# Agents

Source: https://zshot-cli.com/reference/agents/
Markdown: https://zshot-cli.com/reference/agents/index.md
Section: [Reference](https://zshot-cli.com/reference/)

An LLM agent can drive ZShot in several ways. Pick the one that fits how the agent runs, or follow the [Quick start](/reference/agents/quickstart) for setup in a specific app.

## MCP over HTTP

Run `zshot` as a [server](/reference/flags/server/server) with [`--server-enable-mcp`](/reference/flags/server/server-enable-mcp) and connect the agent to the `/mcp` endpoint. Use this when the agent and ZShot run as separate services, or when one ZShot instance serves many agents. See [MCP](/reference/agents/mcp) for the connection command.

## MCP over stdio

Run `zshot` with [`--mcp-local-server`](/reference/flags/agents/mcp-local-server) and let the agent launch it as a local subprocess, talking over stdin and stdout. Use this for a desktop agent that manages its own tools, such as Claude Code or Claude Desktop.

## CLI with the Agent Skill

Install the bundled [Agent Skill](/reference/agents/skills) with [`--install-skill`](/reference/flags/agents/install-skill) and let the agent call the `zshot` binary directly. The skill teaches the agent what ZShot does and how to invoke it correctly, with no server in between. Use this when the agent already runs shell commands.

## In-tool guidance

[`zshot --agent-help`](/reference/flags/agents/agent-help) prints a start-here guide written for an agent discovering the tool. From there, `zshot --help <category>` lists the flags in one category and `zshot --help all` lists every flag. The full documentation is also published for machines at [llms.txt](https://zshot-cli.com/llms.txt) and [llms-full.txt](https://zshot-cli.com/llms-full.txt).

## Navigation

- [Examples](https://zshot-cli.com/examples/)
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- [Reference](https://zshot-cli.com/reference/)
  - [Formats](https://zshot-cli.com/reference/formats/)
  - [Flags](https://zshot-cli.com/reference/flags/)
  - **Agents**
    - [Quick start](https://zshot-cli.com/reference/agents/quickstart/)
    - [MCP](https://zshot-cli.com/reference/agents/mcp/)
    - [Skills](https://zshot-cli.com/reference/agents/skills/)
  - [Configuration](https://zshot-cli.com/reference/configuration/)
  - [Crawling](https://zshot-cli.com/reference/crawling/)
  - [Docker](https://zshot-cli.com/reference/docker/)
  - [Exit Codes](https://zshot-cli.com/reference/exit_codes/)
  - [Linux](https://zshot-cli.com/reference/linux/)
  - [LLM Connections](https://zshot-cli.com/reference/llm_connections/)
  - [LLM Formatting](https://zshot-cli.com/reference/llm_formatting/)
  - [Local Inputs](https://zshot-cli.com/reference/inputs/)
  - [Navigator](https://zshot-cli.com/reference/navigator/)
  - [Security](https://zshot-cli.com/reference/security/)
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  - [Shell completions](https://zshot-cli.com/reference/shell_completions/)
  - [Storage](https://zshot-cli.com/reference/storage/)
  - [Timeouts](https://zshot-cli.com/reference/timeouts/)
  - [Web Bot Auth](https://zshot-cli.com/reference/web_bot_auth/)
- [Support](https://zshot-cli.com/support/)
- [Changelog](https://zshot-cli.com/changelog/)

Site index: https://zshot-cli.com/llms.txt