Quick Start Guide

Get up and running with TengineAI in just a few minutes. This guide walks you through the complete setup process from account creation to your first MCP tool call.

🎉 Beta: TengineAI is now in beta! Sign up instantly and get started with 20 free tool calls per day. No approval needed.

💡 MCP Client Compatibility: TengineAI works with any MCP (Model Context Protocol) compatible client. This guide uses Claude Desktop as an example, but you can use Cursor, VS Code with MCP extensions, or any other MCP client. See our client-specific guides for setup instructions.

Prerequisites

Before you begin, make sure you have:

• An MCP-compatible client - This guide uses Claude Desktop (Download here)
  • Alternatively: Cursor IDE, VS Code with MCP extension, or other MCP clients
• Node.js (v18 or later) - Only required for Claude Pro users
  • Claude Pro uses mcp-remote proxy which requires npx (included with Node.js)
  • Claude Team users don't need this - they use native connectors
  • Check if installed: node --version
  • Download Node.js if needed

Step 1: Create Your Account

1. Visit the Signup Page

   • Go to TengineAI Signup
   • Enter your email address

2. Verify Your Email

   • Gmail users: You'll be redirected to Google OAuth for instant authentication
   • Other email providers: Check your inbox for a magic link and click it to verify

3. Access Your Dashboard

   • After verification, you'll be automatically logged in
   • You'll land on your Projects dashboard

Step 2: Create Your First Project

1. Click "Create New Project"

   • On the Projects dashboard, click the blue "Create New Project" button
   • Enter a project name (e.g., "My First Project")
   • Optionally add a description
   • Click "Create Project"

2. Automatic Redirect

   • You'll be automatically redirected to your new project's detail page
   • Your project is now ready for configuration!

Step 3: Set Up MCP Client Integration

Before you can generate API keys, you need to set up an MCP (Model Context Protocol) client integration.

1. Navigate to Integrations Tab

   • On your project page, click the "Integrations" tab
   • Click "Add Integration"

2. Configure Your Integration

   • Integration Name: Give it a descriptive name (e.g., "Claude Desktop")
   • Client Type: Select your MCP client:
     • Claude Desktop (recommended for getting started)
     • Custom Client (for advanced integrations)
   • Click "Create Integration"

3. Save Your API Key

   • A success modal will appear with your automatically generated API key
   • ⚠️ IMPORTANT: Copy this key immediately - you won't see it again!
   • Store it securely (password manager recommended)

Step 4: Connect to Claude Desktop

Now that you have your API key, connect TengineAI to Claude Desktop.

For Claude Pro Accounts

1. Open Claude Desktop Settings

   • Click the gear icon in Claude Desktop
   • Select "Developer" from the left sidebar
   • Click "Edit Config"

2. Add TengineAI Configuration

   Add this to your claude_desktop_config.json:

   {
     "mcpServers": {
       "tengine-ai-mcp": {
         "command": "npx",
         "args": [
           "-y",
           "mcp-remote",
           "https://app.tengine.ai/mcp/",
           "--header",
           "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY",
           "--header",
           "Accept: application/json, text/event-stream"
         ]
       }
     }
   }
   

   Copy

   Replace YOUR_API_KEY with the API key you copied in Step 3.

3. Save and Restart

   • Save the configuration file
   • Restart Claude Desktop completely

For Claude Team Accounts

1. Open Connectors Settings

   • Click the gear icon in Claude Desktop
   • Select "Connectors" from the left sidebar
   • Click "Add custom connector"

2. Configure Connector

   • Name: TengineAI
   • Remote MCP server URL: https://app.tengine.ai/mcp/
   • Click "Advanced settings"
   • Add your OAuth credentials (coming soon - use API key method for now)

3. Save

   • Click "Add" to save the connector
   • The connector will appear in your list

Step 5: Configure OAuth Tools

To access any tools through TengineAI, you need to connect OAuth providers. Currently, all available tools (Google Calendar, Gmail, Drive, Microsoft Outlook, etc.) require OAuth authentication.

1. Navigate to OAuth Tools Tab

   • On your project page, click the "OAuth Tools" tab
   • You'll see available OAuth providers (Google, Microsoft, etc.)

2. Select Tools for a Provider

   • Choose a provider (e.g., Google)
   • Browse the available tools for that provider (Calendar, Gmail, Drive, etc.)
   • Toggle on the tools you want to use
   • Each tool shows a description of what it does

3. Connect the Provider

   • After selecting your desired tools, click "Connect" next to the provider
   • You'll be redirected to authenticate with that provider
   • Grant the requested permissions (based on the tools you selected)
   • You'll be redirected back to your dashboard
   • Your selected tools are now ready to use!

Step 6: Test Your Setup

1. Open Claude Desktop

   • Start a new conversation
   • Ask: "What MCP servers are available?"
   • You should see tengine-ai-mcp listed

2. Try a Tool

   • If you connected Google OAuth, try: "List my upcoming calendar events"
   • Claude will use TengineAI's MCP server to access your Google Calendar

3. Check Usage Analytics

   • Return to your TengineAI dashboard
   • View real-time usage analytics on the Projects page
   • Monitor API calls, success rates, and tool usage

What's Next?

Now that you're set up, explore more features:

• Claude Desktop Integration Guide - Detailed setup and troubleshooting
• Manage Multiple Projects - Create projects for different use cases
• Monitor Usage - Track API calls and tool usage in real-time

Troubleshooting

"MCP Server Not Found"

• Verify your claude_desktop_config.json syntax is correct
• Ensure you've restarted Claude Desktop completely
• Check that npx is available in your PATH

"Authentication Failed"

• Double-check your API key is copied correctly
• Ensure there are no extra spaces in the configuration
• Verify your integration is enabled in the TengineAI dashboard

"No Tools Available"

• Complete the OAuth setup in Step 5
• Ensure you've granted the required permissions to the OAuth provider
• Check that tools are enabled in the OAuth Tools tab
• Claude Pro users: There's a known connection issue - restart Claude Desktop and let it reconnect to resolve
• Note: All tools currently require OAuth - API key-only tools are not yet available

"Connection Timeout"

• Check your internet connection
• Verify https://app.tengine.ai is accessible
• Try regenerating your API key

Getting Help

• Documentation: Browse our comprehensive guides
• Support: Email us at hi@tengine.ai
• Dashboard: Check your project's settings and logs

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Ready for advanced setup? Check out our Claude Desktop Integration Guide for Pro and Team account details.