Integration Options
Crow supports two types of integrations:OpenAPI
Connect any REST API by uploading an OpenAPI specification.
MCP Servers
Connect Model Context Protocol servers for advanced integrations.
OpenAPI vs MCP
| Feature | OpenAPI | MCP |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | REST APIs you control | Third-party services, complex integrations |
| Setup | Upload a spec file | Connect to a server URL |
| Authentication | API Key, Bearer, JWT Forward | Varies by server |
| Flexibility | Any REST API | Pre-built integrations |
When to Use OpenAPI
- You have a REST API with an OpenAPI/Swagger specification
- You want your agent to call endpoints on your backend
- You need to authenticate requests with API keys or tokens
- You want to forward user identity to your API
When to Use MCP
- You want to connect third-party services (like Notion)
- You’re using pre-built MCP servers
- The service provides an MCP endpoint
- You need real-time, bidirectional communication
How Integrations Work
- Configure the integration — Upload an OpenAPI spec or connect an MCP server
- Select tools — Choose which operations/tools your agent can use (in Actions)
- Agent uses tools — When relevant, your agent calls these tools to help users
- Results returned — The tool response is used to formulate the agent’s answer
Example Use Cases
OpenAPI Examples
- Check order status from your e-commerce API
- Create support tickets in your ticketing system
- Look up customer information from your CRM
- Process refunds through your payment system
MCP Examples
- Search and retrieve Notion pages
- Access Google Drive documents
- Query internal databases
- Interact with Slack channels