CLI doesn’t work for your coworkers that aren’t technical.
Have you tried to use a random API before? It’s a process of trial and error.
With the MCP tools I use, it works the first time and every time. There is no “figuring out.”
Have you tried to use a random API before? It’s a process of trial and error.
With the MCP tools I use, it works the first time and every time. There is no “figuring out.”
This actually isn't true. I've written bespoke CLI tools for my small business and non-technical people run them without issue. They get intimidated at first but within a day or so they're completely used to it - it's basically just magic incantations on a black box.
I’ve used that approach to get non-technical near-retirees as early adopters of command line tooling (version control and internal apps). A semantic layer to the effect of ‘make-docs, share-docs, get-newest-app, announce-new-app-version’.
The users saw a desktop folder with big buttons to double click. Errors opened up an email to devs/support with full details (minimizing error communication errors and time to fix). A few minutes of training, expanded and refined to meet individual needs, and our accountants & SME’s loved SVN/Git. And the discussion was all about process and needs, not about tooling or associated mental models.
CLI works for both agents and technical people. REST API works for both agents and technical people. MCP works only for agents (unless I can curl to it, there are some HTTP based ones)
My company is currently trying to rollout shared MCPs and skills throughout the company. The engineers who have been using AI tools for the past 1-2 years have few, if any, issues. The designers, product managers, and others have numerous issues.
Having a single MCP gateway with very clear instructions for connecting to Claude Desktop and authenticating with Google eliminates numerous problems that would arise from installing and authenticating a CLI.
The MCP is also available on mobile devices. I can jot down ideas and interact with real data with Claude iOS and the remote MCP. Can’t do that with a CLI.