Developers

Desk Genie in Claude Code

Claude Code is the main way to use Desk Genie. There are two plugins because they do different jobs, and you can install both. They register as two MCP servers, desk-genie and desk-genie-hosted, so they never replace each other.

Desk Genie (Mac app)Makes your character speak and animate on this Mac while Claude works, and shares the information you choose. Needs the Desk Genie Mac app and Connect to Claude turned on. No token.desk-genie@desk-genie

Desk Genie (hosted)Lists the characters on the Desk Genie service and talks to them, from any computer. Needs an access token. Each talk counts against your daily limit.desk-genie-hosted@desk-genie

Claude Code in VS Code

Install hostedOpens the install dialog in Claude Code. Paste your token when it asks. Install Mac appOpens the install dialog in Claude Code. No token. Install reactionsOptional. Silent character reactions. Install the Mac app plugin first.

If a button does nothing, run the terminal commands below in VS Code's terminal. The extension and the command line share the same plugin settings. Start a new conversation afterwards.

Claude Code in the terminal

Add the marketplace once:

Hosted plugin. DESK_GENIE_TOKEN is your access token:

Mac app plugin, and the optional reactions plugin:

Check it

claude mcp list

You should see plugin:desk-genie-hosted:desk-genie-hosted connected. The Mac app server connects while the app is open with Connect to Claude on. Then ask Claude: "List the Desk Genie characters, then ask Pip to say hello."

Downloads

Claude Desktop uses the .mcpb extension files (see the Claude Desktop page). Claude Code uses the plugin .zip files, and the commands above download them for you, so you only need these links to inspect or install by hand.

File	For	Version	SHA-256

The Mac app files come from the Desk Genie Mac app preview. They are unsigned. The hosted files send your token only to the server address you configure.

To update, run claude plugin marketplace update desk-genie. To remove one, run claude plugin uninstall desk-genie-hosted@desk-genie. Other editors and clients are on the MCP page.