Toolcairn MCP

ToolCairn is an MCP server that connects your AI coding agent to a continuously-updated graph of 30,000+ open-source tools across npm, PyPI, Cargo, Maven, Go, Composer, RubyGems, NuGet, Homebrew, and 35+ more registries. Search, compare, build stacks, and check version compatibility - all from inside Claude Code, Cursor, or any MCP-compatible client. Its 16 documented tools cover tools, check, toolcairn, project.

People connecting productivity tools to Claude, Cursor, VS Code, or another MCP client. The project is written in TypeScript.

VERIFIED ACTIVE

LAST COMMIT 2026-07-02 · ★ 3 · #72 OF 139 MAINTAINED PRODUCTIVITY · VERIFIED 2026-08-25

MIT · TypeScript servers · how we verify → /methodology

01 · Install Toolcairn MCP

before you install - you'll need

Set TOOLCAIRN_TRACKING_ENABLED before connecting.

Claude Code

claude mcp add neurynae-toolcairn-mcp -- npx -y @neurynae/toolcairn-mcp

Claude Desktop / Cursor / VS Code - add to config

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "neurynae-toolcairn-mcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@neurynae/toolcairn-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 @neurynae/toolcairn-mcp - published under the repo owner's npm scope (@neurynae)

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

03 · What Toolcairn MCP can do

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

What you can build

With this server connected, an agent can check whether the agent's tool picks are actually indexed in the ToolCairn graph, discover project roots, scan manifests, classify tools, write .toolcairn/, load the local .toolcairn/config.json snapshot (confirmed tools, pending items, audit log), and manage local sign-in: login / status / logout.

Capability map

Tools grouped from the project's README - what Toolcairn MCP lets an agent do.

Tools

3 tools - e.g. Natural-language search with health signals and alternatives. May ask clarifying questions when intent is ambiguous.; Submit answers to refine an in-progress search.; Head-to-head: health metrics, graph…

search_tools · search_tools_respond · compare_tools

Check

2 tools - e.g. Version-aware peer-range check between two tools.; Last resort. Search a tool's GitHub issues for known bugs - only after 4+ retries and a docs review.

check_compatibility · check_issue

Toolcairn

2 tools - e.g. Discover project roots, scan manifests, classify tools, write .toolcairn/.; Manage local sign-in: login / status / logout.

toolcairn_init · toolcairn_auth

Project

2 tools - e.g. Load the local .toolcairn/config.json snapshot (confirmed tools, pending items, audit log).; Atomically add, remove, or update a tool - every mutation is audited.

read_project_config · update_project_config

Refine

1 tool - e.g. Decompose a vague use-case ("build a SaaS") into specific, searchable sub-needs.

refine_requirement

Verify

1 tool - e.g. Check whether the agent's tool picks are actually indexed in the ToolCairn graph.

verify_suggestion

read & search

1 tool - e.g. Compose a complementary tool stack with a cross-version compatibility matrix.

get_stack

Report

1 tool - e.g. Fire-and-forget: did the recommended tool work out? Closes the learning loop.

report_outcome

Latest releases

v1.1.2 · 2026-05-01

What is this? · ToolCairn is an MCP server that helps AI agents find, compare, and verify the right tools for any build task - across 35+ open-source registries. · Instead of manually searching package directories…

04 · Who maintains Toolcairn MCP

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

05 · Facts

repository: github.com/neurynae/toolcairn-mcp
category: productivity - ranked #72 of 139 actively-maintained productivity servers as of 2026-08-25.
registry: io.github.neurynae/toolcairn-mcp (active, first published 2026-05-01)
packages: npm:@neurynae/toolcairn-mcp

06 · Toolcairn MCP FAQ

Is Toolcairn MCP still maintained?

Yes - as of 2026-08-25, its last commit was 2026-07-02. We re-verify nightly.

What can Toolcairn MCP do?

How do I install Toolcairn MCP?

Run `npx -y @neurynae/toolcairn-mcp`. The README documents one environment variable (TOOLCAIRN_TRACKING_ENABLED) to set first. Set TOOLCAIRN_TRACKING_ENABLED before connecting. You can also paste the ready-made client config above.

Does Toolcairn 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 Toolcairn MCP

Alternatives to Toolcairn MCP

Maintained productivity servers if Toolcairn MCP isn't the fit.

Pairs well with

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

More productivity MCP servers · Lit Forge MCP · Shinobi · Forge Orchestrator · mneme Record · Enquire MCP

More TypeScript MCP servers · db-MCP (SQLite MCP Server) · MySQL MCP · PostgreSQL MCP Server · Trust Oracle · Iranti · see all