Magic MCP vs Gramps Evidence
A side-by-side look at the Magic MCP and Gramps Evidence MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
G
Gramps EvidenceDeveloper Tools · Local subprocess (stdio)Read/write a self-hosted Gramps Web family tree where every fact carries a citation.53GoodAuth: otherVerdict: choose Magic MCP for developer tools work as a local process; choose Gramps Evidence for developer tools as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Magic MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Developer Tools domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: API key required.
- You have the keys it needs:
TWENTY_FIRST_API_KEY, API_KEY_21ST.
GChoose Gramps Evidence when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Developer Tools domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: other.
- You have the keys it needs:
GRAMPS_MCP_API_URL, GRAMPS_MCP_USERNAME, GRAMPS_MCP_PASSWORD. - You want tools like
add_person, add_family, add_event_to_person.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | G Gramps Evidence | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Developer Tools | Developer Tools |
| Quality signal | 53/100 · Good | 53/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | API key required | other |
| Pricing | Paid service | Free |
| Required env vars | TWENTY_FIRST_API_KEYAPI_KEY_21ST | GRAMPS_MCP_API_URLGRAMPS_MCP_USERNAMEGRAMPS_MCP_PASSWORD |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 5,997 | 0 |
| Directory activity | 16 views 1 installs 0 upvotes | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | Not listed | 80 |
| Full listing | View Magic MCP | View Gramps Evidence |
Tools & capabilities
Magic MCP tools
No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from the listing page.
Gramps Evidence tools 80
add_personCreate a person, optionally with cited birth/death events; each event's type may be left out.add_familyLink parents + children with an optional cited marriage. A child may be given with its relationship to each parent — a stepchild in the same call.add_event_to_personAdd a cited event (residence, census, occupation…) to a person.add_event_to_familyAdd a dated/placed event (marriage, divorce…) to a family.add_child_to_familyAdd an existing person as a child of an existing family.add_event_refShare an **existing** event with another person, in a role (Witness, Informant, Godparent…): one census entry or burial, one set of citations. What is the person's own — their line on the sheet, their age — goes on the reference as attributes (`As enumerated`, `Age`).add_alternate_nameAdd a non-primary name (AKA, married name, nickname) to a person, with the citation for that form of the name.add_sourceCreate a Source (record set, book, certificate), optionally in a repository.add_citationCreate/reuse a standalone Citation on a Source.add_repositoryCreate a Repository (archive, library, cemetery, website).add_placeCreate a place deliberately, typed and parented, instead of letting one appear as a side effect of naming it in an event.add_noteCreate a note, optionally attached to an object. Re-reads the target and returns `verified: false` rather than claiming an attachment it can't demonstrate. Any length in one call; a server error says whether anything was written, and an attach that failed takes the new note back.- +68 more on the listing page
Ready-to-paste client configs
Paste either block (or both) into your client config, e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json. We only show a config when the install command is confirmed.
Magic MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"21st-dev-magic-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@21st-dev/cli@latest"
],
"env": {
"TWENTY_FIRST_API_KEY": "YOUR_TWENTY_FIRST_API_KEY_HERE",
"API_KEY_21ST": "YOUR_API_KEY_21ST_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Gramps Evidence
{
"mcpServers": {
"gramps-evidence": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"gramps-evidence-mcp"
],
"env": {
"GRAMPS_MCP_API_URL": "YOUR_GRAMPS_MCP_API_URL_HERE",
"GRAMPS_MCP_USERNAME": "YOUR_GRAMPS_MCP_USERNAME_HERE",
"GRAMPS_MCP_PASSWORD": "YOUR_GRAMPS_MCP_PASSWORD_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Magic MCP is categorized under Developer Tools and uses a local stdio subprocess. Gramps Evidence belongs to Developer Tools and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Magic MCP for developer tools work and Gramps Evidence for developer tools.
Copy the mcpServers block from the config section on this page into your client's config (for example claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json), then fully restart the client.
Magic MCP is listed as a paid service. Auth: api key required. Gramps Evidence is listed as free. Auth: other. If a server needs environment variables such as API keys, define them under the env key in your client's MCP config.
Yes. MCP clients support multiple servers: add 21st-dev-magic-mcp and gramps-evidence as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Magic MCP has a quality signal of 53/100 (Good) with 16 views, 1 installs and 5,997 GitHub stars. Gramps Evidence has 53/100 (Good) with 0 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars.
