# Toughtongue Skills

> Agent skills and MCP server for Tough Tongue AI. Create voice-agent scenarios, refine them from real transcripts, and analyze session performance from Claude Code, Codex, or Cursor.

- **Type:** MCP server
- **Install:** `agentstack add mcp-tough-tongue-toughtongue-skills`
- **Verified:** Yes — security-reviewed for prompt injection and unsafe behavior
- **Seller:** [tough-tongue](https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/tough-tongue)
- **Installs:** 0
- **Category:** [Integrations](https://agentstack.voostack.com/c/integrations)
- **Latest version:** 0.1.0
- **License:** MIT
- **Upstream author:** [tough-tongue](https://github.com/tough-tongue)
- **Source:** https://github.com/tough-tongue/toughtongue-skills
- **Website:** https://www.toughtongueai.com/agents

## Install

```sh
agentstack add mcp-tough-tongue-toughtongue-skills
```

Requires the [AgentStack CLI](https://agentstack.voostack.com/docs/cli). Works with Claude Code, Cursor, and any MCP-compatible agent.

## About

# ToughTongue Skills

Agent skills and MCP server for [ToughTongue AI](https://app.toughtongueai.com),
the voice-agent platform for high-stakes conversation practice: interviews,
sales, coaching, negotiations.

Install once, then work with ToughTongue from Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, or
any agent that supports the Agent Skills format:

- *"Pull the last 3 lost deals from our call notes and create a practice
  scenario for the pricing objection."*
- *"For the Enterprise Discovery Call scenario, pull the last 50 sessions.
  What are the top 5 improvement areas?"*
- *"The onboarding agent keeps ending calls too early. Pull the low-scoring
  sessions, find out why, and fix the scenario."*

These compose with the rest of your MCP ecosystem: Gong, Notion, calendar,
slides, email. See [What you can do](#what-you-can-do) for the full journeys.

## Table of contents

- [What's included](#whats-included)
- [Prerequisites](#prerequisites)
- [Which setup fits you?](#which-setup-fits-you)
- [Set up](#set-up)
  - [Claude Code](#claude-code)
  - [Codex](#codex)
  - [Cursor](#cursor)
  - [Copilot / Windsurf / Gemini CLI / other agents](#copilot--windsurf--gemini-cli--other-agents)
  - [Skills only](#skills-only)
  - [MCP only](#mcp-only)
- [Verify your setup](#verify-your-setup)
- [What you can do](#what-you-can-do)
- [MCP Server](#mcp-server)
- [Troubleshooting](#troubleshooting)
- [Repository structure](#repository-structure)
- [Related](#related)
- [License](#license)

## What's included

This repo ships two layers that work together, plus plugins that bundle both:

**Skills** — workflow guidance your agent loads automatically when the
conversation matches:

| Skill | When it activates | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| [getting-started](skills/getting-started) | "Get started with ToughTongue", "is my ToughTongue MCP working?" | Post-install onboarding. Verifies the MCP connection and PAT, looks at what's in your account, and routes you into your first workflow. |
| [scenario-creator](skills/scenario-creator) | "Create a scenario", "build a practice roleplay", "prep me for this meeting" | Create production-ready scenarios from a brief, URL, or call transcript. Classifies the type (cold call, sales roleplay, coaching), applies proven authoring patterns, validates, and creates via MCP. |
| [scenario-refiner](skills/scenario-refiner) | "Fix the scenario", "it ended the call too early", "make it sound more natural" | Fix a live scenario from real evidence. Pulls the scenario and low-scoring session transcripts, diagnoses the root cause, and applies the smallest possible edit via MCP. |
| [session-analyst](skills/session-analyst) | "How is my team doing?", "top improvement areas", "build me a coaching report" | Turn session data into answers. Aggregates scores, report cards, and weaknesses across a team or scenario into structured reports: ready to hand off to slides or email tools. |

**MCP server** — live actions in your ToughTongue account. 26 tools over the
public API: scenarios (create, update, generate, access tokens), sessions
(list with evaluations, batch fetch, ingest, post-process), analytics and
organizations, SIP phone calls, meeting bots, and collections. Full catalog
in [MCP.md](MCP.md).

**Plugins** (Claude Code, Codex, Cursor) — bundle the skills **and** the MCP
server registration in one install.

How the layers relate:

- **Skills add judgment** — the agent knows *what* good ToughTongue work
  looks like: how to author a scenario, diagnose a failing one, aggregate
  session data into a report.
- **MCP adds action** — the agent *can* do it: create scenarios, pull
  sessions, update configs, place calls.
- With skills only, your agent can advise. With MCP only, it can call tools.
  With both, it picks the right workflow and completes it. The plugin gives
  you both in one step.

## Prerequisites

Every setup path needs these two things first:

1. **A ToughTongue AI account** — sign up at
   [app.toughtongueai.com](https://app.toughtongueai.com).
2. **A Personal Access Token (PAT)** — create one at
   [app.toughtongueai.com/developer](https://app.toughtongueai.com/developer)
   and export it in the environment your agent runs in:

```bash
export TTAI_PAT=""
```

On macOS, GUI apps need the variable at the launchd level too:

```bash
launchctl setenv TTAI_PAT "$TTAI_PAT"
```

Then fully restart your agent app and start a new thread.

> **Note**: authentication is PAT-based only — OAuth login is not supported
> yet. Never commit the PAT or paste it into config files: the plugin
> references it only through the `TTAI_PAT` environment variable.

## Which setup fits you?

| Setup | Best for | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| **Plugin** (recommended) | Claude Code, Codex, Cursor | Skills + MCP, auto-configured in one install |
| **Skills + MCP, manual** | Copilot, Windsurf, Gemini CLI, other agents | Same capability, assembled in two steps |
| **Skills only** | Any Agent Skills client, no live tools needed | Workflow guidance; the agent advises but can't act |
| **MCP only** | Developers who want raw API tools | 26 tools; no workflow guidance |

Not sure? Use the plugin — it's the least setup. Per-client instructions
below.

## Set up

### Claude Code

The plugin bundles the skills and registers the ToughTongue MCP server
(`.mcp.json`) in one install: no separate `claude mcp add` step needed.
Just make sure `TTAI_PAT` is set (see [Prerequisites](#prerequisites)).

Inside Claude Code:

```text
/plugin marketplace add tough-tongue/toughtongue-skills
/plugin install toughtongue@toughtongue-skills
```

Or from the terminal:

```bash
claude plugin marketplace add tough-tongue/toughtongue-skills
claude plugin install toughtongue@toughtongue-skills
```

Then run `/toughtongue:getting-started`: it verifies the connection, looks
at your account, and starts your first workflow.

Skills are namespaced after install: invoke them as
`/toughtongue:scenario-creator`, `/toughtongue:scenario-refiner`,
`/toughtongue:session-analyst`: or just describe the task and Claude picks
the right skill automatically.

Upgrade / local development

**Upgrade** — refresh the marketplace catalog, then move the installed pin
to the latest version:

```bash
claude plugin marketplace update toughtongue-skills
claude plugin update toughtongue@toughtongue-skills
```

Then run `/reload-plugins` in your session to apply.

**Local development / testing** — load the plugin without installing:

```bash
claude --plugin-dir /path/to/toughtongue-skills
# after edits, run /reload-plugins inside the session
```

### Codex

The plugin bundles the skills and registers the ToughTongue MCP server
(`.mcp.json`) in one install:

```bash
codex plugin marketplace add tough-tongue/toughtongue-skills
codex plugin add toughtongue@toughtongue
```

Then restart Codex and start a new thread. Say "get me started with
ToughTongue" to verify the setup and start your first workflow.

Upgrade / local development

**Upgrade** — both steps are needed; the first refreshes the marketplace
snapshot, the second re-pins the installed plugin to it:

```bash
codex plugin marketplace upgrade toughtongue
codex plugin add toughtongue@toughtongue
```

**Local development / testing** — register the checkout as a local
marketplace:

```bash
codex plugin marketplace add /path/to/toughtongue-skills
codex plugin add toughtongue@toughtongue
```

### Cursor

In Cursor, go to **Settings > Plugins > Team Marketplaces > Add Marketplace
> Import from Repo**, point it at
`https://github.com/tough-tongue/toughtongue-skills`, then install
**toughtongue**.

Or assemble it manually in two steps:

1. Install the skills:

   ```bash
   npx skills add tough-tongue/toughtongue-skills
   ```

2. Add the MCP server:
   [**Install in Cursor**](cursor://anysphere.cursor-deeplink/mcp/install?name=ttai&config=eyJ1cmwiOiJodHRwczovL2FwaS50b3VnaHRvbmd1ZWFpLmNvbS9hcGkvcHVibGljL21jcCIsImhlYWRlcnMiOnsiQXV0aG9yaXphdGlvbiI6IkJlYXJlciAke1RUQUlfUEFUfSJ9fQ==)
   — one click adds the server; make sure `TTAI_PAT` is exported first. Or
   add it manually via "Cursor Settings" > "MCP" (config JSON in
   [MCP.md](MCP.md#cursor)).

Upgrade

Re-import the marketplace from **Settings > Plugins > Team Marketplaces**.
If you installed the skills via the CLI, refresh them with
`npx skills update`.

### Copilot / Windsurf / Gemini CLI / other agents

No plugin for these yet — install the skills and the MCP server as two
steps:

**1. Install the skills.** Works with any Agent Skills-compatible client:

```bash
npx skills add tough-tongue/toughtongue-skills
```

The CLI prompts you to pick which skills to install and which agents to
configure. To install everything non-interactively:

```bash
npx skills add tough-tongue/toughtongue-skills --all
```

Update existing skills later with:

```bash
npx skills update
```

**2. Add the MCP server.** Point your client at the hosted server — the
general shape is:

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ttai": {
      "url": "https://api.toughtongueai.com/api/public/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer ${TTAI_PAT}"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

Exact config per client (Copilot/VS Code, Windsurf, Gemini CLI) is in
[MCP.md](MCP.md#connect-your-client).

**Stdio-only clients** (Claude Desktop, Zed, older VS Code): bridge to the
hosted server with [mcp-remote](https://github.com/geelen/mcp-remote) — see
[MCP.md](MCP.md#clients-without-remote-mcp-support).

### Skills only

Want the workflow guidance without connecting your account?

```bash
npx skills add tough-tongue/toughtongue-skills
```

The agent can advise on scenario design, evaluation rubrics, and coaching
patterns — but it can't create or modify anything in ToughTongue. Add the
MCP server later (step 2 above) when you want action.

### MCP only

If you only want the tools (no skills):

```bash
# Codex
codex mcp add ttai --url https://api.toughtongueai.com/api/public/mcp \
  --bearer-token-env-var TTAI_PAT

# Claude Code
claude mcp add --transport http ttai https://api.toughtongueai.com/api/public/mcp \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer ${TTAI_PAT}"
```

More clients in [MCP.md](MCP.md).

## Verify your setup

Ask your agent:

```text
Call the ttai MCP tool list_organizations and show me the result.
Then list my scenarios.
```

You should see two things:

- The agent reaches your ToughTongue account and returns real data — the
  MCP connection works.
- The agent reasons in ToughTongue terms — scenarios, sessions, rubrics,
  report cards — the skills are loaded.

On a **skills-only** setup, verify with "What can I do with ToughTongue?" —
the agent should describe the workflows but won't be able to call tools.

## What you can do

Coding agents are where work happens now. These journeys show ToughTongue
composing with the other tools already connected to your agent: copy any
prompt to start.

### 1. Practice this sales call

A sales manager spots an AE struggling with pricing objections in real calls.

> Pull the last 3 calls from Gong where we lost on pricing. Create a
> ToughTongue scenario to practice handling that objection, using our
> positioning doc from Notion. Give me the shareable practice link.

Gong MCP (`search_calls` / `list_calls` → `get_call_transcript`) + Notion MCP
→ **scenario-creator** builds a sales roleplay from the real objections →
`create_scenario` → shareable practice link.

### 2. How is my team doing?

A VP of Sales wants the team's skill gaps, not raw transcripts.

> For the "Enterprise Discovery Call" scenario, pull the last 50 sessions.
> What are the top 5 improvement areas? Build me a 3-slide deck.

**session-analyst** → `list_sessions` (scores, strengths, weaknesses per
session) → aggregates report-card topics and weakness themes → slides MCP for
the deck.

### 3. Refine from real conversations

A CS manager notices low scores on the onboarding scenario.

> Pull the 5 lowest-scoring sessions for our onboarding scenario, figure out
> what went wrong, and fix the scenario.

`list_sessions` (sorted by score) → `get_sessions_batch` (full transcripts +
evaluations) → **scenario-refiner** diagnoses the root cause → surgical
`update_scenario`: live for the next session.

### 4. Prep me for this meeting

A sales rep has a discovery call in 30 minutes.

> I have a call with Sarah Chen from Acme Corp in 30 minutes. Create a quick
> practice scenario so I can rehearse.

Calendar MCP + web search for attendee/company context → **scenario-creator**
→ `create_scenario` → start practicing in minutes.

### 5. Automated post-call coaching

An engineering team wires coaching into their call pipeline.

> Every time a call ends in Gong, analyze the transcript and email the rep a
> coaching report.

Webhook script → `create_session` (ingest transcript against a coaching
scenario) + `post_process_session` → poll `get_sessions_batch` until analysis
completes → email MCP sends the report. Full recipe in
[session-analyst's report templates](skills/session-analyst/references/report-templates.md).

## MCP Server

The plugin registers ToughTongue's hosted MCP server at
`https://api.toughtongueai.com/api/public/mcp` (Streamable HTTP,
`TTAI_PAT` bearer auth). There is nothing to install and no local process to
run. It exposes 26 tools over the public API: scenarios (create, update,
generate, access tokens), sessions (list with evaluations, batch fetch,
ingest, post-process), analytics and organizations, SIP phone calls, meeting
bots, and collections.

**See [MCP.md](MCP.md)** for the full tool catalog, per-client setup
(Claude Code, Codex, Cursor, Copilot, Windsurf, Gemini CLI), and
troubleshooting.

Known limitation: connector UIs that support only OAuth (for example
claude.ai web custom connectors) cannot attach a Bearer header and cannot
connect today. OAuth support is planned; PAT auth will keep working for
servers, CI, and headless agents after it ships.

## Troubleshooting

- **Fewer than 26 ttai tools listed**: your agent trimmed or cached tool
  discovery. Start a fresh thread; if it persists, remove and re-add the MCP
  server.
- **401 / authentication errors**: `TTAI_PAT` is not visible to the agent
  process. Re-export, `launchctl setenv` on macOS, fully restart the app.
- **Skills installed but the agent can't do anything**: skills are guidance
  only — the agent also needs the MCP server for live actions. See
  [Which setup fits you?](#which-setup-fits-you) and add the MCP server for
  your client.
- **Looking for OAuth / browser sign-in**: not supported yet — authentication
  is PAT-based only (see [Prerequisites](#prerequisites)).
- **Scenario edits not taking effect in a running call**: scenario changes
  apply to new sessions only; sessions compile their prompt at start.

Reinstalling the plugin (Claude Code)

If `/plugin install` fails or `claude plugin list` shows stale entries, do a
clean reinstall — run these in order in any Claude Code session:

1. `/plugin marketplace remove toughtongue-skills`
2. `/plugin marketplace add tough-tongue/toughtongue-skills`
3. `/plugin marketplace update toughtongue-skills`
4. `/plugin install toughtongue@toughtongue-skills`

Step 3 forces Claude Code to re-read the marketplace manifest. After step 4,
`claude plugin list` should show one `toughtongue@toughtongue-skills` entry.

## Repository structure

```
toughtongue-skills/
├── .claude-plugin/        # Claude Code plugin + marketplace manifests
├── .codex-plugin/         # Codex plugin manifest
├── .cursor-plugin/        # Cursor plugin manifest
├── .agents/plugins/       # Codex plugin-marketplace entry
├── .mcp.json              # Hosted MCP server registration (TTAI_PAT bearer)
├── MCP.md                 # MCP server docs: setup per client, tool catalog
├── skill-evals/           # Evaluation scenarios per skill
└── skills/                # Each: SKILL.md + references/ + agents/openai.yaml
    ├── getting-started/   # Post-install onboarding: verify, orient, first journey
    ├── scenario-creator/  # Type-specific autho

…

## Source & license

This open-source MCP server is cataloged on AgentStack and links to its original source — we do not rehost the code.

- **Author:** [tough-tongue](https://github.com/tough-tongue)
- **Source:** [tough-tongue/toughtongue-skills](https://github.com/tough-tongue/toughtongue-skills)
- **License:** MIT
- **Homepage:** https://www.toughtongueai.com/agents

Install and usage instructions live in the source repository linked above.

## Pricing

- **Free** — Free

## Security capabilities

Automated source analysis of v0.1.0 — what this tool can access:

- **Network access:** no
- **Filesystem access:** no
- **Shell / process execution:** no
- **Environment & secrets:** no
- **Dynamic code execution:** no

*"Yes" means the capability is present in the source — more access means more to trust, not that it is unsafe.*


## Versions

- **0.1.0** — security scan: passed — Imported from the upstream source.

## Links

- Listing page: https://agentstack.voostack.com/l/mcp-tough-tongue-toughtongue-skills
- Seller: https://agentstack.voostack.com/s/tough-tongue
- Browse the marketplace: https://agentstack.voostack.com/browse

---
Listed on AgentStack — the marketplace for AI agent skills and MCP servers. Every listing is security-reviewed. Creators keep 70%.