Q Ring MCP Server
OS keychain secrets for AI coding agents, over MCP. Stop pasting API keys into plain-text .env files or wrestling with clunky secret managers. q-ring securely anchors your credentials to your OS's native vault (macOS Keychain, Linux Secret Service, Windows Credential Vault) and supercharges them with mechanics from quantum physics. It runs locally over stdio via the published package.
People connecting security tools to Claude, Cursor, VS Code, or another MCP client. The project is written in TypeScript.
VERIFIED ACTIVE
LAST COMMIT 2026-08-24 · ★ 3 · #28 OF 182 MAINTAINED SECURITY · VERIFIED 2026-08-25
AGPL-3.0 · TypeScript servers · how we verify → /methodology
01 · Install Q Ring
before you install - you'll need
Set QRING_ENV, DATABASE_URL, OPENAI_API_KEY, STRIPE_KEY, SESSION_TTL, QRING_BACKEND, QRING_FILE_PASSPHRASE before connecting.
Claude Code
claude mcp add i4ctime-q-ring -- npx -y @i4ctime/q-ring Claude Desktop / Cursor / VS Code - add to config
{
"mcpServers": {
"i4ctime-q-ring": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@i4ctime/q-ring"
]
}
}
} 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 AGPL-3.0 - declared in the repository
npm package @i4ctime/q-ring - published under the repo owner's npm scope (@i4ctime)
registry namespace io.github.I4cTime is GitHub-verified and matches the repo owner
03 · What Q Ring can do
Prose above is summarized from the project's README and registry record - no invented capabilities.
Latest releases
v0.16.1 · 2026-08-18
Changed · Richer MCP Registry listing - server.json now carries the optional · metadata the registry renders: title, websiteUrl (qring.i4c.studio), · brand icons (192/512 PNG), an npx runtime hint, and the three…
v0.16.0 · 2026-08-17
This is the "moat" release: q-ring stops being only a vault and starts being a · tripwire. Fake credentials that alarm on read, an airlock to put between your · agent and any third-party MCP server, and per-agent…
v0.15.0 · 2026-08-05
This is the "bridges" release: q-ring now reaches outward - into your .env · files, your editors, and your deployment platforms - without ever letting a · secret value leave the ring unencrypted or unaudited. All new…
04 · Who maintains Q Ring
q-ring is maintained by i4ctime. It's the only MCP server we track from this author; the repo dates to Mar 2026.
05 · Facts
- repository
- github.com/i4ctime/q-ring
- website
- https://qring.i4c.studio/
- category
- security - ranked #28 of 182 actively-maintained security servers as of 2026-08-25.
- release cadence
- 8 releases in the last 90 days (latest 2026-08-18)
- registry
- io.github.I4cTime/q-ring (active, first published 2026-03-21 · 25 versions)
- packages
- npm:@i4ctime/q-ring
06 · Q Ring FAQ
What is Q Ring?
OS keychain secrets for AI coding agents, over MCP. Stop pasting API keys into plain-text .env files or wrestling with clunky secret managers. q-ring securely anchors your credentials to your OS's native vault (macOS Keychain, Linux Secret Service, Windows Credential Vault) and supercharges them with mechanics from quantum physics. It runs locally over stdio via the published package.
Is Q Ring still maintained?
Yes - as of 2026-08-25, its last commit was 2026-08-24 and it shipped 8 releases in the last 90 days. We re-verify nightly.
How do I install Q Ring?
Run `npx -y @i4ctime/q-ring`. The README documents 7 environment variables (QRING_ENV, DATABASE_URL, OPENAI_API_KEY…) to set first. Set QRING_ENV, DATABASE_URL, OPENAI_API_KEY, STRIPE_KEY, SESSION_TTL, QRING_BACKEND, QRING_FILE_PASSPHRASE before connecting. You can also paste the ready-made client config above.
Does Q Ring 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 Q Ring
Alternatives to Q Ring
Maintained security servers if Q Ring isn't the fit.
- SafeDep Vet MCP Protect your AI agents and IDEs from malicious open-source packages. ★ 1,102 · 2026-08-24
- SonarQube MCP Server Analyze code quality and security with SonarQube Server or Cloud directly in AI assistants. ★ 632 · 2026-08-24
- Decionis MCP Server Fail-closed policy gate for AI agent actions, with local evaluation and native pre-tool hooks. ★ 533 · 2026-08-24
- HOL Guard Local-first AI agent security evidence and approval workflows through HOL Guard's stdio MCP server. ★ 470 · 2026-08-25
- Emisar Let AI operate servers without SSH. Choose actions, approve risky changes, and audit every step. ★ 409 · 2026-08-23
- Bradesco MCP server for Bradesco - Pix, Cobrança (boleto), Arrecadação, Extrato (OAuth2 + mTLS) ★ 269 · 2026-08-12
Pairs well with
Servers that cover what Q Ring doesn't - only shown when the pairing reason fits the companion.
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