Corcava MCP Setup for Windsurf: Project Management Tools Inside the IDE

Connect Windsurf to Corcava via MCP to bring project management directly into your IDE. This guide covers configuration steps, where to paste the endpoint and header, and a first-use walkthrough.

Prerequisites

Windsurf installed on your system
A Corcava account with API key access
Windsurf settings access

Step 1: Get Your Corcava API Key

Log in to Corcava
Navigate to Settings → Integrations
Find the Public API section
Click Add API Key
Copy the key immediately (it's only shown once)
Store it securely - you'll need it in the next step

Step 2: Open Windsurf Settings

Windsurf uses a settings UI for MCP configuration (no file editing required):

Open Windsurf
Click the Settings icon (gear icon) or use Cmd+, (macOS) / Ctrl+, (Windows/Linux)
Navigate to AI or MCP section
Find the MCP Servers configuration

Step 3: Add Corcava MCP Server

In the MCP Servers section, add a new server with these details:

Configuration Values

Name: corcava (or any name you prefer)
URL: https://app.corcava.com/mcp
Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY

⚠️ Important

Replace YOUR_API_KEY with the actual API key you copied
There must be a space between "Bearer" and your API key

Step 4: Save and Restart Windsurf

Click Save or Apply in the settings
Completely quit Windsurf
Restart Windsurf

Step 5: Verify Tools Are Available

After restarting, verify that Windsurf's AI can see Corcava's MCP tools:

Verification Prompt

In Windsurf's AI chat, ask:

"What MCP tools are available from Corcava?"

Step 6: First-Use Walkthrough

Try this workflow to test your connection and create your first task:

Create a Task and Link to Coding Session

Prompt:

"Create a task in Corcava for implementing the user authentication feature. Show me what you'll create before creating it."

FAQ: Permissions and Write Safety

Q: What permissions does the API key have?

A: The API key provides full access to your Corcava workspace. Always keep your API key secure and never share it.

Q: How do I prevent accidental writes?

A: Use confirmation patterns in your prompts. Ask AI to show what it will create/update before doing it.

Learn more about safe write workflows →

Troubleshooting

❌ Auth Headers Not Being Sent

Symptom: Connection works but tool calls fail with 401 errors

Read Windsurf auth troubleshooting →

❌ Tools Not Showing Up

Completely quit and restart Windsurf. Verify endpoint URL and auth header format.

Read tools troubleshooting guide →

Connect Windsurf to Corcava

Bring project management into your IDE

Start Free Trial → Windsurf Workflows

No credit card required