How to use ruflo with the claude application (Not Claude Code CLI/Terminal)

[dabawenyo1992-hue]

Hello,

I struggle to properly use ruflo within the claude desktop application.

I was able to install the MCP server but when I run /ruflo sometimes it does not work. It does not hook directly.

Any help i would appreciate a lot to properly install so I can use ruflo.

[itzmitto]

Hi @dabawenyo1992-hue!
The confusing part is that Ruflo’s MCP connection and its Claude Code plugin are different integrations.
In the current setup instructions, /ruflo belongs to the Claude Code plugin setup. Connecting the MCP server to Claude Desktop exposes tools, but doesn't automatically install Claude Code’s console, mods or hooks.
Since you already installed the MCP server, first check whether it connects successfully and its tools appear in Claude Desktop. The documented stdio configuration uses:
command: npx
args: ["-y", "ruflo@latest", "mcp", "start"]
Then try a normal message such as:
“Use the connected Ruflo tools to show the current swarm status. If the tools aren't available, tell me that rather than guessing.”
That helps distinguish a working MCP connection from a missing slash-command integration.
If the server is disconnected or no tools appear, please share your OS, Ruflo version, MCP configuration with secrets removed, and the connection error. If tools work but automatic hooks don't, that alone doesn't establish an installation failure—the README explicitly says hook support depends on the client.
If this resolves your question, feel free to mark it as the answer so others can find it too.

[dabawenyo1992-hue]

Ok I am using claude code within Visual Studio Code. I am willing not to use the desktop claude version to overcome any struggles.

In order to maximize ruflo, do I use fable 5.1 for prompting for example if I use a basic master prompt provided by ruflo samples?