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# kater init agent

Gives your agent the local Kater MCP of your local copy, and names the first skill for it to follow.

{/* Written by apps/landing-page/scripts/docs/write_cli_reference.py from the kater CLI's own help and scripts/docs/cli-reference.md. Do not edit it by hand: change those, then run the script. */}

This is step 10 of [`kater init`](https://kater.ai/docs/cli-reference/init/). It writes the local Kater MCP's configuration into your local copy, and starts no agent. The local Kater MCP reads the files of your local copy.

## Examples

```bash
# Give Claude Code Kater's tools in the local copy in kater-content
kater init agent --harness claude --folder kater-content
# Go to the local copy
cd kater-content
# Give another agent Kater's tools. It prints the MCP server to add yourself
kater init agent --harness other
```

## Options

<div class="cli-options">

| Option | Description |
| --- | --- |
| `--harness <agent>` | Required. The agent that runs this command: `claude` for Claude Code, `codex` for Codex, or `other`. |
| `--folder <folder>` | The local copy. Leave it out to use the local copy that the current folder is in. |

</div>

It also takes `--help`.

## What it writes

- **Claude Code.** It adds the `kater` server to `.mcp.json` in the local copy.
- **Codex.** It adds the `kater` server to `.codex/config.toml` in the local copy.
- **Other.** It writes nothing. Add the `mcp_server` of the answer to your agent's MCP configuration.
- The server runs `kater serve --kater-root .` in the local copy. See [Kater MCP](https://kater.ai/docs/developers/mcp/).
- Kater's tools load in the agent's next session.
- The answer lists each connection's `model-table.md` skill, which shows how to make the first semantic models and queries.

The step needs a local copy. Run `kater init local-copy` first. Files that you write in a local copy reach Kater only when you commit them and run `kater git push`. It needs the `settings:manage` permission.

## See also

- [`kater init`](https://kater.ai/docs/cli-reference/init/)
- [All commands](https://kater.ai/docs/cli-reference/kater/)

On this page

Examples
Options
What it writes
See also

Kater CLI Set up init

kater init agent

Gives your agent the local Kater MCP of your local copy, and names the first skill for it to follow.

This is step 10 of kater init. It writes the local Kater MCP’s configuration into your local copy, and starts no agent. The local Kater MCP reads the files of your local copy.

Examples

# Give Claude Code Kater's tools in the local copy in kater-content
kater init agent --harness claude --folder kater-content
# Go to the local copy
cd kater-content
# Give another agent Kater's tools. It prints the MCP server to add yourself
kater init agent --harness other

Options

Option	Description
`--harness <agent>`	Required. The agent that runs this command: `claude` for Claude Code, `codex` for Codex, or `other`.
`--folder <folder>`	The local copy. Leave it out to use the local copy that the current folder is in.

It also takes --help.

What it writes

Claude Code. It adds the kater server to .mcp.json in the local copy.
Codex. It adds the kater server to .codex/config.toml in the local copy.
Other. It writes nothing. Add the mcp_server of the answer to your agent’s MCP configuration.
The server runs kater serve --kater-root . in the local copy. See Kater MCP.
Kater’s tools load in the agent’s next session.
The answer lists each connection’s model-table.md skill, which shows how to make the first semantic models and queries.

The step needs a local copy. Run kater init local-copy first. Files that you write in a local copy reach Kater only when you commit them and run kater git push. It needs the settings:manage permission.

See also