Runbook.AI

# Runbook MCP Server Runbook MCP Server enables you to run your own runbooks from Claude Desktop. - Run ops runbooks (e.g., deploy a service, upgrade a Kubernetes cluster) - Run manual test plans (e.g., create a new EC2 instance, ssh into the instance, and run the integration test there). Please watch the demo video below to understand how it works! ![demo](./assets/images/demo.gif) # How to Use ## Step 1. Start the MCP server with Claude Desktop. Create `config.yaml` Put the following configuration to `claude_desktop_config.json`. ```json { "mcpServers": { "runbook": { "command": "uv", "args": [ "--directory", "/runbook-mcp-server", "run", "runbook_server.py" ] } } } ``` ## Step 2. Create runbooks You can use markdown files or text files as runbooks. See [examples](./examples-runbooks/). We support env/var substitution. Define `env.yaml`. ```yaml env: key: value ``` - `{env[key]}` is replaced with `value`. - `{var.name}` is replaced with a variable value. Rebuild the index when files are updated. You can also create a new runbook, use the `create_runbook` tool. Here is an example prompt: *Example 1* ``` Create a new runbook: - name: list_pods - content: List pods in all namespaces, find pods that are not ready, and send that to Slack. You don't need to interpret the content. Please just pass it to the tool. ``` ## Step 3. Run runbooks To run a runbook, take the following steps: 1. Click "Attach from MCP" from Claude Desktop. 2. Select `get_runbook_as_prompt` from the list of integrations. 3. Pass the name of the runbook you would like to execute. Also specify variables with a comma-separated list (e.g., `var1=key1,var2=key2`). 4. Submit the generated prompt. Then Claude Desktop will talk to other MCP servers to run the runbook. # Example MCP Servers that can be used to Run Runbooks - [GitHub](https://github.com/github/github-mcp-server) - [Slack](https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/servers/tree/main/src/slack) - [DesktopCommanderMCP](https://github.com/wonderwhy-er/DesktopCommanderMCP) - Web search and browser automation ([link](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/examples#web-and-browser-automation)) - Kubernetes. There are several implementations (e.g., [mcp-k8s-go](https://github.com/strowk/mcp-k8s-go)) # Development Plan - Instead of saving the content of the runbook in the database, just save as a file. This helps easy editting. People can also simply use GitHub for versioning. - Runbook template X that is instantiated with given inputs. - Maybe this is not needed. A user just needs to put additional prompts when running the runbook. - Save executing log (for auditting and refinement) - Remove secrets - Also pass a past log to the runbook prompt if this helps better execution - Approval flow. - Add a tool `request_approval`. - This sends a slack message to a channel. - Then the Runbook MCP server watches the channel. If someone responds (yes / no), it proceeeds or returns an error. - Better runbook search - The exact name match is not great - Registrtation to [Smithery](https://smithery.ai/server/@runbookai/runbook-mcp-server). # Potential Work Items where its Feasibility is not clear Note: Claude Desktop does not support "Sampling". This puts some limitations. - Sub-runbook and reusable execution block - Rest endpoint + frontend for managing runbooks. - Be able to edit the runbook (with versioning) - show an execution plan for runbook X (dry-run) - Restrict MCP servers and tools - convert a previous conversation into a runbook - fine-tuning. - Be able to refine a runbook. If there is a successful execution, save it as an example and give it to Claude. - Periodic execution - Be able to provision an environment (VM, docker) for running MCP servers.