About Campfire SMS
Campfire SMS is a hosted two-way SMS bridge for people running coding agents. Agents can request input or report results by text, while replies are retrieved through a message queue; no phone app is needed.
Key features
- 01Open and manage an SMS bridge
- 02Send texts to the agent operator
- 03Retrieve and acknowledge replies
- 04Local and hosted MCP connection options
Use cases
- 01Answer an agent's question away from the computer
- 02Receive a text when an agent finishes work
- 03Provide input to a running local agent
MCP support
Exposes tools to open and close an SMS bridge, send messages, retrieve replies, and acknowledge them. It connects to local MCP hosts or a hosted Streamable HTTP endpoint using an installation credential.
Configuration
Remote servers need no local install. Pick your client, then copy the config or install in one click.
https://api.campfiresms.com/mcpclaude mcp add --transport http campfiresms-campfire https://api.campfiresms.com/mcp{"mcpServers":{"campfiresms-campfire":{"type":"http","url":"https://api.campfiresms.com/mcp"}}}Open in Cursor{"servers":{"campfiresms-campfire":{"type":"http","url":"https://api.campfiresms.com/mcp"}}}Open in VS Code{"mcpServers":{"campfiresms-campfire":{"type":"http","url":"https://api.campfiresms.com/mcp"}}}{"mcpServers":{"campfiresms-campfire":{"serverUrl":"https://api.campfiresms.com/mcp"}}}Run commands in a terminal; paste JSON into the client’s MCP config and restart. Servers that need sign-in will prompt on first connect.
https://api.campfiresms.com/mcpAuth requiredTools
Details
From the project READMECampfire SMS MCP
Text your agent. Campfire SMS is a hosted two-way SMS bridge: your agent texts you when it needs an answer or has a result, and you reply by SMS from your normal text inbox.
Don't pip install this repo or use an npx package name without an installation code. Start at campfiresms.com.
How it works
- Your agent opens a bridge and sends you a text when it needs input or finishes something.
- You reply from your phone's normal text inbox. No phone app to install.
- The agent retrieves your reply and keeps working with its own model, tools, and permissions. Campfire SMS handles phone enrollment, SMS delivery, the authenticated message queue, and routing.
Campfire SMS is not a service that gives an agent a phone number for other people to text. It connects your agent to you, the person running it.
Install (through campfiresms.com)
- Sign up at campfiresms.com.
- Verify your phone. You get 40 free messages, no card required.
- Copy the one-time install command from your account (Add computers → Add a computer or Bot → Create install command).
Full instructions: campfiresms.com/install.html
Local agents
For Codex, Claude Code, Grok Build, OpenCode, or another compatible MCP host on your computer. Run the command your account shows:
npx -y @campfiresms/setup YOUR_INSTALLATION_CODE
YOUR_INSTALLATION_CODEcomes from your account. The command is single use and expires after 10 minutes; if it expires, create a new one.- Requires Node.js 18+ (with
npx) and Python 3.12+. - Setup stores the installation credential locally and registers detected Codex and Grok Build CLIs. For other hosts, add a local MCP server named
campfireusing the command setup prints. - On Linux or a VM, run setup as the same non-root user as the agent, inside a Python virtual environment. Don't use
sudo pip, system pip, or--break-system-packages. See the Linux/VM instructions. - Keep the computer awake and online with the agent session running. Campfire SMS does not wake a stopped local session.
To refresh a saved local connection: npx -y @campfiresms/setup update
Hosted MCP
Streamable HTTP endpoint:
https://api.campfiresms.com/mcp
It requires a per-installation bearer credential from your account, sent as Authorization: Bearer <credential>. It does not work without that credential: adding the URL alone (for example, through a directory's one-click install) gets HTTP 401.
To get the credential, run your account's install command with --credential-only (needs Node.js 18+, no Python or pip). Put the credential only in your client's secure credential settings.
Example for Grok Bot cloud routines: connect the hosted MCP with the credential, then set up an active webhook routine and save its URL and key under Grok Bot 24/7 wake in your account. An incoming text can then start the routine while your PC is off. See the Grok Bot walkthrough.
Tools
| Tool | Purpose |
|---|---|
campfire_open_bridge | Open (or reuse) an SMS bridge to your verified phone |
campfire_send_message | Send you a text |
campfire_check_messages | Retrieve your pending replies (they repeat until acknowledged) |
campfire_ack | Acknowledge message IDs after handling them |
campfire_close_bridge | Close the bridge when the session is done |
Limits and safety
- SMS replies don't grant the agent new permissions. They can steer work within the agent's existing permissions; native approvals stay in the agent.
- SMS is not end-to-end encrypted. Don't text passwords, credentials, payment details, or other secrets.
- Each text sent or received counts as one message. Messaging pauses when your messages run out. See pricing.
Links
- Website: https://campfiresms.com
- Setup guide: https://campfiresms.com/install.html
- Support: [email protected]
About this repository
This repository holds the source of the earlier v0.1.1 Python connector, for reference. The current @campfiresms/setup installer bundles the maintained connector. For a new installation, use the steps above, not this source.
Comments
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