FreeAgent MCP Integration Service

This service acts as a dedicated Claude Model Context Protocol (MCP) endpoint tailored for interacting with the FreeAgent accounting platform. It grants Claude capabilities to monitor time logs, administer ongoing time tracking sessions, and execute requisite timeslip operations within your linked FreeAgent workspace.

Core Capabilities

• Retrieve and refine timeslip records, including deeply nested associated data structures.
• Provision brand new timeslip records.
• Modify details of extant timeslip entries.
• Initiate and terminate associated time tracking apparatus (timers).
• Eradicate specific timeslip records.
• Seamless, automated renewal of OAuth authentication credentials.
• Robust exception handling mechanisms.
• Containerization support via Docker.

Prerequisites for Deployment

• Runtime environment: Node.js version 18 or newer (for direct execution).
• Container orchestration: Docker and Docker Compose (for containerized deployment).
• Active FreeAgent subscription that permits API interaction.
• OAuth credentials obtained via the FreeAgent Developer Portal.

Setup Instructions

Method 1: Local Node.js Deployment

1. Clone the source repository: bash git clone https://github.com/yourusername/freeagent-mcp.git cd freeagent-mcp

2. Install necessary JavaScript packages: bash npm install

3. Secure your authentication tokens: ```bash # Configure FreeAgent credentials export FREEAGENT_CLIENT_ID="your_client_id" export FREEAGENT_CLIENT_SECRET="your_client_secret"

   Execute the script to fetch initial tokens

   node scripts/get-oauth-tokens.js ```

Method 2: Containerized (Docker) Deployment

1. Clone the source repository: bash git clone https://github.com/yourusername/freeagent-mcp.git cd freeagent-mcp

2. Prepare the environment variable file: bash cp .env.example .env # Manually populate the required FreeAgent credentials inside .env

3. Build the Docker image: bash docker build -t freeagent-mcp .

Configuration for MCP

Integrate this server endpoint into your Claude MCP settings file (typically located around %APPDATA%/Code/User/globalStorage/saoudrizwan.claude-dev/settings/cline_mcp_settings.json):

Node.js Invocation Configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "freeagent": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["path/to/freeagent-mcp/build/index.js"],
      "env": {
        "FREEAGENT_CLIENT_ID": "your_client_id",
        "FREEAGENT_CLIENT_SECRET": "your_client_secret",
        "FREEAGENT_ACCESS_TOKEN": "your_access_token",
        "FREEAGENT_REFRESH_TOKEN": "your_refresh_token"
      },
      "disabled": false,
      "autoApprove": []
    }
  }
}

Docker Invocation Configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "freeagent": {
      "command": "docker",
      "args": [
        "run",
        "-i",
        "--rm",
        "-e", "FREEAGENT_CLIENT_ID",
        "-e", "FREEAGENT_CLIENT_SECRET",
        "-e", "FREEAGENT_ACCESS_TOKEN",
        "-e", "FREEAGENT_REFRESH_TOKEN",
        "freeagent-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "FREEAGENT_CLIENT_ID": "your_client_id",
        "FREEAGENT_CLIENT_SECRET": "your_client_secret",
        "FREEAGENT_ACCESS_TOKEN": "your_access_token",
        "FREEAGENT_REFRESH_TOKEN": "your_refresh_token"
      },
      "disabled": false,
      "autoApprove": []
    }
  }
}

Operational Examples (Tool Invocation)

Upon successful setup, Claude gains access to the following functional interfaces:

Querying Timeslips (List/Filter)

{
  "from_date": "2024-01-01",      // Date specification start (Format: YYYY-MM-DD)
  "to_date": "2024-03-04",        // Date specification end (Format: YYYY-MM-DD)
  "updated_since": "2024-03-04T12:00:00Z",  // ISO 8601 timestamp for last modification check
  "view": "all",                  // Filtering scope: "all", "unbilled", or "running"
  "user": "https://api.freeagent.com/v2/users/123",
  "task": "https://api.freeagent.com/v2/tasks/456",
  "project": "https://api.freeagent.com/v2/projects/789",
  "nested": true                  // Request inclusion of subordinate resource details
}

Registering a New Timeslip (Create)

{
  "task": "https://api.freeagent.com/v2/tasks/123",
  "user": "https://api.freeagent.com/v2/users/456",
  "project": "https://api.freeagent.com/v2/projects/789",
  "dated_on": "2024-03-04",
  "hours": "1.5",
  "comment": "Descriptive note for the entry"
}

Timer Manipulation

// Command to initiate a timer session
{
  "id": "123"
}

// Command to cease a timer session
{
  "id": "123"
}

Development Lifecycle

Node.js Development Workflow

# Compile source files
npm run build

# Initiate file watch for continuous compilation
npm run watch

# Execute verification suites (if defined)
npm test

Docker Development Workflow

# Rebuild the operational Docker image
docker build -t freeagent-mcp .

Collaboration Guidelines

1. Duplicate the repository into your own account.
2. Establish a dedicated feature branch (git checkout -b feature/new-functionality).
3. Commit staged changes (git commit -am 'Implement feature X')
4. Push the branch to your fork (git push origin feature/new-functionality)
5. Submit a Merge Request for review.

Project Licensing

This utility is distributed under the terms of the MIT License; refer to the LICENSE file for exhaustive specifics.

Credits Acknowledged

• The FreeAgent team for providing comprehensive API specifications.
• The Claude development group for the foundational MCP framework.

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