How to Use the Basecamp MCP in Claude

Q: What do I need to create a Basecamp to-do using Claude Desktop?

You must provide a todolistid and the title of the task. Optional details like a rich text description, assignee IDs, and a specific date format can be added during the same request.

Manage Basecamp projects via this MCP Server directly from Claude Desktop without switching tabs.

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Connect Basecamp MCP to Claude Desktop

Create your Vinkius account to connect Basecamp to Claude Desktop and route execution through our secure gateway. The platform manages server hosting, runtime updates, and security layers. Configuration requires no manual server provisioning.

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Setup Basecamp with Claude Desktop

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Claude Desktop MCP Server for Projects

Create and track Basecamp projects right inside your chat window. You can ask your agent to spin up a new initiative, and it fires off `create_project` to build the workspace with default message boards and to-do sets enabled. Checking existing work happens just as fast when you run `list_projects` to pull active, archived, or trashed workspaces into your view. Digging into specific details requires grabbing the dock IDs from a project. Your client uses `get_project` to find those exact numeric identifiers. That step guarantees you are pulling the right data when you ask for a status update on a specific team effort.

Manage To-Dos from Chat

Task management becomes a background operation while you converse with Claude. Tell your agent to add a new item, and it executes `create_todo` with the correct assignee IDs and a YYYY-MM-DD due date. Changing a due date or reassigning work triggers `update_todo` without messing with the completion status. Tracking progress relies on reading the actual lists. Running `list_todos` fetches pending tasks by default, but you can flip the completed flag to review finished work. Marking something done fires `complete_todo`, while `uncomplete_todo` reopens a task if the team needs to fix a bug or revise a draft.

Read Team Messages and Comments

Keeping up with project discussions no longer requires digging through email notifications. You can request a summary of recent updates, prompting Claude to run `list_messages` using the message board ID found in the project dock. Pulling the full text of a specific update happens via `get_message`. Replying directly from your prompt is entirely possible. Your agent executes `create_comment` to push rich text HTML responses to any recording ID. Finding the right person to tag involves running `list_project_people` to check names, emails, and roles before you submit the reply.

Setup guide

Set up Basecamp MCP in Claude Web or Desktop

1

Open Claude Settings

Go to claude.ai, click your profile icon, then navigate to Customize → Connectors.
2

Add Custom Connector

Click the "+" button and select Add custom connector. Paste your Vinkius endpoint URL: https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your token from cloud.vinkius.com. For OAuth-protected servers, expand Advanced settings to add credentials.
3

Start a conversation

Open a new chat. The Basecamp MCP tools are available immediately — no restart needed.

Endpoint URL

https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp

No configuration file needed — paste the URL directly in the Claude web interface.

Available on Free (1 connector), Pro, Max, Team, and Enterprise plans.

Prerequisites

Claude Desktop installed (macOS or Windows)
Active Vinkius subscription with a valid endpoint token

1

Open Claude Desktop Settings

Click the menu icon at the top-left corner, go to Settings → Developer → Edit Config. This opens claude_desktop_config.json in your default text editor.
2

Paste the Basecamp MCP configuration

Copy the JSON snippet on the right into the mcpServers object. Replace [YOUR_TOKEN_HERE] with your endpoint token from cloud.vinkius.com.
3

Restart Claude Desktop

Close and reopen the application. Claude needs a full restart to load new MCPs — refreshing a conversation is not enough.
4

Verify the connection

Open a new conversation. Click the 🔌 icon at the bottom of the message input. You should see tools listed under basecamp-alternative-mcp.

json

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "basecamp-alternative-mcp": {
      "url": "https://edge.vinkius.com/[YOUR_TOKEN_HERE]/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Get your connection token →

Independent Platform Disclaimer: Vinkius is an independent platform and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, sponsored by, verified by, or otherwise authorized by Basecamp. All third-party trademarks, logos, and brand names are the property of their respective owners. Their use on this website is strictly for informational purposes to identify service compatibility and interoperability.

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Common questions about Basecamp MCP in Claude Desktop

Open Settings, go to Developer, and click Edit Config to open your claude_desktop_config.json file. Add the server details under the mcpServers key, save the file, and restart the application completely.

Yes, your agent can access project discussions. It uses the message board ID from a project dock to list updates and grabs full text using specific message IDs.

You must provide a todolist_id and the title of the task. Optional details like a rich text description, assignee IDs, and a specific date format can be added during the same request.

Every project initializes with different tools like message boards and to-do sets. The dock contains the unique numeric IDs required to interact with those specific components.

Vinkius runs your connection inside an ephemeral V8 Isolate Sandbox. Your project names, assignee emails, and rich text comments never touch persistent storage. The environment destroys itself immediately after your agent finishes executing a tool.

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