Brightspace vs Pickuppatrol MCP
A side-by-side look at the Brightspace and Pickuppatrol MCP MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Brightspace for education work as a local process; choose Pickuppatrol MCP for education as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Brightspace when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Education domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
BRIGHTSPACE_API_TOKEN, BRIGHTSPACE_USERNAME, BRIGHTSPACE_PASSWORD, BRIGHTSPACE_TOTP_SECRET, BRIGHTSPACE_COOKIE, BRIGHTSPACE_NO_UPDATE_CHECK. - You want tools like
check_auth, list_my_courses, get_my_grades.
Choose Pickuppatrol MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Education domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
PICKUPPATROL_USERNAME, PICKUPPATROL_PASSWORD. - You want tools like
pup_get_session, pup_list_students, pup_get_student.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Education | Education |
| Quality signal | 59/100 · Good | 55/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | Not declared |
| Pricing | Not declared | Not declared |
| Required env vars | BRIGHTSPACE_API_TOKENBRIGHTSPACE_USERNAMEBRIGHTSPACE_PASSWORDBRIGHTSPACE_TOTP_SECRETBRIGHTSPACE_COOKIEBRIGHTSPACE_NO_UPDATE_CHECK | PICKUPPATROL_USERNAMEPICKUPPATROL_PASSWORD |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 13 | 0 |
| Directory activity | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 29 | 14 |
| Full listing | View Brightspace | View Pickuppatrol MCP |
Tools & capabilities
Brightspace tools 29
check_authVerify authentication and show the active user identitylist_my_coursesList all enrolled coursesget_my_gradesGet grades for a courseget_assignmentsList assignments and dropbox foldersget_assignment_filesDownload and read instructor-posted assignment filesget_upcoming_due_datesList assignments due in the next N daysget_feedbackRead the grade, instructor comments and per-criterion rubric results for an assignmentget_assignment_rubricShow an assignment's grading rubric (criteria, levels, points, descriptions)get_my_submissionsList and download the files you (or your group) submitted, even after the folder closesget_syllabusFetch the course syllabusget_course_contentBrowse modules and topics (includes topic IDs)get_topic_fileDownload and read a content topic file (DOCX, PDF, HTML, plain text)- +17 more on the listing page
Pickuppatrol MCP tools 14
pup_get_sessionThe signed-in account and the students linked to itpup_list_studentsEvery student with their weekly defaults and review flagpup_get_studentOne student in fullpup_get_default_plansA student's weekly default plan, day by daypup_list_plansDay-by-day plans across a date rangepup_get_planOne student, one date — including whether it is lockedpup_list_transportationsA school's dismissal options and the rules each imposespup_get_schoolSchool profile, notify times, cutoff times, settingspup_list_non_school_daysDates no plan can be set for, and dates already changedpup_list_car_numbersCar numbers the school issued to this accountpup_healthcheckCredentials sign in and the API answers; on failure, `error.kind` says which hop broke (`edge_blocked`, `credential_rejected`, …)pup_set_planDismissal for one or more specific dates, or clears them back to the default- +2 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.
Brightspace
{
"mcpServers": {
"brightspace": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"brightspace-mcp@latest"
],
"env": {
"BRIGHTSPACE_API_TOKEN": "YOUR_BRIGHTSPACE_API_TOKEN_HERE",
"BRIGHTSPACE_USERNAME": "YOUR_BRIGHTSPACE_USERNAME_HERE",
"BRIGHTSPACE_PASSWORD": "YOUR_BRIGHTSPACE_PASSWORD_HERE",
"BRIGHTSPACE_TOTP_SECRET": "YOUR_BRIGHTSPACE_TOTP_SECRET_HERE",
"BRIGHTSPACE_COOKIE": "YOUR_BRIGHTSPACE_COOKIE_HERE",
"BRIGHTSPACE_NO_UPDATE_CHECK": "YOUR_BRIGHTSPACE_NO_UPDATE_CHECK_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Pickuppatrol MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"pickuppatrol-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@chrischall/pickuppatrol-mcp"
],
"env": {
"PICKUPPATROL_USERNAME": "YOUR_PICKUPPATROL_USERNAME_HERE",
"PICKUPPATROL_PASSWORD": "YOUR_PICKUPPATROL_PASSWORD_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Brightspace is categorized under Education and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pickuppatrol MCP belongs to Education and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Brightspace for education work and Pickuppatrol MCP for education.
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.
Brightspace has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Pickuppatrol MCP has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. 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 brightspace and pickuppatrol-mcp as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Brightspace has a quality signal of 59/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 13 GitHub stars. Pickuppatrol MCP has 55/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars.