catalog / cross-platform

MCP tool names use different formats on Claude.ai vs Code/Desktop

verified

MCP tool names appear as server__tool on some surfaces and mcp__server__tool on others — hardcoding either form breaks the skill on the other.

  • Category: cross-platform
  • Applies to: Claude.ai uses Server:tool | Claude Code/Desktop use mcp__claude_ai_Server__tool
  • Verified on: 2026-05-17 across platforms
  • Verification tier: verified
  • Severity: Hard error

Symptom

A SKILL.md that hardcodes a fully-qualified MCP tool name works on one platform and is invisible on the other.

Cause

Same MCP server, same underlying tool, different fully-qualified names. Claude.ai: Atlassian:searchJiraIssuesUsingJql. Code/Desktop: mcp__claude_ai_Atlassian__searchJiraIssuesUsingJql.

Fix

Describe the *capability* in the SKILL.md ("search Jira for X") rather than the tool name. Let each platform's Claude pick the locally-correct fully-qualified name.

Notes

Related: mcp-tools-deferred-on-code-and-desktop.md and silent-fallback-when-tool-missing.md.