# MCP Server Usage

## ha-direct
This custom MCP server provides deep Home Assistant integration. Use it with surgical precision — only for targeted operations that need its specific tools (automation/scene/script CRUD, safe config writing, entity registry changes). Prefer simpler MCP tools (homeassistant_*) or hab for broader queries and routine operations. Follow the ha-direct best-practices skill (home-assistant-best-practices) when creating or editing automations, scripts, scenes, helpers, or dashboards. This server can be toggled on or off, so it may not be in the list of available MCP servers — do not try to use it if it is not present. If I specifically ask you to use it, you should.

## Restart Rule
Never restart Home Assistant without asking me first and getting my explicit approval. Even if I said "ok" to a restart earlier in the session, ask again before each subsequent restart.
