Break big items into smaller ones

Instructions

Pre-requisites

You must have NPX installed on your computer. If you already have it installed, skip the below section and go to MCP Setup.

NPX installation instructions

1. Install Node.js (which includes npm and npx): Go to the Node.js download page: https://nodejs.org/

2. Verify that Node.js, npm, and npx are installed. Open your terminal and run: 

   node -v
   npm -v
   npx -v

3. If they’re installed, you should see version numbers appear.

MCP Setup

You’ll be using the filecontext MCP server, sequential thinking MCP server, and (optionally) Zapier MCP for this flow. 

1. Open Saga and navigate to Settings. If you can’t find Settings, click on the Saga icon in your dock first.

   

   

2. Scroll to MCP Setup. Click Set up MCPs.

3. Copy the following configuration into the MCP Configuration textbox.

   {
       "mcpServers": {
           "filesystem": {
               "command": "npx",
               "args": [
                   "-y",
                   "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
                   "/Users/username/Desktop",
                   "/path/to/other/allowed/dir"
               ]
           },
           "sequential-thinking": {
               "command": "npx",
               "args": [
                   "-y",
                   "@modelcontextprotocol/server-sequential-thinking"
               ]
           },
           "zapier": {
               "url": "YOUR_ZAPIER_MCP_URL"
           }
       }
   }

4. Replace the placeholder text above under the filesystem config with the filepaths that you’re permitting Saga to access.

5. Replace the placeholder text under the Zapier config with your Zapier MCP URL. If you haven’t set up Zapier MCP yet, follow the below instructions:

   1. Create a Zapier account here by clicking Get started. 

   2. It should then take you to https://mcp.zapier.com/mcp/servers 

   3. Click + New MCP Server

      

      

   4. Select Other from the MCP Client list. You can leave the default name, or name it whatever makes sense to you! Click Create MCP Server.

      

      

   5. Click Connect at the top.

   6. Click Copy URL. Make sure “Streamable HTTP” is selected

      

      

   7. Go back to Saga and paste the url into the config.

6. See below for an example of a filled out configuration.

   {
       "mcpServers": {
           "filesystem": {
               "command": "npx",
               "args": [
                   "-y",
                   "@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem",
                   "/Users/sharonyeh/Downloads",
                   "/Users/sharonyeh/Desktop"
               ]
           },
           "sequential-thinking": {
               "command": "npx",
               "args": [
                   "-y",
                   "@modelcontextprotocol/server-sequential-thinking"
               ]
           },
           "zapier": {
               "url": "https://mcp.zapier.com/api/mcp/s/randomstringoflettersandnumbers/mcp"
           }
       }
   }

7. Click Save. 

8. Make sure filesystem, sequential-thinking, and zapier all say Loaded under MCP Servers Status.

9. Now you’re ready to execute MCP actions! For this flow, you can either have the Assistant read a file (e.g., PRD) saved in the filepaths you’ve given access to or read an existing feature request ticket. 

   1. If you’d like the Assistant to read a ticket, make sure to add the tool in your Zapier MCP by clicking Configure at the top and then Add tool. Note: You may need to click Save in Saga MCP Setup again after adding new tools

      

      

10. Click Let’s go! and have the Assistant find the file or ticket.

    1. Tip: For finding files, you may first have to ask the Assistant what directories it has access to and then ask it to find the file in those directories. 

    2. Tip: For finding tickets, you may have to select the workspace and project in Zapier when configuring the tool to help it find tickets faster / more accurately. 

11. You can then have the Assistant read a file or the ticket description.

    1. Example: “Read the onboarding flow PRD file” or “What’s the ticket description?”

12. After the Assistant reads the file, you can ask it to break it down into smaller tasks. 

    1. Example: “Use sequential thinking to break this down into smaller tasks”

13. (optional) Have the Assistant create a Google doc or add subtasks for the smaller tasks. You’ll need to add the Google Docs: Create Document From Text tool in Zapier or the corresponding Create subtask tool in your project management app in Zapier.

Troubleshooting Common Issues

Note that MCP is a relatively new concept and the quality of response largely depends on the quality of the MCP servers themselves.

1. The subtasks aren’t detailed enough

   1. Tell the Assistant to break it down further.

2. Unable to read the file or ticket description

   1. Make sure you ask the Assistant to find the relevant file or ticket first.