# Declawed: A Configurable, Promptable AI Mail Assisty Kitty

A local Model Context Protocol (MCP) server and LLM integration platform. Built to connect to LLM APIs - be itClaude Desktop, *others*... or locally hosted models. Executes your prompts to manage your mail, while you... watch Fellini films, solve climate change, sip Mai Tais, or.... whatever. 

Ssssimple. Siamsese, if you please.... Eats the blue-plate-crustacean for breakfast.

Infinitely mod-able.  Dead simple. Privacy centric.  

---

# Scope 

## Current implementation contemplates: Claude Desktop + Custom, Local Model Context Protocol Server + Commercial SMTP Server (MX'config’d properly) + your DNS-config’d XXX.YYY

---

### 1. Install: Node.js

 Node.js v16 or higher must be installed.

```bash
node --version
npm --version
```

If not installed, download from [nodejs.org](https://nodejs.org/).

### 2. Initialize the Project

```bash
mkdir assistant
cd assistant
npm init -y
```

### 3. Install Dependencies

```bash
npm install @modelcontextprotocol/sdk zod@3 googleapis
npm install -D @types/node typescript
```

Create the source directory and entry file:

```bash
mkdir src
touch src/index.ts
```

### 4. Configure the Project

#### 4a. Update `package.json`

Set the module type, binary entry, and build scripts:

```json
{
  "type": "module",
  "bin": {
    "assistant": "./build/index.js"
  },
  "scripts": {
    "build": "tsc && chmod 755 build/index.js",
    "auth": "npm run build && node build/auth.js"
  },
  "files": ["build"]
}
```

#### 4b. Create `tsconfig.json` in the project root

```json
{
  "compilerOptions": {
    "target": "ES2022",
    "module": "Node16",
    "moduleResolution": "Node16",
    "outDir": "./build",
    "rootDir": "./src",
    "strict": true,
    "esModuleInterop": true,
    "skipLibCheck": true,
    "forceConsistentCasingInFileNames": true
  },
  "include": ["src/**/*"],
  "exclude": ["node_modules"]
}
```

### 5. Write the Server Code

The server source lives in `src/index.ts`. It registers three tools and one prompt with the MCP server:

- **`fetch_new_emails`** -- fetches unread Gmail messages
- **`delete_emails`** -- trashes messages by ID
- **`append_to_summary`** -- logs classified emails to `summary.json`
- **`review_emails`** (prompt) -- feeds Claude the classification instructions

The auth helper lives in `src/auth.ts`, used only for the one-time OAuth setup.

### 6. Set Up Google Cloud Credentials

#### 6a. Create a Google Cloud Project

1. Go to [Google Cloud Console](https://console.cloud.google.com/)
2. Sign in with the Google account that owns the target Gmail
3. Click the project dropdown (top-left) and select **New Project**
4. Name it (e.g., `assistant-mcp`) and click **Create**
5. Select the new project from the dropdown

#### 6b. Enable the Gmail API

1. Go to **APIs & Services > Library** ([direct link](https://console.cloud.google.com/apis/library))
2. Search for **Gmail API**
3. Click it, then click **Enable**

#### 6c. Configure the OAuth Consent Screen

1. Go to **Google Auth Platform > Branding** (or **APIs & Services > OAuth consent screen**)
2. Set user type to **External**, click **Create**
3. Fill in app name, support email, and developer contact email
4. Save and continue

#### 6d. Add the Gmail Scope

1. Go to **Google Auth Platform > Data Access** (or the Scopes page)
2. Click **Add or remove scopes**
3. Add: `https://www.googleapis.com/auth/gmail.modify`
4. Save

#### 6e. Add Yourself as a Test User

1. Go to **Google Auth Platform > Audience**
2. Add your Gmail address as a test user

#### 6f. Create OAuth Client Credentials

1. Go to **Google Auth Platform > Clients** (or **APIs & Services > Credentials**)
2. Click **Create Client** (or **+ Create Credentials > OAuth client ID**)
3. Application type: **Desktop app**
4. Name it anything (e.g., `Assistant MCP Desktop`)
5. Click **Create**
6. **Download the JSON** file
7. Rename it to `credentials.json`
8. Move it to the project root: `/Users/kjannette/assistant/credentials.json`

### 7. Authorize Your Gmail Account

Build the project and run the auth script:

```bash
npm run auth
```

This will:
1. Print a URL -- open it in your browser
2. Sign in with your Google account and click **Allow**
3. You'll land on a "localhost refused to connect" page (this is normal)
4. Copy the **entire URL** from the browser address bar
5. Paste it into the terminal prompt
6. The script extracts the auth code and saves `token.json`

You only need to do this once. The token auto-refreshes.

### 8. Build the Server

```bash
npm run build
```

This compiles `src/*.ts` into `build/*.js`.

### 9. Write the Classification Prompt

Create a file called `classify-emails.txt` in the project root. This file contains the plain-text instructions that tell Claude how to classify your emails.

**Tips for writing the prompt:**
- Use clear, explicit category definitions with example language for each
- Handle ambiguous cases (e.g., "If an email both acknowledges receipt AND requests action, classify it as B")
- Define the exact actions to take for each category (delete, summarize, etc.)
- Specify what fields to include in summaries
- Keep it in plain text -- no JSON or special formatting needed
- The file is loaded at runtime, so you can edit it without rebuilding the server

**File location:** Must be at the project root as `classify-emails.txt`.

### 10. Configure Claude Desktop

Edit the Claude Desktop config file:

```bash
code ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
```

Add the `assistant` server to the `mcpServers` object:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "assistant": {
      "command": "/ABSOLUTE/PATH/TO/node",
      "args": [
        "/Users/kjannette/assistant/build/index.js"
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

Replace `/ABSOLUTE/PATH/TO/node` with the output of `which node`.

### 11. Restart Claude Desktop

Fully quit Claude Desktop (**Cmd+Q**, not just close the window) and reopen it. The `assistant` server should now appear under **Connectors** in the chat input.

---

## Usage Guide

### Prompt Loader

The server reads `classify-emails.txt` from the project root at runtime. To change classification behavior, edit that file directly -- no rebuild required. The updated instructions take effect on the next tool call.

### MCP Prompt: `review_emails`

A registered MCP prompt available in Claude Desktop's Connectors menu. When invoked, it feeds Claude the full contents of `classify-emails.txt` as a user message, giving Claude all the classification criteria before it calls any tools. This is the recommended way to trigger the workflow -- it ensures Claude has the complete instructions every time.

### `fetch_new_emails` Enrichment

Every time `fetch_new_emails` is called, the classification instructions from `classify-emails.txt` are appended to the response alongside the email data. This means Claude always sees the rules with the data, even if the `review_emails` prompt was not explicitly invoked. Belt and suspenders.

### Running the Workflow

1. Open Claude Desktop
2. Type: **"Review my inbox"** (or invoke the `review_emails` prompt from Connectors)
3. Claude will:
   - Call `fetch_new_emails` to retrieve unread messages
   - Classify each email as A, B, C, or D using the prompt instructions
   - Call `delete_emails` for categories A and C
   - Call `append_to_summary` for categories B and D
4. Results are displayed in the chat and saved to `summary.json`

### Key Commands

| Command | Purpose |
|---------|---------|
| `npm run build` | Recompile after editing `src/index.ts` |
| `npm run auth` | Re-authorize Gmail (only if `token.json` deleted/expired) |
| Cmd+Q Claude Desktop, reopen | Pick up server changes after a rebuild |

---

## Project Structure

```
assistant/
├── src/
│   ├── index.ts          # MCP server source (tools + prompt)
│   └── auth.ts           # One-time OAuth setup script
├── build/
│   ├── index.js          # Compiled server (Claude Desktop runs this)
│   └── auth.js           # Compiled auth script
├── classify-emails.txt   # Classification prompt (plain text, edit anytime)
├── credentials.json      # Google OAuth client credentials (from Cloud Console)
├── token.json            # Gmail access/refresh token (auto-generated)
├── summary.json          # Output file where B/D emails are logged
├── package.json          # Project config and scripts
├── tsconfig.json         # TypeScript compiler config
└── README.md             # This file
```