What is the key difference between MCP Graphql and HAL?

MCP Graphql belongs to the Developer Tools category with local stdio execution, while HAL belongs to the Developer Tools category with local stdio execution.

How do I install MCP Graphql or HAL 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 MCP Graphql and HAL free or paid?

MCP Graphql operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required). HAL operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required).

Which MCP server has more tools and community activity?

MCP Graphql lists 2 tools with 3 views and 408 GitHub stars. HAL lists 8 tools with 2 views and 38 GitHub stars.

Can I use both MCP Graphql and HAL 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

MCP Graphql vs HAL

In-depth architectural comparison of the MCP Graphql and HAL 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

MCP Graphql

Developer Tools · Local stdio

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

HAL

Developer Tools · Local stdio

Quality: 61/100 (Good) | Auth: No auth required

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

Which MCP Server Should You Choose?

Choose MCP Graphql when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Developer Tools domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).
Primary tools included: introspect-schema, query-graphql.

Explore MCP Graphql Details

Choose HAL when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Developer Tools domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).
You have access to required keys: HAL_SWAGGER_FILE, HAL_API_BASE_URL, HAL_WHITELIST_URLS, HAL_BLACKLIST_URLS.
Primary tools included: http-get, http-post, http-put.

Explore HAL Details

Feature & Specification Comparison

Specification	MCP Graphql blurrah Developer Tools	HAL Developer Tools
Summary	Model Context Protocol server for GraphQL	HAL (HTTP API Layer) - An MCP server that provides HTTP API capabilities to Large Language Models
Category & Scope	Developer Tools	Developer Tools

Tools & Capabilities Breakdown

MCP Graphql Tools (2)

introspect-schema

This tool retrieves the GraphQL schema. Use this first if you don't have access to the schema as a resource.

query-graphql

Execute GraphQL queries against the endpoint. By default, mutations are disabled unless `ALLOW_MUTATIONS` is set to `true`.

HAL Tools (8)

http-get

Make an HTTP GET request to a specified URL. Supports secret substitution using {secrets.key} syntax where 'key' corresponds to HAL_SECRET_KEY environment variables.

http-post

Make an HTTP POST request to a specified URL with optional body and headers. Supports secret substitution using {secrets.key} syntax in URL, headers, and body where 'key' corresponds to HAL_SECRET_KEY environment variables.

http-put

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).

MCP Graphql Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "blurrah-mcp-graphql": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "mcp-graphql"
      ]
    }
  }
}

HAL Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "hal": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "hal-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "HAL_SWAGGER_FILE": "YOUR_HAL_SWAGGER_FILE_HERE",
        "HAL_API_BASE_URL": "YOUR_HAL_API_BASE_URL_HERE",
        "HAL_WHITELIST_URLS": "YOUR_HAL_WHITELIST_URLS_HERE",
        "HAL_BLACKLIST_URLS": "YOUR_HAL_BLACKLIST_URLS_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}

Frequently Asked Questions

MCP Graphql is categorized under Developer Tools and uses a local stdio subprocess. In contrast, HAL belongs to Developer Tools using local stdio subprocess. Select MCP Graphql when you need capabilities focused on developer tools and HAL when you require tools for developer tools.

More alternatives to MCP Graphql More alternatives to HAL Developer Tools category hub