wolfram-setup

Wolfram Setup

This skill gets a user set up with Wolfram tools. The goal is a working Wolfram MCP server connected to their AI assistant or client environment. It works across any combination of LLM and client — chat interfaces, coding agents, terminal-integrated assistants, etc.

Step 1: Determine what kind of assistance is possible

First, establish whether you can execute shell commands in this session.

If you can execute shell commands on the user's system (coding agent, terminal-integrated assistant):
Run the smoke test and proceed interactively — go to Step 2A.

If you cannot execute shell commands on the user's system (chat interface, read/write-only environment):
All steps will be instructional. Ask the user to run commands and report results back to you — go to Step 2B.

Step 2A: Assess the user's installation (shell-capable)

Run the following:

wolframscript -code 'Print[$InstallationDirectory]; Print[$Version];'

Three possible outcomes:

• Succeeds → they have a local kernel. Go to Step 3.

• Fails, but a Wolfram app is present → wolframscript may not be on PATH. Check before concluding nothing is installed:

  • macOS: /Applications/Wolfram*.app, /Applications/Mathematica.app
  • Windows: C:\Program Files\Wolfram Research\
  • Linux: /usr/local/Wolfram/

  If a Wolfram app is found, guide the user to fix PATH or run wolframscript -configure — do not install a redundant Engine. See references/get-wolfram-engine.md § Advanced configuration.

• Fails, no Wolfram app found → they have nothing. Go to Step 3 to choose a path.

Step 2B: Assess the user's installation (instructional mode)

Ask the user: "Do you have Mathematica, the Wolfram app, or the Wolfram Engine installed on your system?"

• Yes → they have a local kernel. Go to Step 3.
• No → Go to Step 3 to choose a path.

Step 3: Get a Wolfram kernel (only if needed)

If the user already has a kernel, skip to Step 4. Otherwise, explain both options and let them choose:

Option A — Remote MCP service (quick, no install)
No software to install. The free remote service at agenttools.wolfram.com/mcp gives immediate access to Wolfram tools. The evaluator is stateless with fixed resource limits, but it's a great starting point. Skip to Step 4 and use Option 2 in references/setup-mcp-server.md.

Option B — Wolfram Engine (local, more powerful)
A full local kernel with stateful evaluation and no resource limits — better for computation-heavy work. Requires a free Wolfram ID and license. See references/get-wolfram-engine.md for platform-specific steps, including automated install commands (winget on Windows, brew on macOS). Key points:

• The user must create a Wolfram ID and obtain a free license themselves
• Offer to run the platform installer automatically; always ask permission first
• Activate with wolframscript -activate (run interactively if possible; otherwise relay to the user)
• Each Wolfram ID supports 2 free activation keys; contact support@wolfram.com to reset if needed
• Required verification: after activation, run wolframscript -code '1+1' and confirm it prints 2 before proceeding to Step 4. On Windows in IDE environments, restart the editor first if wolframscript is not found.

Step 4: Set up the Wolfram MCP server

Read references/setup-mcp-server.md for full instructions. Summary:

• Has local kernel → Option 1 (local server via InstallMCPServer). Ask which client they're using; the paclet picks the right tool bundle automatically, but an explicit server name can be passed if the user has a preference.
• No local kernel → Option 2 (remote service at agenttools.wolfram.com/mcp). Add the URL to their client's MCP config — no API key needed.

In instructional mode, provide the exact commands and config snippets for the user to run themselves.

After setup, ask the user to restart or reload their client.

Step 5: Verify

Confirm the MCP server is working by asking the client to evaluate a simple Wolfram Language expression:

What is Expand[(x+1)^5] in Wolfram Language?

If the MCP tools respond correctly, setup is complete.

Troubleshooting

Problem	Solution
wolframscript not found after install (Windows/IDE)	The new PATH entry isn't visible until the editor is restarted — restart VSCode/JetBrains and try again before further troubleshooting
wolframscript still not found after restart	Check PATH; run wolframscript -kernelpath /path/to/WolframKernel — see support article
"No valid keys" on activation	Each Wolfram ID has 2 keys — contact Wolfram to reset
Activation fails behind a proxy	Set https_proxy environment variable before running wolframscript
macOS Gatekeeper blocks the app	Right-click the .app → Open, then confirm in the security dialog
MCP server not appearing in client	Restart the client; check MCP config JSON for syntax errors
MCP server installed but not appearing in client	InstallMCPServer may have written to a different config path than the one the client reads. See references/setup-mcp-server.md § Config path troubleshooting.

For wolframscript -configure usage and advanced configuration keys, see references/get-wolfram-engine.md § Advanced configuration.

Technical Support

Contact Wolfram at support@wolfram.com.