Computer Use vs Hammerspoon
A side-by-side look at the Computer Use and Hammerspoon MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Computer Use for os automation work as a local process; choose Hammerspoon 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 Computer Use when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the OS Automation domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You want tools like
mouse_move, mouse_move_smooth, mouse_move_relative.
Choose Hammerspoon when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the OS Automation domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You want tools like
hs_list_windows, hs_focus_window, hs_move_window.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | OS Automation | OS Automation |
| Quality signal | 52/100 · Good | 53/100 · 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 | None listed | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 3 | 2 |
| Directory activity | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 44 | 75 |
| Full listing | View Computer Use | View Hammerspoon |
Tools & capabilities
Computer Use tools 44
mouse_moveMove cursor to absolute coordinatesmouse_move_smoothSmooth cursor movement (human-like)mouse_move_relativeRelative cursor movementmouse_get_positionGet current cursor positionmouse_clickMouse clickmouse_click_atMove and clickmouse_togglePress/release mouse buttonmouse_dragDrag operationmouse_drag_smoothSmooth drag operationmouse_scrollScrollmouse_scroll_directionScroll in directionmouse_scroll_smoothSmooth scroll- +32 more on the listing page
Hammerspoon tools 75
hs_list_windowsAll visible windows with app, title, frame, idhs_focus_windowBring window to front by id or title matchhs_move_windowMove/resize window by idhs_window_layout16 presets (halves, thirds, quarters, grid, cascade, center…) + custom fractional layoutshs_save_layoutSnapshot all window positions as a named layouths_restore_layoutRestore a saved layout (matches by app + title)hs_list_layoutsList saved layout nameshs_spaces_listAll spaces per screen with active markershs_spaces_activeCurrently focused space + screenhs_spaces_gotoSwitch by ID or indexhs_spaces_move_windowMove window to another space (optionally follow)hs_spaces_addCreate a new space- +63 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.
Computer Use
{
"mcpServers": {
"computer-use-2": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"go-computer-use-mcp-server"
]
}
}
}
Hammerspoon
{
"mcpServers": {
"hammerspoon": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"hammerspoon-mcp"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Computer Use is categorized under OS Automation and uses a local stdio subprocess. Hammerspoon belongs to OS Automation and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Computer Use for os automation work and Hammerspoon 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.
Computer Use has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Hammerspoon 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 computer-use-2 and hammerspoon as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Computer Use has a quality signal of 52/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 3 GitHub stars. Hammerspoon has 53/100 (Good) with 0 views, 0 installs and 2 GitHub stars.