Claude Code

If you’re setting up Claude Code with CARTO, that means you’ll want three integration layers:

• CARTO MCP Server: gives Claude Code in-conversation access to CARTO tools.

• CARTO Agent Skills: teaches the agent CARTO-specific workflows and conventions.

• CARTO CLI: handles scripting, automation, and more advanced administration.

Connect the MCP Server

No SPA OAuth client is required. Claude Code is recognized by CARTO automatically.

First, copy your MCP Server URL from CARTO Workspace > Settings > CARTO MCP Server.

Then run:

claude mcp add --transport http carto https://<region>.api.carto.com/mcp/<account_id>

On first use, run /mcp inside Claude Code and choose Authenticate. Claude Code opens the CARTO login in your browser and completes the OAuth flow.

Connecting over OAuth gives the agent the full tool surface: creating and editing maps, authoring Workflows, and admin. If your organization uses SSO, use the SSO login URL from CARTO Workspace instead.

Add the Agent Skills

Install the CARTO Agent Skills so Claude Code follows the recommended CARTO patterns – including choosing the right tool, SQL dialect, and job-handling approach.

/plugin marketplace add CartoDB/agent-skills

Then install the CARTO skills:

/plugin install carto-skills@agent-skills

See Agent Skills → Installation for more details.

Add the CLI for scripting and admin

For scripting, CI/CD, headless runs, bulk or cross-organization operations, and deeper administration and auditing – such as querying usage logs with SQL – install the CARTO CLI:

npm install -g @carto/carto-cli

Then authenticate:

carto auth login

The Agent Skills know when to reach for the CLI versus the MCP Server, allowing Claude Code to choose the appropriate path for each request.