How to Setup AI Rules, Skills, Hooks and MCPs

Snyk

Jun 22, 2026

In this video, we break down how to properly set up and use AI extension points - specifically MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers, Rules, Skills, and Hooks - to supercharge your development workflow.

Using practical, security-flavored examples with Claude Code and Snyk, you'll learn how to configure a local project environment that automatically catches vulnerabilities before they ever hit your codebase. Whether you use the Claude CLI, VS Code extensions, or alternate AI ecosystems like Cursor or Gemini, you can use these exact steps as a blueprint to automate any workflow in your project.

Use Snyk for free to find and fix security issues in your applications today! https://snyk.co/ugLYn

✍️ Resources ✍️

Anthropic MCPs: https://code.claude.com/docs/en/mcp
Anthropic Rules: https://code.claude.com/docs/en/memory
Anthropic Skills: https://code.claude.com/docs/en/skills
Anthropic Hooks: https://code.claude.com/docs/en/hooks
Tessl skills registry: https://tessl.io/registry
Snyk Studio Recipes: https://github.com/snyk/studio-recipes

⏲️ Chapters ⏲️

00:00 Introduction

00:34 Setting Up an MCP Server (Local vs. Project Scope)

01:38 Configuring Settings.json vs. Settings.local.json

03:03 Integrating Snyk via VS Code Extension Marketplace

03:41 Claude Code CLI vs. VS Code Extension Limitations

04:54 Verifying and Authenticating MCP Servers in the Terminal

06:08 Running a Manual Snyk Security & Dependency Scan

07:21 Creating Automation with Rules

09:40 Rules are More Guidelines

11:02 Building Advanced Agentic Workflows with Skills

12:28 What's in a Skill?

14:38 Implementing Deterministic Security Gates with Hooks

15:44 Writing Pre-Tool and Post-Tool Shell Scripts

18:01 Testing the Setup: Blocking a Vulnerable Commit

19:49 Snyk Studio Recipes GitHub Resource

⚒️ About Snyk ⚒️

Snyk helps you find and fix vulnerabilities in your code, open-source dependencies, containers, infrastructure-as-code, software pipelines, IDEs, and more! Move fast, stay secure.

Learn more about Snyk: https://snyk.co/ugLYl

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