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a-ariff / repository
Canvas LMS MCP server - query courses, assignments, grades and more
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A local MCP (Model Context Protocol) server for Canvas LMS. Query your courses, assignments, grades, modules, and more from any MCP-compatible AI client — Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code Copilot, and others.
Your API key stays on your machine. Unlike hosted MCP servers that require you to hand over your Canvas credentials, this server runs locally and communicates directly with your Canvas instance.
graph TB
subgraph "MCP Clients"
Claude["Claude Desktop"]
Cursor["Cursor / VS Code"]
Other["Other MCP Clients"]
end
subgraph "Your Machine (Local)"
Server["Canvas MCP Server<br/>Node.js + TypeScript"]
ENV["Environment Variables<br/>CANVAS_API_KEY"]
end
subgraph "Canvas LMS Tools"
Courses["list_courses"]
Assignments["get_assignments<br/>get_upcoming_assignments"]
Grades["get_grades<br/>get_submission_status"]
Content["get_modules<br/>get_announcements<br/>get_discussions"]
Calendar["get_calendar_events<br/>get_todo_items<br/>get_quizzes"]
Profile["get_user_profile"]
end
subgraph "Canvas Instance"
API["Canvas REST API<br/>HTTPS Only"]
end
Claude -->|stdio| Server
Cursor -->|stdio| Server
Other -->|stdio| Server
ENV -.->|read at startup| Server
Server --> Courses
Server --> Assignments
Server --> Grades
Server --> Content
Server --> Calendar
Server --> Profile
Courses --> API
Assignments --> API
Grades --> API
Content --> API
Calendar --> API
Profile --> API
style Server fill:#4CAF50,stroke:#333,color:#fff
style ENV fill:#FF9800,stroke:#333,color:#fff
style API fill:#2196F3,stroke:#333,color:#fff
style Claude fill:#7C4DFF,stroke:#333,color:#fff
style Cursor fill:#7C4DFF,stroke:#333,color:#fff
style Other fill:#7C4DFF,stroke:#333,color:#fff
🔒 Privacy by design — your API key is read from local environment variables and sent only to your Canvas instance over HTTPS. No intermediary servers, no third-party storage.
Go to Canvas → Account → Settings → Approved Integrations → New Access Token
📖 Never done this before? Follow the step-by-step guide with screenshots
git clone https://github.com/a-ariff/canvas-mcp.git
cd canvas-mcp
npm install
npm run build
Edit ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json:
{
"mcpServers": {
"canvas": {
"command": "node",
"args": ["/path/to/canvas-mcp/dist/standalone.js"],
"env": {
"CANVAS_API_KEY": "your-canvas-api-token",
"CANVAS_BASE_URL": "https://your-canvas-instance.edu"
}
}
}
}
Add to your .cursor/mcp.json or VS Code MCP settings:
{
"mcpServers": {
"canvas": {
"command": "node",
"args": ["/path/to/canvas-mcp/dist/standalone.js"],
"env": {
"CANVAS_API_KEY": "your-canvas-api-token",
"CANVAS_BASE_URL": "https://your-canvas-instance.edu"
}
}
}
}
Ask your AI assistant things like:
| Tool | Description | Args |
|---|---|---|
list_courses | Get all active courses | — |
get_assignments | Get assignments for a course | course_id |
get_upcoming_assignments | Upcoming assignments across all courses | — |
get_grades | Grades and scores for a course | course_id |
get_user_profile | Your Canvas profile info | — |
get_modules | Course modules and structure | course_id |
get_announcements | Recent course announcements | course_id |
get_discussions | Discussion topics | course_id |
get_calendar_events | Upcoming calendar events | — |
get_todo_items | Pending action items | — |
get_quizzes | Course quizzes | course_id |
get_submission_status | Assignment submission status | course_id, assignment_id |
| Variable | Required | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
CANVAS_API_KEY | Yes | — | Your Canvas API access token |
CANVAS_BASE_URL | No | https://canvas.instructure.com | Your Canvas instance URL |
DEBUG | No | false | Enable debug logging |
# install deps
npm install
# build
npm run build
# run locally
CANVAS_API_KEY=your-token CANVAS_BASE_URL=https://your-canvas.edu npm start
# run tests
npm test
# lint
npm run lint
Contributions welcome! Please see CONTRIBUTING.md for guidelines.
Selected from shared topics, language and repository description—not editorial ratings.
bruchris /
Canvas LMS MCP server — read courses, assignments, submissions, rubrics, quizzes; grade and comment from any AI agent
63/100 health