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Windsurf’s Cascade starts Hoista’s MCP server itself, over stdio. You need Hoista on this computer: run hoist doctor to check.

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Add Hoista

Print the settings to add:
In Windsurf, open Settings → Cascade → Manage MCPs and choose View raw config. That opens ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json (on Windows, %USERPROFILE%\.codeium\windsurf\mcp_config.json). Add the hoista entry inside its mcpServers object:
Save, then choose Refresh in Manage MCPs: Windsurf doesn’t reload the file by itself.

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Approve it in Hoista

When Windsurf starts Hoista, Hoista opens a page in your browser with a code. Check the code matches the one Windsurf shows, choose What it may do and allow it. If the page doesn’t open, allow it in Agents in the desktop app, or from a terminal:
Start with View only and widen it later in Agent permissions.

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Check it works

Ask Windsurf: “What projects do I have on Hoista?” It should list your projects. If it doesn’t, see If it doesn’t connect.

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Hoista on a remote

Windsurf talks to Hoista on this computer. While a remote is selected (hoist remote use NAME), hoist mcp won’t start. To use the remote, add it to Windsurf as an HTTP MCP server at its own address: hoist mcp config prints the remote’s /mcp URL. Windsurf then signs in with OAuth.

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If it doesn’t connect

  • Check the command path exists, and run hoist doctor.
  • Choose Refresh after every change to the file.
  • To remove it: delete the hoista entry, then revoke the agent in Agents or with hoist agents revoke.

Agent permissions

Change or narrow what an agent can do.

Approvals

What Hoista asks you before an agent acts.

Prompts

Prompts to start with.