ask_user
Prompts the user with a question via a pop-up command prompt and awaits their interactive response.
LABSCO SUMMARY
The agent can ask rather than assume, at the price of blocking until someone answers.
ask_user is the entire surface: a message, an optional set of predefined options, and a project label. The trade is explicit in what the call does — it waits for an interactive response — so it earns its place at the decision points where a wrong guess is expensive, not everywhere the agent is unsure.
What it is
A single-tool server that puts a question from the model in front of the user in a pop-up command prompt and waits for the answer.
What you get
- ask_user opens a pop-up command prompt carrying your message and blocks until the user responds.
- predefinedOptions turns the question into a choice rather than free text.
- projectName labels which project the question is coming from, for when more than one agent is running.
Requirements
Someone at the keyboard while the agent runs, and a desktop session that can display the prompt.
Setup effort
One command — npx mcp-interactive -t 300
USE CASES
01
Getting an answer from the user instead of guessing mid-task
When the instructions run out — which of two paths to take, which file to overwrite — put the question and its options in front of the person at the keyboard and wait.
1 tool
Counted once with only startup setup. Other versions, modes or optional credentials may expose a different list.
BEFORE YOU INSTALL
What to know first
Tools you get
1 tool when we connected.
Requires
npx on PATH
CONTEXT COST
Light Standing cost
Rated by the size of the one tool definition that rides along on every turn
INSTALLATION
Connect your client
Add the block to your client, or run the command directly.
Server setup
Configuration file
JSON
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp-interactive": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"mcp-interactive",
"-t",
"300"
]
}
}
}npx
TERMINAL
npx mcp-interactive -t 300
