How to integrate Gift up MCP with Claude Agent SDK

This guide walks you through connecting Gift up to the Claude Agent SDK using the Composio tool router. By the end, you'll have a working Gift up agent that can list all active gift cards sold this week, show available items for sale by group, get recent transaction reports for your store through natural language commands. This guide will help you understand how to give your Claude Agent SDK agent real control over a Gift up account through Composio's Gift up MCP server. Before we dive in, let's take a quick look at the key ideas and tools involved.

Gift up logoGift up
Api Key

Gift Up! is a digital platform for selling, managing, and redeeming gift cards online. It streamlines promotions and gift card transactions for businesses and their customers.

44 Tools

Introduction

This guide walks you through connecting Gift up to the Claude Agent SDK using the Composio tool router. By the end, you'll have a working Gift up agent that can list all active gift cards sold this week, show available items for sale by group, get recent transaction reports for your store through natural language commands.

This guide will help you understand how to give your Claude Agent SDK agent real control over a Gift up account through Composio's Gift up MCP server.

Before we dive in, let's take a quick look at the key ideas and tools involved.

Also integrate Gift up with

TL;DR

Here's what you'll learn:
  • Get and set up your Claude/Anthropic and Composio API keys
  • Install the necessary dependencies
  • Initialize Composio and create a Tool Router session for Gift up
  • Configure an AI agent that can use Gift up as a tool
  • Run a live chat session where you can ask the agent to perform Gift up operations

What is Claude Agent SDK?

The Claude Agent SDK is Anthropic's official framework for building AI agents powered by Claude. It provides a streamlined interface for creating agents with MCP tool support and conversation management.

Key features include:

  • Native MCP Support: Built-in support for Model Context Protocol servers
  • Permission Modes: Control tool execution permissions
  • Streaming Responses: Real-time response streaming for interactive applications
  • Context Manager: Clean async context management for sessions

What is the Gift up MCP server, and what's possible with it?

The Gift up MCP server is an implementation of the Model Context Protocol that connects your AI agent and assistants like Claude, Cursor, etc directly to your Gift Up! account. It provides structured and secure access to your gift card operations, so your agent can list available gift cards, fetch company or checkout details, generate transaction reports, and manage users or webhook subscriptions on your behalf.

  • Gift card inventory management: Instantly list, filter, and audit all gift cards issued or available in your account, including status and details.
  • Sales item and group retrieval: Let your agent fetch all items for sale and organize them by item groups, making it easy to manage or present products.
  • Company and checkout settings access: Retrieve current company details and checkout configuration to audit or display your store's gift card setup.
  • Transaction reporting and analytics: Generate and filter transaction reports for deep insights into gift card sales, redemptions, and trends.
  • User and webhook management: List all users with account access or subscribe to webhook events, enabling automated notifications and streamlined team management.

What is the Composio tool router, and how does it fit here?

What is Composio SDK?

Composio's Composio SDK helps agents find the right tools for a task at runtime. You can plug in multiple toolkits (like Gmail, HubSpot, and GitHub), and the agent will identify the relevant app and action to complete multi-step workflows. This can reduce token usage and improve the reliability of tool calls. Read more here: Getting started with Composio SDK

The tool router generates a secure MCP URL that your agents can access to perform actions.

How the Composio SDK works

The Composio SDK follows a three-phase workflow:

  1. Discovery: Searches for tools matching your task and returns relevant toolkits with their details.
  2. Authentication: Checks for active connections. If missing, creates an auth config and returns a connection URL via Auth Link.
  3. Execution: Executes the action using the authenticated connection.

Step-by-step Guide

Step by step09 STEPS
1

Prerequisites

Before starting, make sure you have:
  • Composio API Key and Claude/Anthropic API Key
  • Primary know-how of Claude Agents SDK
  • A Gift up account
  • Some knowledge of Python
2

Getting API Keys for Claude/Anthropic and Composio

Claude/Anthropic API Key
  • Go to the Anthropic Console and create an API key. You'll need credits to use the models.
  • Keep the API key safe.
Composio API Key
  • Log in to the Composio dashboard.
  • Navigate to your API settings and generate a new API key.
  • Store this key securely as you'll need it for authentication.
3

Install dependencies

npm install @anthropic-ai/claude-agent-sdk @composio/core dotenv

Install the Composio SDK and the Claude Agents SDK.

What's happening:

  • @composio/core provides Composio integration for Anthropic
  • @anthropic-ai/claude-agent-sdk is the core agent framework
  • dotenv/config loads environment variables
4

Set up environment variables

bash
COMPOSIO_API_KEY=your_composio_api_key_here
USER_ID=your_user_id_here
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=your_anthropic_api_key_here

Create a .env file in your project root.

What's happening:

  • COMPOSIO_API_KEY authenticates with Composio
  • USER_ID identifies the user for session management
  • ANTHROPIC_API_KEY authenticates with Anthropic/Claude
5

Import dependencies

import 'dotenv/config';
import readline from 'node:readline';
import { Composio } from '@composio/core';
import { query, type Options } from "@anthropic-ai/claude-agent-sdk";

dotenv.config();
What's happening:
  • We're importing all necessary libraries including the Claude Agent SDK and Composio
  • The dotenv.config() function loads environment variables from your .env file
  • This setup prepares the foundation for connecting Claude with Gift up functionality
6

Create a Composio instance and Tool Router session

async function chat() {
  const { COMPOSIO_API_KEY, USER_ID } = process.env;
  if (!COMPOSIO_API_KEY || !USER_ID) {
    throw new Error('COMPOSIO_API_KEY and USER_ID required in .env');
  }

  const composio = new Composio({ apiKey: COMPOSIO_API_KEY });

  // Create Tool Router session for Gift up
  const session = await composio.create(USER_ID, {
    toolkits: ['gift_up'],
  });
  const mcpUrl = session?.mcp.url;
What's happening:
  • The function checks for the required COMPOSIO_API_KEY environment variable
  • We're creating a Composio instance using our API key
  • The create method creates a Tool Router session for Gift up
  • The returned url is the MCP server URL that your agent will use
7

Configure Claude Agent with MCP

const options: Options = {
  permissionMode: 'bypassPermissions',
  mcpServers: {
    composio: {
      type: 'http',
      url: mcpUrl,
      headers: { 'x-api-key': COMPOSIO_API_KEY }
    }
  },
  systemPrompt: 'You are a helpful assistant with access to Gift up tools via Composio.',
  maxTurns: 10,
};
What's happening:
  • We're configuring the Claude Agent options with the MCP server URL
  • permissionMode: 'bypassPermissions' allows the agent to execute operations without asking for permission each time
  • The system prompt instructs the agent that it has access to Gift up
  • maxTurns: 10 limits the conversation length to prevent excessive API usage
8

Create client and start chat loop

const rl = readline.createInterface({
    input: process.stdin,
    output: process.stdout,
    prompt: 'You: '
  });

  console.log('\nChat started. Type "exit" to quit.\n');

  let isProcessing = false;

  async function ask(prompt: string) {
    isProcessing = true;
    rl.pause();

    process.stdout.write('Claude is thinking...');
    const stream = query({ prompt, options });

    let firstChunk = true;
    for await (const msg of stream) {
      const content = (msg as any).message?.content || (msg as any).content;
      if (Array.isArray(content)) {
        for (const block of content) {
          if (block.type === 'text' && block.text) {
            if (firstChunk) {
              process.stdout.write('\r\x1b[K');
              process.stdout.write('Claude: ');
              firstChunk = false;
            }
            process.stdout.write(block.text);
          }
        }
      }
    }
    process.stdout.write('\n\n');

    isProcessing = false;
    rl.resume();
    rl.prompt();
  }

  rl.on('line', async (line) => {
    if (isProcessing) return;

    const input = line.trim();
    if (input === 'exit') {
      rl.close();
      process.exit(0);
    }
    if (input) await ask(input);
    else rl.prompt();
  });

  await ask('What can you help me with?');
}
What's happening:
  • The readline interface is created to handle user input and output
  • The query function is used to send the user's input to the agent
  • The chat loop continues until the user types 'exit' or 'quit'
9

Run the application

try {
  await chat();
} catch (error) {
  console.error(error);
  process.exit(1);
}
What's happening:
  • The chat function is the entry point for the application
  • The try-catch block is used to handle any errors that occur

Complete Code

Here's the complete code to get you started with Gift up and Claude Agent SDK:

import 'dotenv/config';
import readline from 'node:readline';
import { Composio } from '@composio/core';
import { query, type Options } from "@anthropic-ai/claude-agent-sdk";

async function chat() {
  const { COMPOSIO_API_KEY, USER_ID } = process.env;
  if (!COMPOSIO_API_KEY || !USER_ID) {
    throw new Error('COMPOSIO_API_KEY and USER_ID required in .env');
  }

  const composio = new Composio({ apiKey: COMPOSIO_API_KEY });
  const session = await composio.create(USER_ID, {
    toolkits: ['gift_up']
  });
  const mcp_url = session?.mcp.url;

  const options: Options = {
    permissionMode: 'bypassPermissions',
    mcpServers: {
      composio: {
        type: 'http',
        url: mcp_url,
        headers: { 'x-api-key': COMPOSIO_API_KEY }
      }
    },
    systemPrompt: 'You are a helpful assistant with access to Gift up tools via Composio.',
    maxTurns: 10,
  };

  const rl = readline.createInterface({
    input: process.stdin,
    output: process.stdout,
    prompt: 'You: '
  });

  console.log('\nChat started. Type "exit" to quit.\n');

  let isProcessing = false;

  async function ask(prompt: string) {
    isProcessing = true;
    rl.pause();

    process.stdout.write('Claude is thinking...');
    const stream = query({ prompt, options });

    let firstChunk = true;
    for await (const msg of stream) {
      const content = (msg as any).message?.content || (msg as any).content;
      if (Array.isArray(content)) {
        for (const block of content) {
          if (block.type === 'text' && block.text) {
            if (firstChunk) {
              process.stdout.write('\r\x1b[K');
              process.stdout.write('Claude: ');
              firstChunk = false;
            }
            process.stdout.write(block.text);
          }
        }
      }
    }
    process.stdout.write('\n\n');

    isProcessing = false;
    rl.resume();
    rl.prompt();
  }

  rl.on('line', async (line) => {
    if (isProcessing) return;

    const input = line.trim();
    if (input === 'exit') {
      rl.close();
      process.exit(0);
    }
    if (input) await ask(input);
    else rl.prompt();
  });

  await ask('What can you help me with?');
}

try {
  await chat();
} catch (error) {
  console.error(error);
  process.exit(1);
}

Conclusion

You've successfully built a Claude Agent SDK agent that can interact with Gift up through Composio's Tool Router.

Key features:

  • Native MCP support through Claude's agent framework
  • Streaming responses for real-time interaction
  • Permission bypass for smooth automated workflows
You can extend this by adding more toolkits, implementing custom business logic, or building a web interface around the agent.
TOOLS

Supported Tools

Every Gift up action and event your agent gets out of the box.

Add Note to Order

Tool to add a note to an existing order.

Create Item

Tool to create a new item for sale in the Gift Up checkout.

Create Item Group

Tool to create a new item group for organizing items in the Gift Up checkout.

Create Order

Tool to create a new order which generates one or more gift cards.

Delete Item

Tool to delete an item from the Gift Up checkout.

Delete Item Group

Tool to delete an item group by its ID.

Delete Webhook

Tool to delete a webhook subscription by its ID.

Get Checkout Settings

Tool to retrieve the current checkout settings.

Get Company Details

Tool to retrieve company details.

Get Email Settings

Tool to retrieve email settings for the Gift Up account.

Get Gift Card by Code

Tool to retrieve a gift card by its code.

Get Gift Card Settings

Tool to retrieve gift card settings including code format, expiration rules, and display options.

Get Item by ID

Tool to retrieve detailed information about a specific item by its ID.

Get Order by ID

Tool to retrieve a specific order by ID.

API Health Check

Tool to perform a health check on the Gift Up!

Get Report Transaction

Tool to retrieve a specific transaction report by its ID.

Get Shipping Settings

Tool to retrieve shipping settings for physical gift cards.

Get Stripe Connection

Tool to retrieve current Stripe integration connection settings.

Get Webhook

Tool to retrieve a specific webhook by its ID.

List Gift Card Artwork

Tool to list all gift card artwork available for use on gift cards.

List Gift Cards

Tool to list gift cards.

List Item Groups

Tool to list item groups.

List Items

Lists all items (gift cards, passes, etc.

List Locations

Retrieves all physical locations where gift cards are sold and/or redeemed.

List Promotions

Tool to list all promotions that allow discounts to be applied on the Gift Up checkout.

List Report Transactions

Tool to list report transactions with optional filters.

List GiftUp Users

Tool to list all users.

List Webhooks

Tool to list all webhooks configured for the account.

Health Check (POST)

Tool to perform a health check using POST /ping endpoint.

Reactivate Gift Card

Tool to reactivate a voided gift card.

Redeem Gift Card

Tool to redeem a specified amount or units from a gift card.

Redeem Gift Card In Full

Tool to redeem a gift card in full.

Subscribe to Webhook

Subscribe to Gift Up!

Top Up Gift Card

Tool to add value to an existing gift card.

Undo Gift Card Redemption

Tool to undo a previous redemption on a gift card, restoring the redeemed amount to the gift card balance.

Update Email Settings

Tool to update email settings using JSON Patch operations.

Update Gift Card

Tool to update gift card properties using JSON Patch operations.

Update Gift Card Settings

Tool to update gift card settings using JSON Patch operations.

Update Item

Update an item's properties using JSON Patch operations.

Update Item Group

Tool to update an item group's properties using JSON Patch operations.

Update Order

Tool to update an order's properties using JSON Patch operations.

Update Stripe Connection

Tool to update Stripe integration connection settings for the Gift Up account.

Upload Gift Card Artwork

Tool to upload new gift card artwork.

Void Gift Card

Tool to void a gift card making it invalid for future redemptions.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

With a standalone Gift up MCP server, the agents and LLMs can only access a fixed set of Gift up tools tied to that server. However, with the Composio Tool Router, agents can dynamically load tools from Gift up and many other apps based on the task at hand, all through a single MCP endpoint.

Yes, you can. Claude Agent SDK fully supports MCP integration. You get structured tool calling, message history handling, and model orchestration while Tool Router takes care of discovering and serving the right Gift up tools.

Yes, absolutely. You can configure which Gift up scopes and actions are allowed when connecting your account to Composio. You can also bring your own OAuth credentials or API configuration so you keep full control over what the agent can do.

All sensitive data such as tokens, keys, and configuration is fully encrypted at rest and in transit. Composio is SOC 2 Type 2 compliant and follows strict security practices so your Gift up data and credentials are handled as safely as possible.

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