Capsulate vs Hammerspoon MCP
A side-by-side look at the Capsulate and Hammerspoon MCP MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Capsulate for os automation work as a local process; choose Hammerspoon MCP for os automation as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Capsulate when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the OS Automation domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
CAPSULATE_API_KEY. - You want tools like
capsulate_launch, capsulate_list, capsulate_get.
Choose Hammerspoon MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the OS Automation domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
HS_MCP_TOOLS. - You want tools like
hs_health, hs_api_search, hs_list_windows.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | OS Automation | OS Automation |
| Quality signal | 61/100 · Good | 61/100 · 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 | CAPSULATE_API_KEY | HS_MCP_TOOLS |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 0 | 1 |
| Directory activity | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 54 | 38 |
| Full listing | View Capsulate | View Hammerspoon MCP |
Tools & capabilities
Capsulate tools 54
capsulate_launchLaunch a new isolated cloud sandbox (capsule) and (by default) wait until it is ready. Returns the capsule id and connection info. Use the returned sessionId for exec/files/etc. With skill, the capsule is the skill's environment (its saved template with the software set up) and the skill's setup procedure has run, so you can use its procedures right away.capsulate_listList the team's active capsules.capsulate_getFetch a capsule's full details by id.capsulate_destroyTerminate a capsule and release its resources.capsulate_execExecute a command inside a capsule and return stdout, stderr, and the exit code. Provide the command as an argv array, e.g. ['ls','-la','/workspace']. Commands first: files, installs, settings, scripts and data are one call here, a fraction of a second, where the screen takes many steps. On a Linux desktop capsule it runs as the desktop user 'capsulate' (home folder, DISPLAY :1, so apps open on the shared screen); prefix 'sudo' for root. On Windows pass ['powershell.exe', '-Command', '<script>']: it runs in the desktop session's PowerShell, about 0.3 s. It works while a person holds the screen.capsulate_run_codeRun a snippet of code inside a capsule: python, node or bash on Linux, powershell on Windows (about 0.3 s). Returns stdout/stderr/exit. Faster than doing the same on the screen.capsulate_write_fileWrite a UTF-8 text file inside a capsule (the folder is created). One call, far faster than typing it into an editor on the screen; open it afterwards with capsulate_open if the person should see it.capsulate_read_fileRead a UTF-8 text file from inside a capsule. One call, no screen needed.capsulate_set_envSet environment variables inside a running capsule.capsulate_screenshotCapture a screenshot of a desktop capsule. Returns the image so you can see the screen. For a smaller, faster image ask for format 'jpeg', a scale such as 0.5, or only a region (x, y, w, h) of the screen; the text after the image says how its points map back to screen pixels, which click and the other tools take.capsulate_clickClick at pixel (x, y) in a desktop capsule. Pass screenshot:true to see the screen after the click.capsulate_typeType text into the focused field of a desktop capsule.- +42 more on the listing page
Hammerspoon MCP tools 38
hs_healthVerify that Hammerspoon is running and reachable, and report its version. Call this first when any other tool fails, because it distinguishes a setup problem from a tool problem.hs_api_searchSearch Hammerspoon's own API documentation for functions, methods, constants, and modules. Returns exact signatures. Use this before writing Lua so calls are correct the first time, rather than discovering a wrong name from a runtime error.hs_list_windowsList every visible window with its id, owning application, title, frame, and screen. Window ids are what hs_focus_window and hs_move_window operate on, so call this first.hs_focus_windowBring a window to the front, selected by id (exact) or by a substring of its title. The matched window is returned so you can confirm the right one was chosen.hs_move_windowSet the position and/or size of a window by id, in screen pixels. Omitted fields keep their current value. The returned frame is read back after the move settles, so it is the real placement; adjusted=true means macOS or the app put the window somewhere other than requested. Use hs_screens to learn the available coordinate space.hs_window_layoutSnap a window to a named position such as left-half or quarter-top-left, computed from the screen size so no pixel arithmetic is needed. Defaults to the focused window. Positions respect the menu bar and Dock.hs_list_appsList running applications with pid, bundle identifier, window count, and which one is frontmost.hs_launch_appLaunch an application by name, or focus it if it is already running. Use the name as it appears in Finder, for example "Safari".hs_focus_appBring an already-running application to the front. Unlike hs_launch_app this never starts anything, so it fails if the application is not running.hs_screensList connected screens with their coordinate frames. frame excludes the menu bar and Dock, fullFrame includes them. Use these bounds when computing arguments for hs_move_window.hs_list_spacesList macOS Spaces across all screens with their id, type, and which one is current. User desktops also carry a 1-based position, which is the number people mean by "desktop 2" and what the Ctrl+N shortcuts match. Fullscreen app spaces have no position.hs_goto_spaceSwitch to another macOS desktop, either by its id from hs_list_spaces or by its 1-based position. The result reports where the switch actually landed: arrived=false with landedOn set means the system did not end up on the requested desktop, which can happen when macOS auto-rearranges Spaces mid-switch. Verified, not assumed.- +26 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.
Capsulate
{
"mcpServers": {
"capsulate": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@capsulate/mcp"
],
"env": {
"CAPSULATE_API_KEY": "YOUR_CAPSULATE_API_KEY_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Hammerspoon MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"hammerspoon-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@vukvukovich/hammerspoon-mcp"
],
"env": {
"HS_MCP_TOOLS": "YOUR_HS_MCP_TOOLS_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Capsulate is categorized under OS Automation and uses a local stdio subprocess. Hammerspoon MCP belongs to OS Automation and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Capsulate for os automation work and Hammerspoon MCP for os automation.
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.
Capsulate has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Hammerspoon 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 capsulate and hammerspoon-mcp as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Capsulate has a quality signal of 61/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars. Hammerspoon MCP has 61/100 (Good) with 2 views, 0 installs and 1 GitHub stars.