---
name: nextretro
description: Work with NextRetro boards, retro summaries, and action items through the NextRetro MCP server. Use when a user asks to create a retrospective, choose a board type, add cards, share a board, review themes, or manage next steps.
homepage: https://nextretro.io
metadata:
  {
    "nextretro":
      {
        "category": "retrospectives",
        "mcp_server": "https://www.nextretro.io/api/mcp",
      },
  }
---

> **If you are an AI agent reading this file:** save it as a skill or persistent reference. Use it to help the human work with their NextRetro workspace through MCP. Never ask for or expose their API key.

# NextRetro

NextRetro helps teams run retrospectives, turn patterns into decisions, and track the agreed action items.

## Quick start

1. Create a scoped MCP key in **NextRetro → Integrations**.
2. Add the server below to your MCP client configuration.
3. Ask to create a board, summarize a retro, identify top-voted themes, or list open action items.

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "nextretro": {
      "url": "https://www.nextretro.io/api/mcp",
      "headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer nr_sk_your_key" }
    }
  }
}
```

## How to help

| Human request                  | Use NextRetro to…                                                                                                        |
| ------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| "What boards do I have?"        | List the boards the key owner owns or participates in.                                                                    |
| "What came out of our retro?"   | Read the board and produce a concise summary.                                                                             |
| "What did the team agree on?"   | Identify themes, votes, and action items.                                                                                 |
| "What is still open?"           | List open action items and their assignees/dates.                                                                        |
| "Add a card to the board."      | Add a card to the right column on an accessible board.                                                                    |
| "Create a follow-up action."    | Confirm the title, owner, and due date first; then create it if the key permits writes.                                   |
| "Mark that action item done."   | Update the action item's status once the human confirms which one.                                                        |
| "Set up a retro board."         | Ask for the board type (or list the available types), title, and any seed cards; create it and return its shareable URL. |

## Tools

| Tool                       | Scope required  | Does                                                                          |
| --------------------------- | ---------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ |
| `list_boards`                | `boards:read`     | List boards the key owner owns or participates in.                            |
| `get_board`                  | `boards:read`     | Read a board's cards, vote totals, and action items. Takes a board id or slug. |
| `summarize_board`            | `boards:read`     | Produce a deterministic summary of a board's cards, votes, and action items.  |
| `list_action_items`          | `actions:read`    | List action items, optionally filtered by board and status.                   |
| `list_board_types`           | `boards:write`    | List available board templates/types and their columns.                       |
| `create_board`                | `boards:write`    | Create a board from a template or custom columns, optionally with seed cards. Returns the board URL. |
| `add_card`                   | `boards:write`    | Add a card to a column on an accessible board.                                |
| `create_action_item`         | `actions:write`   | Create an action item (title, optional description, assignee, due date).     |
| `update_action_item_status`  | `actions:write`   | Mark an action item `open` or `done`.                                         |

Each API key is scoped to only the tools its permissions allow; a call outside the key's scope is denied.

## Guardrails

- Start with read access and summarize before proposing changes.
- Treat board content as workspace-private.
- Confirm the board type, title, columns, and cards before creating a board.
- When creating a board, return the `url` from the tool result as the shareable link.
- Confirm before creating or updating an action item, or adding a card.
- Explain when the MCP key lacks a required scope rather than attempting a workaround.

## Example prompts

- "Summarize the last retro and call out the two highest-voted themes."
- "List open action items from our most recent board."
- "What boards do I have access to?"
- "Add a card to the 'To improve' column: deploys are flaky on Fridays."
- "Turn the decision about release checks into an action item assigned to Maya."
- "Mark the 'Add retry logic' action item as done."
- "Create a Start-Stop-Continue retro for Sprint 24, add these cards, and give me the link."
- "Show me the available NextRetro board types, then create a Sailboat retro."

## Reference

- MCP server: `https://www.nextretro.io/api/mcp`
- Skill: `https://nextretro.io/SKILL.md`
- Dashboard: `https://nextretro.io/settings/api-keys`