Dep Diff MCP - install, status & alternatives [2026]

01 · Install Dep Diff MCP

before you install - you'll need

GITHUB_TOKEN

Environment variables documented in the project's README - it lists which are required and which have defaults.

Claude Code

claude mcp add digicatalyst-systems-dep-diff-mcp --transport http https://dep-diff.digicatalyst.ca/mcp

Claude Desktop / Cursor / VS Code - add to config

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "digicatalyst-systems-dep-diff-mcp": {
      "url": "https://dep-diff.digicatalyst.ca/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

https://dep-diff.digicatalyst.ca/mcp

transport: streamable-http

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 · remote - your agent's requests go to dep-diff.digicatalyst.ca

license MIT - declared in the repository

npm package @digicatalyst/dep-diff-mcp - the @digicatalyst scope differs from the repo owner (digicatalyst-systems); confirm it's the project's official package

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

03 · What Dep Diff 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 2 documented tools, including analyze_package_change, analyze_packages_bulk.

The 2 tools it gives your agent

Extracted from the project's README - what dep-diff-mcp lets an agent do.

analyze_package_change: - Analyze one package upgrade. Inputs: ecosystem (npm or pypi), name, fromVersion, toVersion.
analyze_packages_bulk: - Analyze up to 50 package upgrades in parallel. Returns packages ranked by risk (security > caution > review > likely-safe > safe), plus summary counts.

Latest releases

v0.1.10 · 2026-04-23

Fixed · Install snippets in README, blog post, and project .mcp.json switched from bare npx -y @digicatalyst/dep-diff-mcp to the explicit npx -y -p @digicatalyst/dep-diff-mcp@latest dep-diff-mcp form. The bare form…

v0.1.9 · 2026-04-23

Removed · Reverted the Cloudflare Analytics Engine binding and emission code introduced in 0.1.8. Analytics Engine requires a Cloudflare Workers Paid plan; the deploy failed on our free-plan account. PRIVACY.md updated…

v0.1.7 · 2026-04-23

Added · Tool annotations on both tools (readOnlyHint, destructiveHint, idempotentHint, openWorldHint) - lets clients + catalogs like Smithery reason about tool safety without invoking them. · Two prompts registered on…

04 · Who maintains Dep Diff MCP

dep-diff-mcp is maintained by digicatalyst-systems. It's the only MCP server we track from this author; the repo dates to Apr 2026.

05 · Facts

repository: github.com/digicatalyst-systems/dep-diff-mcp
category: security - ranked #117 of 182 actively-maintained security servers as of 2026-08-25.
registry: io.github.DigiCatalyst-Systems/dep-diff-mcp (active, first published 2026-04-23 · 9 versions)
packages: npm:@digicatalyst/dep-diff-mcp

06 · Dep Diff MCP FAQ

What is Dep Diff MCP?

MCP server that translates a lockfile diff into a human-readable upgrade plan. Point your AI assistant (Cursor, Claude Desktop, Claude Code) at a Dependabot PR, npm outdated output, or any pair of package versions, and get back a ranked upgrade plan: semver class, breaking changes pulled from GitHub release notes, CVEs fixed in the range, migration guide links, and a clear recommendation per package.

Is Dep Diff MCP still maintained?

Yes - as of 2026-08-25, its last commit was 2026-04-25. We re-verify nightly.

How do I install Dep Diff MCP?

Run `npx -y @digicatalyst/dep-diff-mcp`. The README documents one environment variable (GITHUB_TOKEN) to set first. You can also paste the ready-made client config above.

Does Dep Diff 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 Dep Diff MCP

Alternatives to Dep Diff MCP

Maintained security servers if Dep Diff MCP isn't the fit.

Pairs well with

Servers that cover what Dep Diff MCP doesn't - only shown when the pairing reason fits the companion.

More security MCP servers · Screenshot · Envault · Conarium · Megalinter · Draugr

More TypeScript MCP servers · Simap MCP · Debugger · Token Pilot · see all