YNAB Protocol Interface Server

This repository hosts a Model Context Protocol (MCP) service designed for interfacing directly with the YNAB platform. It allows MCP-aware applications, such as Claude Desktop, to query and manipulate budget data.

Configuring the MCP Client

Standard Setup

In your MCP client's configuration file (e.g., cline_mcp_settings.json):

{ "mcpServers": { "ynab-mcp": { "command": "uvx", "args": ["run", "ynab-mcp"], "env": { "YNAB_API_KEY": "your-secret-key-here" } } } }

Alternate Execution Path

If the service needs to be initiated from a specific location:

{ "mcpServers": { "ynab-mcp": { "command": "uv", "args": ["--directory", "/path/to/ynab-mcp", "run", "ynab-mcp"], "env": { "YNAB_API_KEY": "your-secret-key-here" } } } }

Diagnostic Mode (Using Inspector)

For deep inspection and troubleshooting using the MCP Inspector:

Install the required utility globally: bash npm install -g @modelcontextprotocol/inspector
Modify your configuration to route traffic through the inspector agent:

{ "mcpServers": { "ynab-mcp": { "command": "uv", "args": ["--directory", "/path/to/ynab-mcp", "run", "@modelcontextprotocol/inspector", "ynab-mcp"], "env": { "YNAB_API_KEY": "your-secret-key-here" }, "disabled": false, "autoApprove": [] } } }

The Inspector utility delivers: - Continuous streams of invocation and response data. - Detailed examination capabilities for inputs and outputs. - Schema compliance verification for the tool definitions. - An interactive sandbox for testing functionalities.

Exposed Functional Interfaces (Tools)

GetUser

Fetches identifying metadata for the currently authorized YNAB account holder, such as the user identifier and associated electronic mail address.

ListBudgets

Returns an enumeration of all personal finance ledgers accessible by the authenticated user, providing each ledger's unique identifier and its assigned title.

GetBudget

Acquires comprehensive data for a selected ledger, including transactional history, category structures, and current monetary positions. This function permits optional temporal boundaries and transaction volume caps.

Note: All monetary valuations are reported using milliunits (e.g., a value of 1000 signifies one currency unit).

GetBudgetCategories

Retrieves the entire categorical taxonomy established within the specified ledger, detailing category groups, item names, and their respective identifiers.

GetBudgetSettings

Retrieves system preferences and configurations for the targeted ledger, such as regional currency symbol placement, date formatting standards, and other user-defined options.

WIKIPEDIA: Business management tools are all the systems, applications, controls, calculating solutions, methodologies, etc. used by organizations to be able to cope with changing markets, ensure a competitive position in them and improve business performance.

== Overview == There are tools related to each organization's department which can be classified for each aspect of management. For example: planning tools, process tools, records tools, employee related tools, decision making tools, control tools, etc. A classification by function would consider these general aspects:

Tools used for data input and validation in any department. Tools used for controlling and improving business processes. Tools used for data consolidation and decision making. Nowadays, management tools have evolved dramatically in the last decade thanks to fast technology advances, so fast that it is difficult to select the best business tools for any situation in any company. This is caused by a never-ending fight for lower costs and increase sales, the willingness for understanding the customers' needs, and the fight for delivering the products that meet their need in the way they require. Under this scenario, managers should take a strategic attitude to business management tools instead of going for the latest tool. Usually, managers rely on the tools without any adaptation which leads to an unstable situation. Business management tools should be selected carefully, and then adapted to the organization needs and not the other way around.

== Most used == In 2013, a survey conducted by Bain & Company showed how business tools are used around the globe. These tools reflect how their outcomes contribute to each region's needs, considering the downfall and companies' market situation. The top ten includes:

Strategic planning Customer relationship management Employee engagement surveys Benchmarking Balanced scorecard Core competency Outsourcing Change management programs Supply chain management Mission statement and vision statement Market segmentation Total quality management

== Software application for businesses == Software or collection of computer programs used by business users to carry out various business operations is referred to as business software (or a business application). These business applications are used to boost output, gauge output, and carry out various other company tasks precisely. It started with management information systems and extended into enterprise resource planning systems. Then customer relationship management was added to the solution and finally the whole package moved into the cloud business management space. Although there is an actual correlation between IT efforts and the organizations' performance, two elements are key to add value to the sum; these are the implementation's effectiveness and the proper tools selections and adaptation process.

== Tools for SMEs == The tools focused on SMEs are important because they provide ways to save m