Model Context Protocol

MCP server

The shadcn block library your AI agent can actually use. Connect Beste UI to your editor, then ask for the UI you want in plain language: your agent searches the catalog, previews options, and installs the right block.

Quick setup

Add the server to your MCP config. This works for free, with no account:

.mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "beste-ui": {
      "url": "https://ui.beste.co/api/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Using Claude Code? Add it with one command:

Terminal

claude mcp add --transport http beste-ui https://ui.beste.co/api/mcp

Unlock Pro block sources

To let your agent pull the source of Pro blocks, add your license to the endpoint URL. Everything else works without it. Find your email and license key on your Account page.

.mcp.json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "beste-ui": {
      "url": "https://ui.beste.co/api/mcp?email=you@example.com&license_key=YOUR_LICENSE_KEY"
    }
  }
}

Available tools

search_blocks(query, type?, category?, limit?)open

Semantic + keyword search across the whole catalog. Returns ranked matches with name, title, category, Pro status, and URL.

get_block(name, type?, flavor?)open

Metadata for one asset: description, category, preview URL, and the shadcn install command.

get_block_source(name, type?, flavor?) license for Pro

The full .tsx source. Free items return immediately; Pro blocks require a valid license.

list_categories(—)open

Every category with its title and description.

install_block(name, type?, flavor?)open

The exact shadcn CLI command to drop an asset into a project.

compose_page(intent, limit?)open

Give it a page intent ('AI SaaS landing page') and it returns an ordered set of blocks that compose a full page.

Try asking

“Add a pricing section with three tiers and a monthly/yearly toggle.”
“Find a hero with a product screenshot and a waitlist form.”
“Compose a landing page for a developer CLI tool.”
“Swap this testimonials block for a marquee of logos.”

How it works

Local semantic search

Every asset is embedded with a small open model. Queries match intent, not just keywords. No third-party AI service is in the path.

Standard transport

Streamable HTTP MCP, so it drops into any compliant client with a single URL.

Same license, everywhere

Pro sources use the exact license check as the CLI and site. Free assets are always open.

Beste MCP vs. shadcn’s MCP

shadcn ships its own MCP server (npx shadcn@latest mcp init --client claude) that lets an agent browse, search, and install from any registries listed in your components.json. It is great, and Beste works with it too, since every Beste asset is a standard registry URL.

The Beste MCP server is a hosted layer on top of that with two things the generic path cannot give you: semantic search over the whole catalog (describe intent, not exact names) and license-aware source, where Pro blocks return their full source only to a valid license — the identical check used by the site and CLI. Use whichever fits; they are not mutually exclusive.

Questions

Which AI tools does the MCP server work with?

Any MCP-capable client, including Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, and VS Code. It speaks the standard Streamable HTTP transport, so no custom plugin is needed.

Do I need a license to use it?

No. Searching, previews, metadata, install commands, and all free block sources work with no license. A Pro license is only required to pull the source of Pro blocks via get_block_source.

How does the semantic search work?

Every block, piece, and component is embedded locally with a small open model at build time. Queries are embedded the same way on the server, so search understands intent, not just keywords. There is no third-party AI service in the path.

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