Cursor Setup

Add Counsel to Cursor for strategic debates in your IDE.

1-Click Install

The fastest way:

Install in Cursor

Visit the install page and click the Cursor button

This opens Cursor and automatically configures the MCP server.

Manual Setup

Get API Key

Open MCP Settings

In Cursor: Settings → Features → MCP Servers

Add Configuration

Edit ~/.cursor/mcp.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "counsel": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://counsel-mcp.getmason.dev/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

Restart Cursor

Fully quit and restart Cursor to load the configuration

Project-Level Config

For project-specific configuration, create .cursor/mcp.json in your project root:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "counsel": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://counsel-mcp.getmason.dev/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

Deeplink Format

The 1-click install uses this deeplink format:

cursor://anysphere.cursor-deeplink/mcp/install?name=counsel&config=<base64-config>

Generate your own:

import base64
import json

config = {
    "mcpServers": {
        "counsel": {
            "type": "http",
            "url": "https://counsel-mcp.getmason.dev/mcp",
            "headers": {
                "Authorization": "Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"
            }
        }
    }
}

config_b64 = base64.b64encode(json.dumps(config).encode()).decode()
link = f"cursor://anysphere.cursor-deeplink/mcp/install?name=counsel&config={config_b64}"
print(link)

Verify Installation

Open Cursor’s MCP settings
Look for counsel in the server list
Status should show “Connected”

Usage

In Cursor’s AI chat:

@counsel Run a debate on whether we should use GraphQL vs REST for our new API

Or naturally:

Can you help me decide between PostgreSQL and MongoDB for our analytics workload?
Use Counsel to get multiple perspectives.

Troubleshooting

Server not connecting

Check ~/.cursor/mcp.json exists and has valid JSON
Verify the URL: https://counsel-mcp.getmason.dev/mcp
Completely quit Cursor (Cmd+Q) and restart

Authorization error

API key must start with cns_
Ensure no extra spaces in the key
Check key is active in dashboard

Deeplink not working

Ensure Cursor is installed and registered as URL handler
Try manual configuration instead

Getting Started

Agent Workflows

Installation

Cursor

Cursor Setup

1-Click Install

Install in Cursor

Manual Setup

Project-Level Config

Deeplink Format

Verify Installation

Usage

Troubleshooting

​Cursor Setup

​1-Click Install

Install in Cursor

​Manual Setup

​Project-Level Config

​Deeplink Format

​Verify Installation

​Usage

​Troubleshooting

Cursor Setup

1-Click Install

Manual Setup

Project-Level Config

Deeplink Format

Verify Installation

Usage

Troubleshooting