How to integrate Zulip MCP with OpenAI Agents SDK

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Introduction

This guide walks you through connecting Zulip to the OpenAI Agents SDK using the Composio tool router. By the end, you'll have a working Zulip agent that can post daily standup summary to #team stream, list unread messages from #support stream, reply to the latest thread in #engineering through natural language commands.

This guide will help you understand how to give your OpenAI Agents SDK agent real control over a Zulip account through Composio's Zulip MCP server.

Before we dive in, let's take a quick look at the key ideas and tools involved.

TL;DR

Here's what you'll learn:
  • Get and set up your OpenAI and Composio API keys
  • Install the necessary dependencies
  • Initialize Composio and create a Tool Router session for Zulip
  • Configure an AI agent that can use Zulip as a tool
  • Run a live chat session where you can ask the agent to perform Zulip operations

What is open-ai-agents-sdk?

The OpenAI Agents SDK is a lightweight framework for building AI agents that can use tools and maintain conversation state. It provides a simple interface for creating agents with hosted MCP tool support.

Key features include:

  • Hosted MCP Tools: Connect to external services through hosted MCP endpoints
  • SQLite Sessions: Persist conversation history across interactions
  • Simple API: Clean interface with Agent, Runner, and tool configuration
  • Streaming Support: Real-time response streaming for interactive applications

What is the Zulip MCP server, and what's possible with it?

The Zulip MCP server is an implementation of the Model Context Protocol that connects your AI agent and assistants like Claude, Cursor, etc directly to your Zulip account. It provides structured and secure access so your agent can perform Zulip operations on your behalf.

Supported Tools & Triggers

Tools
Add Alert WordsTool to add alert words to the current user's configuration.
Add APNs Device TokenTool to add an APNs (Apple Push Notification service) device token to Zulip.
Add Default StreamTool to add a channel as a default stream in Zulip.
Add LinkifierTool to add a linkifier to a Zulip realm.
Add Navigation ViewTool to add a navigation view in Zulip.
Add ReactionTool to add an emoji reaction to a Zulip message.
Archive ChannelTool to archive a channel in Zulip.
Check Messages Match NarrowTool to check if specific messages match a narrow filter.
Create BigBlueButton video callTool to create a BigBlueButton video call in Zulip.
Create ChannelTool to create a new channel in Zulip.
Create Channel FolderTool to create a new channel folder in Zulip.
Create custom profile fieldTool to create a custom profile field in Zulip.
Create DraftsTool to create one or more draft messages in Zulip.
Create reusable invitation linkTool to create a reusable invitation link for the Zulip organization.
Create Message ReminderTool to create a message reminder in Zulip.
Create Saved SnippetTool to create a saved snippet in Zulip.
Create Scheduled MessageTool to create a scheduled message in Zulip.
Delete DraftTool to delete a draft in Zulip.
Delete MessageTool to delete a message in Zulip.
Delete Event QueueTool to delete an event queue previously registered via POST /api/v1/register.
Delete ReminderTool to delete a reminder from Zulip.
Delete Saved SnippetTool to delete a saved snippet by its ID.
Delete Scheduled MessageTool to delete a scheduled message in Zulip.
Delete TopicTool to delete a topic from a Zulip channel/stream.
Edit DraftTool to edit an existing draft message in Zulip.
Edit Navigation ViewTool to update a navigation view in Zulip.
Edit Saved SnippetTool to edit a saved snippet by updating its title and/or content.
Export RealmTool to create a Zulip realm data export.
Get alert wordsTool to retrieve all configured alert words for the authenticated user.
Get Another User PresenceTool to get the presence status for a specific user in Zulip.
Get AttachmentsTool to retrieve metadata on files uploaded by the requesting user.
Get Channel FoldersTool to retrieve all channel folders in the organization, sorted by display order.
Get custom emojiTool to retrieve all custom emoji configured in the Zulip realm.
Get custom profile fieldsTool to get all custom profile fields configured for the Zulip realm.
Get draftsTool to fetch all drafts for the authenticated user.
Get EventsTool to get events from a Zulip event queue.
Get file temporary URLTool to get a public temporary URL for an uploaded file in Zulip.
Get realm iconTool to retrieve the URL of the Zulip realm's icon.
Get all invitationsTool to retrieve all unexpired invitations for the Zulip organization.
Get user group membership statusTool to check if a user is a member of a specific user group.
Get linkifiersTool to retrieve all configured linkifiers in the Zulip realm.
Get messageTool to fetch a single message by ID from Zulip.
Get Message HistoryTool to fetch the complete edit history of a Zulip message.
Get MessagesTool to fetch messages from Zulip.
Get Navigation ViewsTool to fetch all navigation views for the authenticated user.
Get own userTool to retrieve the profile information for the authenticated user.
Get Read ReceiptsTool to retrieve read receipts for a message in Zulip.
Get realm export consentsTool to retrieve data export consent state for users in a realm.
Get all data exportsTool to retrieve all data exports for the Zulip organization.
Get Realm PresenceTool to get the presence status for all users in the Zulip realm.
Get remindersTool to fetch all undelivered reminders for the authenticated user.
Get Saved SnippetsTool to fetch all saved snippets for the authenticated user.
Get Scheduled MessagesTool to fetch all scheduled messages for the authenticated user.
Get server settingsTool to retrieve server configuration and available authentication methods.
Get Channel by IDTool to get detailed information about a Zulip channel by its ID.
Get channel email addressTool to retrieve the email address for a Zulip channel.
Get Channel IDTool to get a channel's unique ID by its name.
Get All ChannelsTool to retrieve all channels (streams) in Zulip that match specified filters.
Get stream topicsTool to retrieve all topics in a Zulip channel.
Get Channel SubscribersTool to get all subscribers of a Zulip channel.
Get SubscriptionsTool to retrieve all channels (streams) the authenticated user is subscribed to.
Get subscription statusTool to check whether a specific user is subscribed to a particular channel (stream).
Get user by emailTool to fetch a user by email address from Zulip.
Get user channelsTool to retrieve the list of channel IDs that a specific user is subscribed to.
Get user group membersTool to retrieve all members of a specific user group.
Get user groupsTool to retrieve all user groups in the Zulip organization.
Get user group subgroupsTool to retrieve subgroups of a user group.
Get user statusTool to retrieve the status currently set by a user in the Zulip organization.
Mark All Messages as ReadTool to mark all messages as read for the authenticated user.
Mark Stream as ReadTool to mark all messages in a Zulip channel as read.
Mark Topic as ReadTool to mark all messages in a topic as read.
Mute TopicTool to mute or unmute a topic in a Zulip channel.
Reactivate UserTool to reactivate a deactivated user in Zulip.
Register Push DeviceTool to register an E2EE (end-to-end encrypted) push device for mobile notifications.
Register Event QueueTool to register an event queue for receiving Zulip events.
Remove Alert WordsTool to remove alert words from the current user's configuration.
Remove AttachmentTool to delete an attachment in Zulip.
Remove Code PlaygroundTool to remove a code playground from a Zulip realm.
Remove Default StreamTool to remove a channel from default streams in Zulip.
Remove FCM TokenTool to remove an FCM registration token for Android push notifications.
Remove LinkifierTool to remove a linkifier from a Zulip realm.
Remove Navigation ViewTool to remove a navigation view in Zulip.
Remove ReactionTool to remove an emoji reaction from a Zulip message.
Render MessageTool to render a message to HTML in Zulip.
Reorder Channel FoldersTool to reorder channel folders in Zulip.
Reorder Custom Profile FieldsTool to reorder custom profile fields in Zulip.
Reorder LinkifiersTool to reorder linkifiers in Zulip.
Revoke Email InvitationTool to revoke an email invitation in Zulip.
Revoke reusable invitation linkTool to revoke a reusable invitation link for the Zulip organization.
Send MessageTool to send a message in Zulip.
Send Test NotificationTool to send a test notification to mobile device(s).
Set Typing StatusTool to set typing status in Zulip.
Set Typing Status for Message EditTool to set typing status when editing a message in Zulip.
Subscribe to ChannelTool to subscribe users to one or more Zulip channels.
Test Welcome Bot Custom MessageTool to test welcome bot custom message in Zulip.
Unsubscribe From ChannelTool to unsubscribe from one or more channels (streams) in Zulip.
Update Channel FolderTool to update a channel folder in Zulip.
Update LinkifierTool to update a linkifier in a Zulip realm.
Update MessageTool to edit a message in Zulip.
Update Message FlagsTool to update personal message flags in Zulip.
Update Message Flags for NarrowTool to update personal message flags (e.
Update Realm User Settings DefaultsTool to update realm-level defaults of user settings in Zulip.
Update Scheduled MessageTool to edit a scheduled message in Zulip.
Update SettingsTool to update user settings in Zulip.
Update StatusTool to update your status in Zulip.
Update status for userTool to update the status for a specific user in the Zulip organization.
Update ChannelTool to update a channel in Zulip.
Update SubscriptionsTool to update channel subscriptions by subscribing to new channels or unsubscribing from existing ones.
Update Subscription SettingsTool to update the user's personal settings for channels they are subscribed to.
Update user by emailTool to update a user by email address in Zulip.
Update User TopicTool to update personal preferences for a topic in a Zulip channel.

What is the Composio tool router, and how does it fit here?

What is Tool Router?

Composio's Tool Router helps agents find the right tools for a task at runtime. You can plug in multiple toolkits (like Gmail, HubSpot, and GitHub), and the agent will identify the relevant app and action to complete multi-step workflows. This can reduce token usage and improve the reliability of tool calls. Read more here: Getting started with Tool Router

The tool router generates a secure MCP URL that your agents can access to perform actions.

How the Tool Router works

The Tool Router follows a three-phase workflow:

  1. Discovery: Searches for tools matching your task and returns relevant toolkits with their details.
  2. Authentication: Checks for active connections. If missing, creates an auth config and returns a connection URL via Auth Link.
  3. Execution: Executes the action using the authenticated connection.

Step-by-step Guide

Prerequisites

Before starting, make sure you have:
  • Composio API Key and OpenAI API Key
  • Primary know-how of OpenAI Agents SDK
  • A live Zulip project
  • Some knowledge of Python or Typescript

Getting API Keys for OpenAI and Composio

OpenAI API Key
  • Go to the OpenAI dashboard and create an API key. You'll need credits to use the models, or you can connect to another model provider.
  • Keep the API key safe.
Composio API Key

Install dependencies

pip install composio_openai_agents openai-agents python-dotenv

Install the Composio SDK and the OpenAI Agents SDK.

Set up environment variables

bash
OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-...your-api-key
COMPOSIO_API_KEY=your-api-key
USER_ID=composio_user@gmail.com

Create a .env file and add your OpenAI and Composio API keys.

Import dependencies

import asyncio
import os
from dotenv import load_dotenv

from composio import Composio
from composio_openai_agents import OpenAIAgentsProvider
from agents import Agent, Runner, HostedMCPTool, SQLiteSession
What's happening:
  • You're importing all necessary libraries.
  • The Composio and OpenAIAgentsProvider classes are imported to connect your OpenAI agent to Composio tools like Zulip.

Set up the Composio instance

load_dotenv()

api_key = os.getenv("COMPOSIO_API_KEY")
user_id = os.getenv("USER_ID")

if not api_key:
    raise RuntimeError("COMPOSIO_API_KEY is not set. Create a .env file with COMPOSIO_API_KEY=your_key")

# Initialize Composio
composio = Composio(api_key=api_key, provider=OpenAIAgentsProvider())
What's happening:
  • load_dotenv() loads your .env file so OPENAI_API_KEY and COMPOSIO_API_KEY are available as environment variables.
  • Creating a Composio instance using the API Key and OpenAIAgentsProvider class.

Create a Tool Router session

# Create a Zulip Tool Router session
session = composio.create(
    user_id=user_id,
    toolkits=["zulip"]
)

mcp_url = session.mcp.url

What is happening:

  • You give the Tool Router the user id and the toolkits you want available. Here, it is only zulip.
  • The router checks the user's Zulip connection and prepares the MCP endpoint.
  • The returned session.mcp.url is the MCP URL that your agent will use to access Zulip.
  • This approach keeps things lightweight and lets the agent request Zulip tools only when needed during the conversation.

Configure the agent

# Configure agent with MCP tool
agent = Agent(
    name="Assistant",
    model="gpt-5",
    instructions=(
        "You are a helpful assistant that can access Zulip. "
        "Help users perform Zulip operations through natural language."
    ),
    tools=[
        HostedMCPTool(
            tool_config={
                "type": "mcp",
                "server_label": "tool_router",
                "server_url": mcp_url,
                "headers": {"x-api-key": api_key},
                "require_approval": "never",
            }
        )
    ],
)
What's happening:
  • We're creating an Agent instance with a name, model (gpt-5), and clear instructions about its purpose.
  • The agent's instructions tell it that it can access Zulip and help with queries, inserts, updates, authentication, and fetching database information.
  • The tools array includes a HostedMCPTool that connects to the MCP server URL we created earlier.
  • The headers dict includes the Composio API key for secure authentication with the MCP server.
  • require_approval: 'never' means the agent can execute Zulip operations without asking for permission each time, making interactions smoother.

Start chat loop and handle conversation

print("\nComposio Tool Router session created.")

chat_session = SQLiteSession("conversation_openai_toolrouter")

print("\nChat started. Type your requests below.")
print("Commands: 'exit', 'quit', or 'q' to end\n")

async def main():
    try:
        result = await Runner.run(
            agent,
            "What can you help me with?",
            session=chat_session
        )
        print(f"Assistant: {result.final_output}\n")
    except Exception as e:
        print(f"Error: {e}\n")

    while True:
        user_input = input("You: ").strip()
        if user_input.lower() in {"exit", "quit", "q"}:
            print("Goodbye!")
            break

        result = await Runner.run(
            agent,
            user_input,
            session=chat_session
        )
        print(f"Assistant: {result.final_output}\n")

asyncio.run(main())
What's happening:
  • The program prints a session URL that you visit to authorize Zulip.
  • After authorization, the chat begins.
  • Each message you type is processed by the agent using Runner.run().
  • The responses are printed to the console, and conversations are saved locally using SQLite.
  • Typing exit, quit, or q cleanly ends the chat.

Complete Code

Here's the complete code to get you started with Zulip and open-ai-agents-sdk:

import asyncio
import os
from dotenv import load_dotenv

from composio import Composio
from composio_openai_agents import OpenAIAgentsProvider
from agents import Agent, Runner, HostedMCPTool, SQLiteSession

load_dotenv()

api_key = os.getenv("COMPOSIO_API_KEY")
user_id = os.getenv("USER_ID")

if not api_key:
    raise RuntimeError("COMPOSIO_API_KEY is not set. Create a .env file with COMPOSIO_API_KEY=your_key")

# Initialize Composio
composio = Composio(api_key=api_key, provider=OpenAIAgentsProvider())

# Create Tool Router session
session = composio.create(
    user_id=user_id,
    toolkits=["zulip"]
)
mcp_url = session.mcp.url

# Configure agent with MCP tool
agent = Agent(
    name="Assistant",
    model="gpt-5",
    instructions=(
        "You are a helpful assistant that can access Zulip. "
        "Help users perform Zulip operations through natural language."
    ),
    tools=[
        HostedMCPTool(
            tool_config={
                "type": "mcp",
                "server_label": "tool_router",
                "server_url": mcp_url,
                "headers": {"x-api-key": api_key},
                "require_approval": "never",
            }
        )
    ],
)

print("\nComposio Tool Router session created.")

chat_session = SQLiteSession("conversation_openai_toolrouter")

print("\nChat started. Type your requests below.")
print("Commands: 'exit', 'quit', or 'q' to end\n")

async def main():
    try:
        result = await Runner.run(
            agent,
            "What can you help me with?",
            session=chat_session
        )
        print(f"Assistant: {result.final_output}\n")
    except Exception as e:
        print(f"Error: {e}\n")

    while True:
        user_input = input("You: ").strip()
        if user_input.lower() in {"exit", "quit", "q"}:
            print("Goodbye!")
            break

        result = await Runner.run(
            agent,
            user_input,
            session=chat_session
        )
        print(f"Assistant: {result.final_output}\n")

asyncio.run(main())

Conclusion

This was a starter code for integrating Zulip MCP with OpenAI Agents SDK to build a functional AI agent that can interact with Zulip.

Key features:

  • Hosted MCP tool integration through Composio's Tool Router
  • SQLite session persistence for conversation history
  • Simple async chat loop for interactive testing
You can extend this by adding more toolkits, implementing custom business logic, or building a web interface around the agent.

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FAQ

What are the differences in Tool Router MCP and Zulip MCP?

With a standalone Zulip MCP server, the agents and LLMs can only access a fixed set of Zulip tools tied to that server. However, with the Composio Tool Router, agents can dynamically load tools from Zulip and many other apps based on the task at hand, all through a single MCP endpoint.

Can I use Tool Router MCP with OpenAI Agents SDK?

Yes, you can. OpenAI Agents SDK fully supports MCP integration. You get structured tool calling, message history handling, and model orchestration while Tool Router takes care of discovering and serving the right Zulip tools.

Can I manage the permissions and scopes for Zulip while using Tool Router?

Yes, absolutely. You can configure which Zulip scopes and actions are allowed when connecting your account to Composio. You can also bring your own OAuth credentials or API configuration so you keep full control over what the agent can do.

How safe is my data with Composio Tool Router?

All sensitive data such as tokens, keys, and configuration is fully encrypted at rest and in transit. Composio is SOC 2 Type 2 compliant and follows strict security practices so your Zulip data and credentials are handled as safely as possible.

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