bkend.ai Quick Start Guide
What is bkend.ai
MCP-based BaaS platform providing Database, Authentication, and Storage services. Manage backend via natural language from AI tools (Claude Code, Cursor).
Resource Hierarchy
Organization (team/billing) -> Project (service unit) -> Environment (dev/staging/prod, data isolation)
Tenant vs User
- Tenant: Service builder (OAuth 2.1 auth, MCP/Management API access)
- User: App end-user (JWT auth, Service API access)
- One person can have both roles
MCP Setup (Claude Code)
Quick Setup (One Command)
claude mcp add bkend --transport http https://api.bkend.ai/mcp
Step-by-Step Guide
- Prerequisites: bkend.ai account (signup at https://console.bkend.ai)
- Run setup command:
claude mcp add bkend --transport http https://api.bkend.ai/mcp - OAuth authentication: Browser auto-opens for OAuth 2.1 + PKCE auth (no API key needed)
- Verify connection: Ask "Show my connected bkend projects" or use
get_context MCP tool - Create.mcp.json (optional, for team sharing):
{"mcpServers": {"bkend": {"type": "http", "url": "https://api.bkend.ai/mcp"}}}
Troubleshooting MCP Connection
| Problem | Solution |
|---|
| OAuth popup not appearing | Check browser popup blocker |
| MCP tools not visible | Run claude mcp list to verify, re-add if needed |
| Connection lost | Re-authenticate (automatic on next MCP call) |
| Wrong project/env | Use get_context to check current session |
MCP Fixed Tools
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|
get_context | Session context (org/project/env, API endpoint) |
search_docs | Search bkend documentation |
get_operation_schema | Get tool input/output schema |
Searchable Guides (via search_docs)
| Doc ID | Content |
|---|
1_concepts | BSON schema, permissions, hierarchy |
2_tutorial | Project~table creation tutorial |
MCP Project Management Tools
| Tool | Purpose | Key Parameters |
|---|
backend_org_list | List organizations | None |
backend_project_list | List projects | organizationId |
backend_project_get | Get project detail | organizationId, projectId |
backend_project_create | Create project | organizationId, name, description? |
backend_project_update | Update project | organizationId, projectId, name?, description? |
backend_project_delete | Delete project (irreversible!) | organizationId, projectId |
backend_env_list | List environments | organizationId, projectId |
backend_env_get | Get environment detail | organizationId, projectId, environmentId |
backend_env_create | Create environment | organizationId, projectId, name |
MCP Resources (Read-Only)
Lightweight, cached (60s TTL) read-only queries via bkend:// URI:
| URI | Description |
|---|
bkend://orgs | Organization list |
bkend://orgs/{orgId}/projects | Project list |
bkend://orgs/{orgId}/projects/{pId}/environments | Environment list |
bkend://orgs/{orgId}/projects/{pId}/environments/{eId}/tables | Table list with schema |
Tip: Prefer Resources over Tools for listing operations (lighter, cached).
First Project Checklist
- Sign up at bkend.ai -> Create Organization
- Create Project -> dev environment auto-created
- Connect MCP ->
claude mcp add bkend - Create first table -> "Create a users table"
- Start data operations -> CRUD via natural language
Console URL
https://console.bkend.ai
Next Steps
- Database operations: refer to bkend-data skill
- Authentication: refer to bkend-auth skill
- File storage: refer to bkend-storage skill
- Practical tutorials: refer to bkend-cookbook skill
Official Documentation (Live Reference)
For the latest bkend documentation, use WebFetch:
