Trello MCP Server: Integration with Trello and AI Applications via Model Context Protocol (MCP)

Overview: What is the Trello MCP Server?

The Trello MCP Server is a TypeScript implementation designed to provide AI applications with seamless integration into Trello through the Model Context Protocol (MCP). By leveraging this server, developers can enable their AI tools to interact with Trello boards, lists, and cards, enhancing AI workflows for tasks such as project management, automation, and data collection.

🔧 Core Features & MCP Capabilities

The Trello MCP Server offers several key features and capabilities that make it valuable for integrating Trello with AI applications:

1. Full Trello API Integration: The server provides a comprehensive set of tools to interact with the full range of Trello functionalities, including boards, lists, and cards.
2. Asynchronous Operations: Asynchronous operations are supported to ensure smooth operation without blocking the user interface or other processes.
3. Type-safe Implementation: Written in TypeScript, this implementation ensures strong typing, reducing errors and improving developer productivity.
4. Comprehensive Error Handling: The server includes robust error handling mechanisms for various issues such as authentication errors, rate limiting, network issues, and invalid request parameters.

⚙️ MCP Architecture & Protocol Implementation

The Trello MCP Server is designed to conform with the Model Context Protocol (MCP), ensuring seamless integration with other MCP clients. It adheres to a standardized protocol flow that facilitates interaction between AI applications and data sources.

MCP Protocol Flow Diagram

graph TD
    A[AI Application] -->|MCP Client| B[MCP Protocol]
    B --> C[MCP Server]
    C --> D[Data Source/Tool]
    style A fill:#e1f5fe
    style C fill:#f3e5f5
    style D fill:#e8f5e8

Data Architecture Diagram

graph TD
    A[MCP Server] --> B[Trello API Client]
    B --> C[Data Processing Layer]
    C --> D[Data Source/Tool]
    A --> E[MCP Client]
    style A fill:#e1f5fe
    style C fill:#f3e5f5
    style D fill:#e8f5e8

🚀 Getting Started with Installation

To get started, ensure you have Node.js 18.x or higher and npm or yarn installed on your system. Additionally, you will need Trello API credentials to authenticate with the server.

Prerequisites

• Node.js: Install Node.js from https://nodejs.org. Ensure version 18.x or higher.
• npm/yarn: Use either npm or yarn as a package manager.
• Trello Credentials: Obtain your API key and token from Trello's developer portal.

Installation Steps

# Install dependencies
make install

💡 Key Use Cases in AI Workflows

The Trello MCP Server can be used to integrate with various AI applications, enhancing their capabilities by providing access to Trello functionalities. Here are two real-world use cases:

1. AI-Driven Task Management: An AI application could leverage the server's get_boards and get_lists functions to fetch and manage tasks across multiple boards and lists.
2. Automated Data Collection: Using get_cards, an AI tool can automatically collect data from specific Trello cards, enabling real-time updates for dashboards or other analytics tools.

Example Workflow

1. The AI application sends a request via the MCP client to retrieve Trello board IDs.
2. The Trello MCP Server uses these IDs to fetch corresponding boards from Trello and then processes this information through predefined functions.
3. Finally, the processed data is returned to the AI application for further processing or display.

🔌 Integration with MCP Clients

Cline Integration Example

To use the server with Cline, add the following configuration to your Cline MCP settings file:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "trello-ts": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/mcp-server-ts-trello/build/index.js"],
      "env": {
        "TRELLO_API_KEY": "your_api_key",
        "TRELLO_TOKEN": "your_token"
      }
    }
  }
}

📊 Performance & Compatibility Matrix

MCP Client Compatibility Matrix

MCP Client	Resources	Tools	Prompts	Status
Claude Desktop	✅	✅	✅	Full Support
Continue	✅	✅	✅	Full Support
Cursor	❌	✅	❌	Tools Only

🛠️ Advanced Configuration & Security

For advanced configurations and security, the server supports environment-based configuration. Create a .env file in the root directory to set your Trello credentials:

TRELLO_API_KEY=your_api_key
TRELLO_TOKEN=your_token

Additionally, error handling mechanisms are comprehensive, handling issues such as authentication errors, rate limiting, network problems, and invalid request parameters.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. How do I install the Trello MCP Server?

   • To install the server, use make install in the terminal after ensuring Node.js 18.x or higher is installed.

2. Which AI applications can connect to this server?

   • The server supports integration with Claude Desktop, Continue, and Cursor.

3. Can I customize the server's behavior for specific tasks?

   • Yes, by modifying the TypeScript source code located in src/index.ts and related files.

4. How does the server handle rate limiting from Trello's API?

   • The implementation includes logic to manage rate limits, ensuring performance even under heavy usage.

5. Is it secure to use this server with my production AI application?

   • Yes, the server uses environment-based configurations and robust error handling for security purposes.

👨‍💻 Development & Contribution Guidelines

Contributions are welcome! To contribute to the project:

1. Fork the Repository: Create a fork on GitHub.
2. Create a Feature Branch: Use git checkout -b feature/new-feature.
3. Commit Changes: Add relevant changes with descriptive commit messages, e.g., "Add support for new Trello board operations".
4. Push to Your Branch: Push your branch to the remote repository using git push origin feature/new-feature.
5. Open a Pull Request: Create a pull request on GitHub detailing your proposed changes.

🌐 MCP Ecosystem & Resources

The Trello MCP Server is part of an ecosystem that includes other tools and services, making it easier for developers to integrate MCP servers into their AI applications:

• MCP Protocols Documentation: For detailed protocol specifications.
• CLI Tools: Additional command-line utilities for debugging and testing the server.

By utilizing this MCP server, AI applications can efficiently interact with Trello, enhancing productivity and operational flexibility.