Blackout vs Claude Task Master
A side-by-side look at the Blackout and Claude Task Master MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Blackout for file systems work as a local process; choose Claude Task Master 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 Blackout when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the File Systems domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
Choose Claude Task Master 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:
ANTHROPIC_API_KEY, OPENAI_API_KEY, GOOGLE_API_KEY, PERPLEXITY_API_KEY, XAI_API_KEY, OPENROUTER_API_KEY, MISTRAL_API_KEY, TASK_MASTER_TOOLS.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | File Systems | Developer Tools |
| Quality signal | 37/100 · Fair | 61/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | API key required |
| Pricing | Not declared | BYOK (pay the provider) |
| Required env vars | None listed | ANTHROPIC_API_KEYOPENAI_API_KEYGOOGLE_API_KEYPERPLEXITY_API_KEYXAI_API_KEYOPENROUTER_API_KEYMISTRAL_API_KEYTASK_MASTER_TOOLS |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 0 | 28,269 |
| Directory activity | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 10 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | Not listed | Not listed |
| Full listing | View Blackout | View Claude Task Master |
Tools & capabilities
Blackout tools
No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from the listing page.
Claude Task Master tools
No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from 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.
Blackout
{
"mcpServers": {
"blackout": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@thrain/blackout"
]
}
}
}
Claude Task Master
{
"mcpServers": {
"eyaltoledano-claude-task-master": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"task-master-ai"
],
"env": {
"ANTHROPIC_API_KEY": "YOUR_ANTHROPIC_API_KEY_HERE",
"OPENAI_API_KEY": "YOUR_OPENAI_API_KEY_HERE",
"GOOGLE_API_KEY": "YOUR_GOOGLE_API_KEY_HERE",
"PERPLEXITY_API_KEY": "YOUR_PERPLEXITY_API_KEY_HERE",
"XAI_API_KEY": "YOUR_XAI_API_KEY_HERE",
"OPENROUTER_API_KEY": "YOUR_OPENROUTER_API_KEY_HERE",
"MISTRAL_API_KEY": "YOUR_MISTRAL_API_KEY_HERE",
"TASK_MASTER_TOOLS": "YOUR_TASK_MASTER_TOOLS_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Blackout is categorized under File Systems and uses a local stdio subprocess. Claude Task Master belongs to Developer Tools and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Blackout for file systems work and Claude Task Master 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.
Blackout has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Claude Task Master is bring-your-own-key: usage is billed by the API provider you supply a key for. Auth: api key required. 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 blackout and eyaltoledano-claude-task-master as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Blackout has a quality signal of 37/100 (Fair) with 0 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars. Claude Task Master has 61/100 (Good) with 10 views, 0 installs and 28,269 GitHub stars.