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Installation Guide

Connect RivalSearchMCP to Your AI Assistant in Minutes

This guide shows you exactly how to connect RivalSearchMCP to different AI assistants and applications. No technical knowledge required!

What You're Actually Doing

When you connect RivalSearchMCP to your AI assistant, you're telling it "Hey, when I ask for current information, use this tool to search the web instead of saying you don't know."

Option 1: Use the Live Server (Easiest - No Installation)

This is the recommended way for most users.

For Cursor Users

Click this button to add RivalSearchMCP to Cursor in one click:

Add to Cursor

What happens: 1. Click the button 2. Cursor opens and asks if you want to add RivalSearchMCP 3. Click "Yes" or "Add" 4. Your AI assistant can now search the web!

For Claude Desktop

  1. Open Claude Desktop
  2. Go to Settings → MCP Servers
  3. Click Add Server
  4. Enter this URL: https://RivalSearchMCP.fastmcp.app/mcp
  5. Click Save
  6. Restart Claude Desktop

For VS Code

  1. Open VS Code
  2. Create or open .vscode/mcp.json in your workspace
  3. Add this configuration: 
    {
  "mcpServers": {
    "RivalSearchMCP": {
      "url": "https://RivalSearchMCP.fastmcp.app/mcp"
    }
  }
}

For Other MCP-Compatible Apps

Add this to your MCP configuration: 

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "RivalSearchMCP": {
      "url": "https://RivalSearchMCP.fastmcp.app/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Option 2: Install Locally (For Advanced Users)

Only do this if you want full control or the live server doesn't work.

Step 1: Install Python

  • Windows: Download from python.org - check "Add Python to PATH"
  • macOS: Download from python.org or use brew install python
  • Linux: sudo apt install python3 python3-pip (Ubuntu/Debian)

Step 2: Download RivalSearchMCP

git clone https://github.com/rivalsearchmcp/rivalsearchmcp.git
cd rivalsearchmcp

Step 3: Install Dependencies

pip install -r requirements.txt

Step 4: Run the Server

python -m src.server

Step 5: Connect Your AI Assistant

Use this configuration instead of the live server URL: 

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "rivalsearchmcp": {
      "command": "python",
      "args": ["-m", "src.server"],
      "transport": {
        "type": "stdio"
      }
    }
  }
}

Test Your Connection

Simple Test

Ask your AI assistant: "Search for 'latest AI news' and tell me what you find"

If it works: Your AI will search the web and give you current information.

If it doesn't work: Your AI will say it can't access current information or doesn't know how to search.

What You Should See

  • Before: "I can't access current information" or "I don't know about recent events"
  • After: Your AI searches the web and gives you current articles, news, and information

Troubleshooting

"Server not found" or "Connection failed"

  • Make sure you're using the correct URL: https://RivalSearchMCP.fastmcp.app/mcp
  • Check your internet connection
  • Try restarting your AI assistant

"Tool not available" or "Function not found"

  • Make sure the server is connected properly
  • Try asking: "What tools do you have available?"
  • Restart your AI assistant

Local installation issues

  • Make sure Python is installed: python --version
  • Make sure you're in the right directory
  • Check that dependencies are installed: pip list

What Your AI Can Do Now

Once connected, your AI assistant can: - Search the web for current information - Read websites and summarize content - Get latest news and updates - Research topics using multiple sources - Find current prices and data - Analyze trends and patterns

Need Help?

Ready to test? Ask your AI assistant to search for something current!