What is the key difference between Argus and Shellward?

Argus belongs to the Security category with local stdio execution, while Shellward belongs to the Security category with local stdio execution.

How do I install Argus or Shellward in Claude Desktop or Cursor?

Copy the mcpServers JSON configuration snippet provided on this page into your claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json file and restart your AI client.

Are Argus and Shellward free or paid?

Argus operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required). Shellward operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required).

Which MCP server has more tools and community activity?

Argus lists 3 tools with 4 views and 1 GitHub stars. Shellward lists 6 tools with 3 views and 136 GitHub stars.

Can I use both Argus and Shellward together in the same MCP host?

Yes! MCP hosts like Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, and VS Code support configuring multiple servers under the mcpServers object simultaneously.

Side-by-Side Model Context Protocol Comparison

Argus vs Shellward

In-depth architectural comparison of the Argus and Shellward MCP servers. Compare execution transports, security boundaries, tool capabilities, quality scores, and ready-to-paste client installation snippets for Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, and VS Code.

At a Glance & Executive Verdict

Argus

Security · Local stdio

Quality: 59/100 (Good) | Auth: No auth required

Shellward

Security · Local stdio

Quality: 56/100 (Good) | Auth: No auth required

Verdict Summary: Choose Argus if you need specialized Security tools running via a local process. Choose Shellward if your workspace requires Security integration with local subprocess execution. Both servers can be configured concurrently in your client's mcpServers manifest.

Which MCP Server Should You Choose?

Choose Argus when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Security domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).
Primary tools included: argus_ask, argus_status, argus_capabilities.

Explore Argus Details

Choose Shellward when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Security domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).
You have access to required keys: SHELLWARD_MODE, SHELLWARD_LOCALE, SHELLWARD_THRESHOLD, SHELLWARD_BASELINE_PATH.
Primary tools included: Stdio MCP server with local execution, Prompt injection detection for Chinese and English text, PII, credential, and sensitive-data scanning.

Feature & Specification Comparison

Specification	Argus alexar76 Security	Shellward jnMetaCode Security
Summary	ARGUS-3 as a stdio MCP server (argus mcp → argusask, argusstatus). WARDEN vets third-party MCP servers before any tool runs (LUMEN-scored firewall, tool-def pinning, drift sentinel). Distinct from aimarket-oracle-gateway (oracle tools) and aimarket-plugins (hub packager). npm @alexar76/argus3 · live.	AI Agent Security Middleware & MCP Server with 8-layer defense including prompt injection detection, DLP data flow tracking, command blocking, and PII detection. 7 MCP tools, zero dependencies.
Category & Scope

Tools & Capabilities Breakdown

Argus Tools (3)

argus_ask

argus_ask({ task: "Summarise https://example.com in three bullets", response_format: "bullets" })

argus_status

JSON status

argus_capabilities

argus_capabilities({ include_schemas: false })

Shellward Tools (6)

Stdio MCP server with local execution

Prompt injection detection for Chinese and English text

PII, credential, and sensitive-data scanning

Ready-to-Paste Client Configurations

Paste either (or both) of these JSON server blocks into your client config file (e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json).

Argus Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "alexar76-argus": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "argus-warden"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Shellward Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "jnmetacode-shellward": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "shellward"
      ],
      "env": {
        "SHELLWARD_MODE": "YOUR_SHELLWARD_MODE_HERE",
        "SHELLWARD_LOCALE": "YOUR_SHELLWARD_LOCALE_HERE",
        "SHELLWARD_THRESHOLD": "YOUR_SHELLWARD_THRESHOLD_HERE",
        "SHELLWARD_BASELINE_PATH": "YOUR_SHELLWARD_BASELINE_PATH_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}

Frequently Asked Questions

Argus is categorized under Security and uses a local stdio subprocess. In contrast, Shellward belongs to Security using local stdio subprocess. Select Argus when you need capabilities focused on security and Shellward when you require tools for security.

More alternatives to Argus More alternatives to Shellward Security category hub