Gretl MCP - install, status & alternatives [2026]

01 · Install Gretl MCP

before you install - you'll need

GRETL_CLI, GRETL_GUI are optional or environment-specific per the README.

Claude Code

claude mcp add ondrejlapes-gretlmcp -- npx -y gretl-mcp

Claude Desktop / Cursor / VS Code - add to config

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "ondrejlapes-gretlmcp": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "gretl-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 gretl-mcp - unscoped; check the name against the project README before installing

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

03 · What Gretl 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 launch the visible Gretl desktop GUI, list installed Gretl commands, functions, and package help, run a Gretl/Hansl script and requires GUI opening by default, and run raw Gretl command lines and requires GUI opening by default.

The 12 tools it gives your agent

Extracted from the project's README - what Gretl MCP lets an agent do.

gretl_version: - checks Gretl availability.
gretl_gui_version: - checks Gretl GUI availability.
gretl_gui_launch: - launches the visible Gretl desktop GUI.
gretl_capabilities: - lists installed Gretl commands, functions, and package help.
gretl_run_script: - runs a Gretl/Hansl script and requires GUI opening by default.
gretl_run_commands: - runs raw Gretl command lines and requires GUI opening by default.
gretl_run_script_file: - runs an existing local .inp file and requires GUI opening by default.
gretl_package: - runs native pkg actions such as install, query, run-sample, unload, remove, and index.
gretl_make_package: - builds .gfn or .zip function packages with makepkg.
gretl_help: - returns Gretl help for a command.
gretl_dataset_summary: - opens a local dataset, returns summary statistics, and requires GUI opening by default.
gretl_ols: - opens a local dataset, estimates an OLS model, and requires GUI opening by default.

04 · Who maintains Gretl MCP

Gretl MCP is maintained by ondrejlapes. It's the only MCP server we track from this author; the repo dates to May 2026.

05 · Facts

repository: github.com/ondrejlapes/gretlmcp
category: automation - ranked #131 of 194 actively-maintained automation servers as of 2026-08-25.
registry: io.github.OndrejLapes/gretl-mcp (active, first published 2026-05-15)
packages: npm:gretl-mcp

06 · Gretl MCP FAQ

Is Gretl MCP still maintained?

Yes - as of 2026-08-25, its last commit was 2026-06-06. We re-verify nightly.

What can Gretl MCP do?

With this server connected, an agent can launch the visible Gretl desktop GUI, list installed Gretl commands, functions, and package help, run a Gretl/Hansl script and requires GUI opening by default, and run raw Gretl command lines and requires GUI opening by default.

How do I install Gretl MCP?

Run `npx -y gretl-mcp`. The README documents 2 environment variables (GRETL_CLI, GRETL_GUI) to set first. GRETL_CLI, GRETL_GUI are optional or environment-specific per the README. You can also paste the ready-made client config above.

Does Gretl 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 Gretl MCP

Alternatives to Gretl MCP

Maintained automation servers if Gretl MCP isn't the fit.

More automation MCP servers · Stats Compass · Open Agreements · OpenAdapt Agent (openadapt-flow bridge) · Zotio · Outlit

More JavaScript MCP servers · Onelogin MCP · Token Optimizer MCP · Baepsae · Open & Async · Open Agenda · see all