> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.perfai.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# IBM Bob

> Connect the Perfai Cloud MCP server to IBM Bob via mcp.json.

IBM Bob is a standalone AI coding IDE. It supports remote MCP servers through `mcp.json`, edited directly — there's no form-based UI for this. Perfai Cloud connects as a remote streamable-http server, authenticated with a **Perfai API key**.

> [!NOTE]
>
> Bob supports two scopes: **Global** (`~/.bob/settings/mcp.json`, applies to every workspace) and **Project** (`.bob/mcp.json` in the project root, shareable through version control). If a server name exists in both, the project one wins.

***

## Get an API key

Perfai Cloud authenticates Bob with a Perfai API key. [Create one](https://docs.perfai.ai/docs/mcp/overview.md#create-an-api-key) and copy it — Perfai shows the full key only once.

***

## Installation

1. Click the **Bob** icon, then **Settings**.
2. In Settings, select **MCP** from the left sidebar.
3. Click **+** next to the server search box to add a server.
4. In the **Add MCP Server** dialog, pick a **Configuration Scope** — **Global** (available in every workspace) or a specific project.
5. Click **Open Configuration File** — this opens the matching `mcp.json` for editing.
6. Add this entry under `mcpServers`:

**Global — \~/.bob/settings/mcp.json**

```json theme={null}
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "perfai-cloud": {
      "type": "streamable-http",
      "url": "https://mcp-server.perfai.ai/mcp",
      "headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer pfk_xxxxxxxxxxxx_..." }
    }
  }
}
```

**Project — .bob/mcp.json**

```json theme={null}
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "perfai-cloud": {
      "type": "streamable-http",
      "url": "https://mcp-server.perfai.ai/mcp",
      "headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer pfk_xxxxxxxxxxxx_..." }
    }
  }
}
```

7. Save. Back in the MCP tab, confirm **perfai-cloud** shows a green **Connected** status under the scope you chose, and that **"Enable MCP tools for new tasks"** is toggled on (it is by default).

If it fails, re-check the header value for trailing whitespace. If it worked before and now fails, the key has expired or been revoked — [create a new one](https://docs.perfai.ai/docs/mcp/overview.md#create-an-api-key) and update `mcp.json`.

***

## Confirm you're signed in

The API key signs you in — there is no separate login step. Every tool call runs as the user who created the key, with that user's organizations and role. Ask Bob:

```
What's my Perfai auth status?
```

It answers with the key's id (`pfk_xxxxxxxxxxxx_…`), never the secret. If a tool call fails with `401`, the key has expired or been revoked — [create a new one](https://docs.perfai.ai/docs/mcp/overview.md#create-an-api-key) and update `mcp.json`.

***

## Use it

Tell Bob:

```
perfai test https://your-app.example.com
```

Registers the app and runs a security test.

```
perfai list issues
```

Shows what it found.

```
perfai fix
```

Fixes everything, prioritized by severity.


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