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Set up Gemini CLI for Kanera MCP

Gemini CLI connects to Kanera through the Model Context Protocol. It supports remote HTTP servers, automatic OAuth discovery, dynamic client registration, and token refresh.

Add Kanera as a remote HTTP server:

gemini mcp add --transport http kanera https://mcp.kanera.app/mcp

Start Gemini CLI, then authenticate from its interactive prompt:

/mcp auth kanera

Gemini CLI opens Kanera in your browser. Sign in, review the requested access, and choose Allow access. Run gemini mcp list from your shell to verify the server is connected, or use /mcp inside Gemini CLI to inspect it.

You can also configure Kanera directly in Gemini CLI's settings.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "kanera": {
      "httpUrl": "https://mcp.kanera.app/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Interactive OAuth requires a local browser and a localhost callback, so use an API key for a headless or remote environment that cannot complete that callback. See Connect an AI agent for scopes and disconnecting an agent.

Install the Kanera skill​

The MCP connection gives Gemini CLI access to Kanera's tools. The optional Kanera agent skill teaches it to resolve names to stable IDs, read live state before reporting or changing work, distinguish completed work from creation activity, use idempotency keys, and handle permission or rate-limit failures safely.

Install the skill globally with the open Agent Skills installer:

npx -y skills add https://github.com/happendev/Kanera/tree/main/integrations/skills/kanera --yes --global

For a manual installation, download the complete kanera skill directory and place it in one of these locations:

  • ~/.agents/skills/kanera/ or ~/.gemini/skills/kanera/ for a personal skill available across projects.
  • .agents/skills/kanera/ or .gemini/skills/kanera/ in a repository to share the skill with that project.

Run /skills list inside Gemini CLI to verify the skill is available, and /skills reload after changing it. Gemini CLI asks for confirmation when it activates a skill.

Connect with an API key​

Use a static API key when OAuth is unavailable. Add an authorization header to settings.json that reads the key from your environment:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "kanera": {
      "httpUrl": "https://mcp.kanera.app/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer $KANERA_API_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}

Create a personal key in Profile settings -> API keys or a workspace key in Workspace settings -> API. Avoid putting the key directly in settings.json.