Canvas Lms MCP - install, status & alternatives [2026]

01 · Install Canvas Lms MCP

before you install - you'll need

Set CANVAS_ENABLE_ASSIGNMENT_SUBMISSION, CANVAS_PSEUDONYMIZE_STUDENTS before connecting. CANVAS_PROVENANCE_FENCING, CANVAS_ROLE are optional or environment-specific per the README.

Claude Code

claude mcp add bruchris-canvas-lms-mcp -- npx -y canvas-lms-mcp

Claude Desktop / Cursor / VS Code - add to config

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "bruchris-canvas-lms-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "canvas-lms-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Same JSON for Cursor. For VS Code, rename the top-level key from `mcpServers` to `servers`.

Using another client? Same JSON, different key

Claude Desktop · mcpServers

Cursor · mcpServers

VS Code · servers

Windsurf · mcpServers

Zed · context_servers

Cline · mcpServers

Roo Code · mcpServers

Continue · mcpServers

LibreChat · mcpServers

Gemini CLI · mcpServers

Codex CLI · mcp_servers

Full setup guides: every client.

02 · Evidence

Security posture

What to check before giving this server access to your agent - from the registry, GitHub, and our own probes. We don't score safety; we show what's verifiable.

runs as local process (stdio) - runs on your machine with your user's permissions

license MIT - declared in the repository

npm package canvas-lms-mcp - unscoped; check the name against the project README before installing

registry namespace io.github.bruchris is GitHub-verified and matches the repo owner

03 · What Canvas Lms MCP can do

Prose above is summarized from the project's README and registry record - no invented capabilities.

What you can build

An agent gets 1 documented tool, including view_course_structure.

The 1 tools it gives your agent

Extracted from the project's README - what canvas-lms-mcp lets an agent do.

view_course_structure: - ui://canvas-lms-mcp/course-structure.html

Latest releases

canvas-lms-mcp-v1.27.4 · 2026-08-22

canvas-lms-mcp v1.27.4 - 2026-08-21 · This patch release keeps the canvas-lms-mcp development toolchain up to date with a batch upgrade of 8 dev dependencies. While there are no user-facing changes, staying current…

canvas-lms-mcp-v1.27.3 · 2026-08-21

canvas-lms-mcp v1.27.3 - August 21, 2026 · This patch release tightens security on two fronts, making the MCP server safer to ship and more reliable in production. The most significant change closes a bypass in the…

canvas-lms-mcp-v1.27.2 · 2026-08-21

canvas-lms-mcp v1.27.2 - August 21, 2026 · This patch release brings an important performance safeguard for integrators running course audit workflows against Canvas instances with large quiz catalogs. It also adds…

04 · Who maintains Canvas Lms MCP

canvas-lms-mcp is maintained by bruchris. It's the only MCP server we track from this author; the repo dates to Apr 2026.

05 · Facts

repository: github.com/bruchris/canvas-lms-mcp
category: design - ranked #14 of 74 actively-maintained design servers as of 2026-08-25.
release cadence: 10+ releases in the last 90 days (latest 2026-08-22)
registry: io.github.bruchris/canvas-lms-mcp (active, first published 2026-05-21 · 22 versions)
packages: npm:canvas-lms-mcp

06 · Canvas Lms MCP FAQ

What is Canvas Lms MCP?

MCP server for Canvas LMS. Read courses, assignments, submissions, rubrics, quizzes; grade, comment, manage course content, and handle Canvas admin workflows from any AI agent. It runs locally over stdio via the published package.

Is Canvas Lms MCP still maintained?

Yes - as of 2026-08-25, its last commit was 2026-08-22 and it shipped 10+ releases in the last 90 days. We re-verify nightly.

How do I install Canvas Lms MCP?

Run `npx -y canvas-lms-mcp`. The README documents 4 environment variables (CANVAS_PROVENANCE_FENCING, CANVAS_ENABLE_ASSIGNMENT_SUBMISSION, CANVAS_PSEUDONYMIZE_STUDENTS…) to set first. Set CANVAS_ENABLE_ASSIGNMENT_SUBMISSION, CANVAS_PSEUDONYMIZE_STUDENTS before connecting. CANVAS_PROVENANCE_FENCING, CANVAS_ROLE are optional or environment-specific per the README. You can also paste the ready-made client config above.

Does Canvas Lms MCP run locally?

Yes - it's a stdio server: it runs on your machine (via npx) with your user's permissions. Your data stays local unless the server itself calls external APIs.

07 · Alternatives to Canvas Lms MCP

Alternatives to Canvas Lms MCP

Maintained design servers if Canvas Lms MCP isn't the fit.

More design MCP servers · Kicad MCP Server · Kiln · Substack MCP Server · Decantr Ai MCP Server · SmartCLI - drive terminal TUIs

More TypeScript MCP servers · Releases · hmem - Humanlike Memory for AI Agents · Shodan · Virustotal · Butterbase Ai MCP Server · see all