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name, description, metadata
name description metadata
clairvoyance-mcp-needs-app The two clairvoyance MCP servers only connect while the Clairvoyance desktop app is open — "Failed to connect" is normal when it's closed, not a broken install
node_type type originSessionId modified
memory reference c4d6262b-e105-4e05-87bf-f2f891e7df82 2026-08-04T20:43:45.224Z

clairvoyance_terminal and clairvoyance_extensions in ~/.claude.json are stdio bridges into the Clairvoyance desktop app (/Applications/Clairvoyance.app), not standalone servers. Running either launcher by hand prints:

Clairvoyance is not running. Please start the application to use the recruitment bridge.
Clairvoyance is not running. Please start the application to use extension tools.

So claude mcp list showing both as "✘ Failed to connect" is expected whenever the app is closed — the install is fine. Launchers live in ~/.clairvoyance/bin/, app data in ~/Library/Application Support/clairvoyance, passed through as CLAIRVOYANCE_BASE_USER_DATA. Start the app and they connect.

Why: it looks identical to a broken MCP registration, and it is tempting to "fix" it by re-registering or deleting the servers. Nothing is wrong with the config.

How to apply: before debugging these two, check pgrep -i clairvoyance. Empty means the app is just closed. Note ls -d /Applications/*[Cc]lairvoyance* can look like the app is missing if you glob several paths on one zsh line — a no-match on any one of them aborts the whole command. Use mdfind or check the single path.

Related: claude-config-sync-gotchas.