Use Ask Donnie from Claude or the OpenAI API

1. Create an API key

You need a paid plan. As the account owner, open Account and create an API key under API keys. It starts with dk_ and is shown once. A member key can create drafts. A viewer key can only read. You can revoke a key at any time, and it stops working on its next request.

2. Connect your assistant

Server URL: https://donnie4i.com/api/mcp (Streamable HTTP). Send the key as Authorization: Bearer dk_….

Claude Code

claude mcp add --transport http ask-donnie https://donnie4i.com/api/mcp \
  --header "Authorization: Bearer dk_YOUR_KEY"

Claude Desktop

Add this to claude_desktop_config.json (Settings, then Developer, then Edit Config) and restart Claude Desktop. It needs Node.js installed.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ask-donnie": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "mcp-remote", "https://donnie4i.com/api/mcp",
               "--header", "Authorization:${DONNIE_AUTH}"],
      "env": { "DONNIE_AUTH": "Bearer dk_YOUR_KEY" }
    }
  }
}

OpenAI API (Responses API or Agents SDK)

tools=[{
  "type": "mcp",
  "server_label": "ask_donnie",
  "server_url": "https://donnie4i.com/api/mcp",
  "authorization": "dk_YOUR_KEY",
  # Read-only tools run without asking. Anything that saves a draft
  # or uses wallet credit (ask_donnie) waits for your approval.
  "require_approval": {"never": {"tool_names": [
    "search_code_sections", "price_lookup", "get_estimate",
    "list_estimates", "list_projects", "get_project",
  ]}},
}]

The claude.ai and ChatGPT apps can’t send an API key (they support OAuth or no-auth servers only), so connect with one of the options above.

What your assistant can do

• create_estimate: Builds Donnie's priced, fingerprinted estimate from the scope your assistant reads off the plans, and saves it to your account as a draft.
• get_estimate / list_estimates: Reads your saved estimates: the total, line prices, accuracy class, code references, and a link to open each one in the app. Your cost breakdown stays in the app.
• schedule_from_estimate: Builds a phase schedule with a computed critical path from a saved estimate, saved as a draft.
• bid_cross_check: Checks a contractor's bid, transcribed into lines by your assistant, against Donnie's independent estimate.
• price_lookup: Looks up one item's installed unit price.
• search_code_sections: Returns code references and short excerpts, with code, edition and authority. Full text comes back only for local amendments and for one section per request. Licensed model code isn't returned, and standards such as NFPA or ASTM are referenced by number only. Any text is an unofficial copy: verify it with your building department.
• list_projects / get_project: Reads your projects and what's in them.
• ask_donnie: Donnie's own AI answer, the same as chatting in the app. Uses wallet credit.

Every tool except ask_donnie runs without AI on our side, so it doesn’t use wallet credit. Fair-use limits apply per account. Estimates and schedules are saved as drafts. Nothing is sent to a client or invoiced. Branded PDF, Excel and Word documents are made in the app: each estimate comes back with a link to open it there.

Good to know

A key only reaches its own account’s estimates and projects. Every draft your assistant creates is recorded in an audit log. Each estimate carries its fingerprint, formula version and price-list edition, so you can trace any number back to how it was made. Code sections are not a final authority: confirm critical details with your local building department.