zidaneMCP, skills and extensions in the terminal
The terminal Settings tabs for MCP servers, skills and extensions, with their keys and badges.
These Settings tabs turn MCP servers, skills and extensions on or off, and add or remove them. What each feature is and where its files live: MCP, skills, extensions.
All items are on until you turn one off. Your first change saves an allowlist, a list of the items that load. After that, only the items on the list load.
MCP servers#
Settings › MCP servers lists every server from your mcps.json and mcp.json files. It also lists the servers of other agents when Settings › Agent › Import configurations from other agents is on. A server that you add with CtrlG goes on the allowlist.
| Key | Does |
|---|---|
| Enter | Turn the server on or off |
| Tab | Show its tools, to turn single tools off |
| CtrlG | Add a server |
| CtrlT | Test the connection and fetch its tools |
| CtrlL | Sign in with OAuth |
| CtrlO | Sign out |
| CtrlR | Read the config files again and fetch every tool list |
| CtrlX | Remove the server from its config file. Press it twice to confirm. |
A server row shows 3 of 5 when zidane knows its tools: 3 tools on, out of the 5 that the server offers. The keys that act on a server work on its row, not on its tool rows.
Status badges#
| Badge | Means |
|---|---|
| Signed in | Connected with a stored token |
| Needs sign-in | The server wants OAuth, or refused the connection: press CtrlL |
| Signing in… | The browser is open. Esc cancels. |
| Sign-in failed | The last sign-in attempt failed |
| Couldn't connect | The connection failed for a reason other than sign-in |
| Key refused | The server rejected the key or token in the config |
The desktop app shows the same badges, and both apps share one token file. To sign in over SSH, you paste the callback address (sign in from the apps).
Skills#
Settings › Skills lists the skills zidane found, project skills first.
| Key | Does |
|---|---|
| Enter | Turn the skill on or off |
| CtrlG | Add skills from a source |
| CtrlE | Edit it in a new session in the skill's folder |
| CtrlX | Delete it from disk. Press it twice to confirm. |
| CtrlR | Find the skills again |
CtrlG opens the skill source browser. Type a source, or pick a recommended one, to list its skills (sources).
| Key | Does |
|---|---|
| ↑ ↓ | Move |
| Space | Pick the skill, or open the source |
| A | Pick every skill of the source, or none |
| ← → | Install into the project or into your user folder |
| Enter | Install the picks, one install per source |
| Esc | Back to the sources, then close |
/<skill-name> in the prompt pins a skill to the session.
Extensions#
Settings › Extensions & Plugins lists extensions and Agent Plugins.
| Key | Does |
|---|---|
| Enter | Turn the extension on or off |
| Tab | Show its settings |
| CtrlG | Install from a source |
| CtrlU | Update it from its recorded source. The footer names the source |
| CtrlO | Change origin: install it again from another source |
| CtrlX | Remove it. Press it twice to confirm. |
| CtrlA | Create a new extension |
| CtrlE | Edit it, if it has a folder on disk |
| CtrlD | Clear a secret setting back to its default. Press it twice to confirm. |
| CtrlR | Find the Agent Plugins again |
An extension that fails to load has its switch off and a red error chip after its name. Move to the row to read why it failed.
CtrlG opens the extension browser on the extensions that ship with zidane (Tahul/zidane). The built-in extensions are always listed. When the repository cannot be read, one line says that you need access to install from it. Type another source to list its extensions: owner/repo, a GitHub link, an npm package or a folder.
| Key | Does |
|---|---|
| ↑ ↓ | Move |
| Space | Pick the extension |
| A | Pick every extension of the source, or none |
| ← → | Install into your user folder or into the project |
| Enter | Install the picks, one at a time. A failed pick does not stop the others |
| Esc | Back, then close |
CtrlO opens a dialog with the current source filled in. Type a fork, a tag or an npm package and press Enter. The new source must hold an extension with the same name. If it does not, the dialog shows the names it found and nothing changes. After the change, CtrlU updates from the new source.
A private GitHub repository needs access. Run gh auth login and gh auth setup-git, or add an SSH key.
/reload finds and loads the extensions again without a restart. Project extensions load only with Settings › Agent › Load project extensions on (project trust).