDE_PLUGIN_OPTION_*` env vars, and captures the event as a memory.
@@ -21,7 +50,7 @@ me claude hook --event <name>
 |--------|-------------|
 | `--event <name>` | Hook event name (required). |
 
-This command is not run directly -- the Claude Code plugin calls it. The plugin is installed via Claude Code's native flow:
+This command is not run directly -- the Claude Code plugin calls it. The plugin (which includes hooks, slash commands, and MCP) is installed via Claude Code's native flow:
 
 ```bash
 claude plugin marketplace add timescale/memory-engine
@@ -30,6 +59,8 @@ claude plugin install memory-engine@memory-engine [--scope user|project|local]
 /plugin  # select memory-engine, Configure, fill api_key/server/tree_prefix
 ```
 
+If you only want the MCP tools (no hooks, no slash commands), use [me claude install](#me-claude-install) instead.
+
 Best-effort: logs failures to stderr but always exits 0 so that a hook failure never blocks a Claude Code session.
 
 ---

docs/cli/me-gemini.md

@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ me gemini install [options]
 |--------|-------------|
 | `--api-key <key>` | API key to embed in the MCP config. |
 | `--server <url>` | Server URL to embed in the MCP config. |
+| `-s, --scope <scope>` | Gemini CLI config scope: `user` or `project`. Default: `user`. |
 
 If no `--api-key` or `--server` is provided, values are resolved from `~/.config/me/credentials.yaml` (set by `me login` and `me engine use`).
 

packages/cli/commands/claude.ts

@@ -1,18 +1,23 @@
 /**
  * me claude — Claude Code integration commands.
  *
- * Just one subcommand: `me claude hook --event <name>`. The plugin itself
- * is installed via Claude Code's native flow:
+ * Two integration paths:
  *
- *   claude plugin marketplace add timescale/memory-engine
- *   claude plugin install memory-engine@memory-engine [--scope user|project|local]
- *   # then, in a Claude Code session:
- *   /plugin  # select memory-engine, Configure, fill api_key/server/tree_prefix
+ *   1. Full plugin (hooks + slash commands + MCP) via Claude Code's native
+ *      plugin marketplace:
  *
- * Claude Code delivers the configured values to our hook as
- * CLAUDE_PLUGIN_OPTION_* env vars.
+ *        claude plugin marketplace add timescale/memory-engine
+ *        claude plugin install memory-engine@memory-engine [--scope user|project|local]
+ *        # then, in a Claude Code session:
+ *        /plugin  # select memory-engine, Configure, fill api_key/server/tree_prefix
+ *
+ *      Claude Code delivers the configured values to our hook (`me claude
+ *      hook --event <name>`) via CLAUDE_PLUGIN_OPTION_* env vars.
+ *
+ *   2. MCP-only via `me claude install`. Registers `me` as an MCP server
+ *      with Claude Code (no hooks, no slash commands — just the tools).
  */
-import { Command } from "commander";
+import { Command, InvalidArgumentError } from "commander";
 import {
   captureHookEvent,
   HOOK_EVENT_NAMES,
@@ -21,8 +26,57 @@ import {
   resolveHookConfigFromEnv,
 } from "../claude/capture.ts";
 import { claudeImporter } from "../importers/claude.ts";
+import {
+  type AgentInstallOptions,
+  runAgentMcpInstall,
+} from "../mcp/agent-install.ts";
 import { buildAgentImportSubcommand } from "./import.ts";
 
+const CLAUDE_SCOPES = ["local", "user", "project"] as const;
+type ClaudeScope = (typeof CLAUDE_SCOPES)[number];
+
+function parseClaudeScope(value: string): ClaudeScope {
+  if (!CLAUDE_SCOPES.includes(value as ClaudeScope)) {
+    throw new InvalidArgumentError(
+      `must be one of: ${CLAUDE_SCOPES.join(", ")}`,
+    );
+  }
+  return value as ClaudeScope;
+}
+
+/**
+ * me claude install — register me as an MCP server with Claude Code.
+ *
+ * MCP-only: leaves the full Claude Code plugin install flow alone. Use this
+ * if you want the `me` MCP tools available in Claude Code but don't want the
+ * plugin's hooks or slash commands.
+ */
+function createClaudeInstallCommand(): Command {
+  return new Command("install")
+    .description("register me as an MCP server with Claude Code")
+    .option("--api-key <key>", "API key to embed in MCP config")
+    .option("--server <url>", "server URL to embed in MCP config")
+    .option(
+      "-s, --scope <scope>",
+      `Claude Code config scope (${CLAUDE_SCOPES.join(", ")})`,
+      parseClaudeScope,
+      "user",
+    )
+    .action(
+      async (
+        opts: AgentInstallOptions & { scope: ClaudeScope },
+        cmd: Command,
+      ) => {
+        const globalOpts = cmd.optsWithGlobals();
+        await runAgentMcpInstall("claude", {
+          apiKey: opts.apiKey,
+          server: globalOpts.server ?? opts.server,
+          scope: opts.scope,
+        });
+      },
+    );
+}
+
 /**
  * me claude hook — invoked by the Claude Code plugin to capture events as
  * memories.
@@ -101,6 +155,7 @@ function createClaudeHookCommand(): Command {
 
 export function createClaudeCommand(): Command {
   const claude = new Command("claude").description("Claude Code integration");
+  claude.addCommand(createClaudeInstallCommand());
   claude.addCommand(createClaudeHookCommand());
   claude.addCommand(
     buildAgentImportSubcommand(

packages/cli/commands/gemini.ts

@@ -3,24 +3,48 @@
  *
  * - me gemini install: register me as an MCP server with Gemini CLI
  */
-import { Command } from "commander";
+import { Command, InvalidArgumentError } from "commander";
 import {
   type AgentInstallOptions,
   runAgentMcpInstall,
 } from "../mcp/agent-install.ts";
 
+const GEMINI_SCOPES = ["user", "project"] as const;
+type GeminiScope = (typeof GEMINI_SCOPES)[number];
+
+function parseGeminiScope(value: string): GeminiScope {
+  if (!GEMINI_SCOPES.includes(value as GeminiScope)) {
+    throw new InvalidArgumentError(
+      `must be one of: ${GEMINI_SCOPES.join(", ")}`,
+    );
+  }
+  return value as GeminiScope;
+}
+
 function createGeminiInstallCommand(): Command {
   return new Command("install")
     .description("register me as an MCP server with Gemini CLI")
     .option("--api-key <key>", "API key to embed in MCP config")
     .option("--server <url>", "server URL to embed in MCP config")
-    .action(async (opts: AgentInstallOptions, cmd: Command) => {
-      const globalOpts = cmd.optsWithGlobals();
-      await runAgentMcpInstall("gemini", {
-        apiKey: opts.apiKey,
-        server: globalOpts.server ?? opts.server,
-      });
-    });
+    .option(
+      "-s, --scope <scope>",
+      `Gemini CLI config scope (${GEMINI_SCOPES.join(", ")})`,
+      parseGeminiScope,
+      "user",
+    )
+    .action(
+      async (
+        opts: AgentInstallOptions & { scope: GeminiScope },
+        cmd: Command,
+      ) => {
+        const globalOpts = cmd.optsWithGlobals();
+        await runAgentMcpInstall("gemini", {
+          apiKey: opts.apiKey,
+          server: globalOpts.server ?? opts.server,
+          scope: opts.scope,
+        });
+      },
+    );
 }
 
 export function createGeminiCommand(): Command {

packages/cli/mcp/agent-install.ts

@@ -11,6 +11,11 @@ import { buildMeCommand, installMcpServer, MCP_TOOLS } from "./install.ts";
 export interface AgentInstallOptions {
   apiKey?: string;
   server?: string;
+  /**
+   * Configuration scope for tools that support it (Claude Code, Gemini CLI).
+   * Ignored by tools without a scope concept (Codex, OpenCode).
+   */
+  scope?: string;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -63,7 +68,7 @@ export async function runAgentMcpInstall(
 
   const spin = clack.spinner();
   spin.start(`Registering with ${tool.name}...`);
-  const result = await installMcpServer(tool, meCmd);
+  const result = await installMcpServer(tool, meCmd, { scope: opts.scope });
 
   if (result.success) {
     spin.stop(result.message);