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Editor setup

Perplexity Computer MCP Server

Three Perplexity surfaces exist — do not mix them up. This guide covers Perplexity Computer (web) Custom Remote Connectors at perplexity.ai/account/connectors and the curated Computer Connectors directory. For the macOS Desktop app (API key only), see Perplexity Desktop docs.

Official Perplexity Computer MCP documentation: Perplexity Custom Remote Connectors

MCP endpointhttps://zephex.dev/mcp
AuthenticationOAuth 2.0 (recommended) or API Key (Bearer mcp_sk_… / mcp_prod_…)
Config fileperplexity.ai → Account settings → Connectors → + Custom connector → Remote

Why Zephex

Without MCP, your agent guesses project layout and misses supply-chain risk. Zephex connects one hosted endpoint so every session gets the same ten tools — no per-machine npm installs, no version drift across the team.

Before you start

  • Perplexity Pro, Max, or Enterprise plan with Custom Remote Connectors enabled (org admins may need to toggle “Allow members to add custom connectors”).
  • Browser access to perplexity.ai and zephex.dev.
  • For API Key mode: a Zephex key from Dashboard → API Keys.
  • For OAuth mode: pop-ups allowed for zephex.us.auth0.com.
  • Zephex uses Streamable HTTP — select that transport in the form (not SSE).

Get and paste your API key

HTTP and stdio setups both need a key from your Zephex dashboard. OAuth-only flows (ChatGPT, Claude.ai web) sign you in in the browser instead — skip this section for those.

  1. Sign in at zephex.dev → Dashboard → API Keys (or /dashboard/api-keys).
  2. Click Create API key, give it a name you will recognize (e.g. "Kilo — work laptop"), then create.
  3. Copy the key as soon as it appears — Zephex only shows the full secret once. It starts with mcp_sk_ or a newer mcp_prod_… format.
  4. Paste into your config: either only the key in an env field (ZEPHEX_API_KEY), or the full HTTP header value Authorization: Bearer YOUR_KEY — match what your editor’s form asks for.
  5. Do not wrap the key in extra quotes inside JSON unless the file already quotes other string values.
  6. Never commit API keys to git. Revoke and create a new key in the dashboard if one leaks.

Setup policy for Perplexity Computer

Matches the published CLI (mcp-proxy/src/commands/setup.ts). One command signs you in, writes the correct transport, and verifies 10 tools.

Recommended commandnpx -y zephex setup
Project-scopednpx -y zephex setup --project
Transportstdio (npx -y zephex + ZEPHEX_API_KEY)

Global vs project config

  • Global setup is the default — run setup without --project so Zephex works in every folder you open.
  • Global setup also removes stale project-level Zephex entries that shadow your user config.
  • Add --project only when you intentionally want workspace-scoped config (e.g. .cursor/mcp.json in one repo).

After setup

  • Run setup to match the published CLI.
  • Fully quit the editor after setup — reload window alone is often not enough.
  • Start a new agent/chat session so MCP tools register.

Account teardown: logout vs disconnect · Connect MCP walkthrough

Find where setup wrote your config

Search docs for “where is my MCP file” — the answer is always: run list first, then open the path it prints.

  1. Run npx -y zephex@latest list — canonical path list for perplexity-computer.
  2. See Configuration section on this page.
  3. macOS uses ~/ and ~/.config; Windows uses %USERPROFILE% and %APPDATA%; Linux uses ~/.config.

Documented paths: Run npx -y zephex@latest list

Hosted HTTP vs npx stdio

  • Run npx -y zephex setup when unsure — it matches this repo’s published CLI (see mcp-proxy/src/commands/setup.ts).
  • Hosted endpoint: https://zephex.dev/mcp
  • Never keep two zephex entries (stdio + HTTP) in the same config — pick one transport.
  • Cloud-only tools (check_package, project_memory, audit_headers, keep_thinking, Zephex_dev_info) work on both transports.
  • Repo tools (get_project_context, read_code, find_code, explain_architecture, check_test) need either stdio/npx setup or an explicit github:owner/repo or absolute path on HTTP.

Full comparison: HTTP vs stdio · npx zephex reference

How to connect Zephex

Custom Remote Connector is self-serve today. The curated Computer Connectors grid (Developer category, alongside Supabase/Vercel) requires a Perplexity partner listing — see Partner listing below.

  1. Open https://www.perplexity.ai/account/connectors (not the Desktop app).
  2. Click + Custom connector → choose Remote.
  3. Name: Zephex. MCP Server URL: https://zephex.dev/mcp (no trailing slash).
  4. Transport: Streamable HTTP. Description (optional): Ten coding tools for AI agents.
  5. Authentication — pick one path:
  6. • API Key (fastest): paste your mcp_sk_… or mcp_prod_… key. Perplexity sends Authorization: Bearer on every request.
  7. • OAuth: leave Client ID/Secret blank so Perplexity discovers https://zephex.dev/.well-known/oauth-protected-resource and runs DCR against https://zephex.dev/register. Complete Auth0 login when prompted.
  8. Check the risk acknowledgement box → Add.
  9. Click the new connector card → Enable → complete auth if OAuth.
  10. In a Computer thread, enable the Zephex connector under Sources, then ask: “Use check_package to verify express on npm.”
  11. For repo tools, include github:owner/repo or a path in the same message — Perplexity does not auto-detect your filesystem.

Configuration

Perplexity OAuth callback (already registered on Zephex): https://www.perplexity.ai/rest/connections/oauth_callback — Enterprise orgs use https://enterprise.perplexity.ai/rest/connections/oauth_callback

MCP Server URL

Paste this URL into the Custom connector form. OAuth discovers endpoints automatically; API Key mode uses the same URL.

text
https://zephex.dev/mcp

Tip

If OAuth fails with “did not return a client_secret”, switch to API Key auth — Perplexity has an intermittent public-DCR bug (community thread #5172). API Key hits https://zephex.dev/mcp directly.

Note

Last verified: July 2026 — Perplexity Computer Connectors directory listing is partner-only (no self-serve form). Custom Remote Connector is the supported integration path today.

Verify, repair, disconnect (CLI)

Run these in a terminal when the editor UI is unclear — catches stale npm, wrong transport, and project shadows.

shell
npx -y zephex@latest listnpx -y zephex@latest doctornpx -y zephex@latest repair# Fully quit the editor (Cmd+Q / Alt+F4), reopen, start a new agent session

Repair policy

  • npx -y zephex@latest repair pins stdio to zephex@latest, fixes OpenCode command-array shape, and adds PATH hints for GUI-launched apps.
  • repair migrates legacy HTTP → stdio for filesystem editors — not for Cursor, Claude Code global HTTP, or Crush.

Disconnect & skills

  • disconnect --<editor> removes Zephex from config files the CLI knows about and revokes the API key found in those files.
  • There is no disconnect --project flag — disconnect checks both global and project paths (project paths use your current terminal cwd).
  • Terminal-only sign-out: mcpcli logout (editors unchanged). Full teardown: mcpcli logout --all.
  • mcpcli disconnect --all
  • Fresh OAuth: mcpcli reconnect --cursor
  • Add agent guidance: mcpcli setup <editor> --with-skill or mcpcli skills --<editor>.
  • Remove skills from one editor: mcpcli reset <editor> (disconnect + skill files).
  • Remove all skill copies: mcpcli skills --remove.

Check that it works

After saving your config, confirm Zephex is connected before you rely on it in real work.

  1. Account → Connectors shows Zephex without an error tag.
  2. API Key mode: ask check_package on lodash — should return registry intel.
  3. OAuth mode: Auth0 login completes, then the same check_package prompt works.
  4. get_project_context on github:vercel/next.js returns stack info.
  5. 401 or “connector error” → re-copy API key or retry OAuth in incognito.

Common searches

Questions people ask when Perplexity Computer does not show Zephex tools — indexed for docs search.

How do I connect Zephex to perplexity-computer?

Fastest: npx -y zephex setup (browser sign-in, writes config, verifies 10 tools). Or paste manual config on this page, save, fully quit the app, reopen.

Where did setup save my perplexity-computer MCP config?

Run npx -y zephex@latest list — it prints every config path on this machine that references Zephex.

perplexity-computer works in terminal but not in the editor

GUI apps often lack nvm/fnm PATH. Run npx -y zephex@latest repair, ensure Node is on system PATH, fully quit the editor.

How do I disconnect Zephex from perplexity-computer?

mcpcli disconnect --all or remove the zephex block manually from your config file.

Example ways to use the tools

You do not call tools yourself — ask your agent in plain language. Try these once Zephex is connected:

“Perplexity Computer: use check_package on a trending npm library from this research thread.”

Custom remote connector returns registry intel beside web answers.

“get_project_context on github:vercel/next.js — stack and scripts.”

Hosted MCP adds repo facts without cloning locally.

“audit_headers on a URL I am citing in this Computer workflow.”

Objective TLS/header grade for published analysis.

“check_package task=security on lodash before recommending it.”

CVE and typosquat signals in the same Perplexity thread.

“explain_architecture for github:supabase/supabase — auth vs API layers.”

Mermaid diagram grounds follow-up Computer steps.

“Zephex_dev_info: JWT vs session cookies for a B2B SaaS architecture question.”

Vetted dev KB without uploading proprietary code.

Which tools need your project path?

You do not pick tools from a menu — ask your agent in normal sentences. Half of the tools only need a package name or URL; the other half need to know which codebase you mean (your Mac/Windows project folder or a GitHub repo).

Need a repo or folder path

  • get_project_context — full stack snapshot for one repo
  • read_code — read functions/classes by symbol name
  • find_code — search definitions and usages
  • explain_architecture — Mermaid diagrams for the repo
  • check_test — minimal file list for a task you describe

Work without a local project

  • check_package — npm/PyPI/Cargo/Go registry safety (no repo path)
  • project_memory — Cross-session project memory: remember decisions, gotchas, goals, conventions across sessions via local SQLite (stdio only).
  • audit_headers — security grade for any HTTPS URL you own or may test
  • keep_thinking — structured debugging notes across steps
  • Zephex_dev_info — vetted patterns (auth, DB, deploy, etc.)

How to tell the agent where the code lives

  • GitHub (no clone required): say github:owner/repo — example: github:vercel/next.js
  • Local folder: give the absolute path to the project root (the folder that contains package.json, pyproject.toml, or go.mod).
  • If your editor already has the repo open, try “use get_project_context on this workspace” first; if the tool returns empty, repeat with the full path or github: URL in the same chat.
  • For read_code / find_code, name the symbol or search term in the same message as the path (e.g. “find_code AuthService in github:myorg/api”).

macOS and Windows paths

  • macOS example path: /Users/yourname/Developer/my-app
  • Windows example path: C:\Users\yourname\projects\my-app
  • Replace yourname with your Mac or Windows login — the agent cannot guess your home directory.
  • Cloud-only tools (check_package, audit_headers) never need your username or project folder.

When Zephex will not connect

These situations usually mean the setup cannot work until you fix the underlying issue:

  • Using Perplexity Desktop Settings → MCP — that is a different surface (see /docs/editors/perplexity-desktop).
  • Installing @perplexity-ai/mcp-server in Cursor — that is Perplexity’s outbound MCP, not Zephex inbound.
  • Selecting SSE transport — Zephex is Streamable HTTP only.
  • OAuth blocked by ad blockers or corporate SSO on auth0.com.
  • Expecting Zephex in the curated directory without a partner listing — add via Custom connector instead.
  • Trailing slash on the MCP URL or http instead of https.

If something goes wrong

Dynamic client registration did not return a client_secret

Known Perplexity bug with RFC 7591 public clients. Use API Key auth instead, or retry OAuth later. Do not paste a fake client_secret.

invalid_redirect_uri during OAuth

Ensure you use Custom Remote Connector (not Desktop). Callback must be https://www.perplexity.ai/rest/connections/oauth_callback. Contact support@zephex.dev if registration still returns 400 after deploy.

Connector verifies but tools never run

Enable the connector in Sources for the thread. Say explicitly “use the Zephex MCP tool check_package”. Add github:owner/repo for repo tools.

API Key mode — no traffic on our server

Re-save the connector with the full key. Confirm Transport = Streamable HTTP and URL = https://zephex.dev/mcp. Test with curl: curl -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_KEY" -X POST https://zephex.dev/mcp -d '{"jsonrpc":"2.0","id":1,"method":"tools/list"}'.

CORS or stream failed errors in browser console

Usually transient Perplexity UI issues. Retry after a minute. Confirm perplexity.ai origin is allowed (zephex.dev CORS updated July 2026).

Still stuck? Quickstart · MCP troubleshooting

Tools included with Zephex

Perplexity Computer Custom Remote Connector exposes the full Zephex tool catalog:

  • get_project_context

    Reads your project structure, dependencies, scripts, env vars, and framework markers in one call. Replaces manually opening package.json, tsconfig, and multiple config files at the start of every session.

  • read_code

    AST-based code extraction: pass a symbol name and get the implementation without reading entire files. Supports symbol lookup, batched file reads, and structural outlines for large files.

  • find_code

    Ranked search across the repo for definitions, usages, and patterns. Faster than blind grep when the agent does not know where a symbol lives.

  • check_package

    Live registry lookup for npm, PyPI, Cargo, and Go modules. Surfaces typosquat risk, maintainer changes, and suspicious version jumps before you run install.

  • explain_architecture

    Generates Mermaid diagrams for auth flows, service boundaries, and module dependencies so the agent reasons about structure instead of guessing.

  • check_test

    Turns a task description into the smallest file set to read or edit, with risk ratings and caller impact notes.

  • audit_headers

    Grades a deployed URL for CSP, HSTS, TLS, cookies, and redirects. Returns fix snippets for common hosts (Vercel, Cloudflare, Nginx).

  • keep_thinking

    Structured multi-step debugging: tracks hypotheses and conclusions so long investigations do not loop.

  • Zephex_dev_info

    Expert patterns for authentication, databases, frontend frameworks, deployment, and mobile stacks when the agent needs vetted guidance.

  • project_memory

    Persists decisions, gotchas, and conventions per project in ~/.zephex/memory (SQLite FTS5). recall before unfamiliar areas; remember after discoveries. Local stdio only on npx zephex.

Related

  • Perplexity Desktop (Mac app, API key)
  • OAuth and API keys
  • API key management
  • check_package reference
  • Quickstart — create your first API key
  • HTTP vs stdio — which to use
  • npx zephex setup commands
  • MCP troubleshooting
  • All supported editors
  • All 10 MCP tools
  • Install wizard
  • Pricing and limits