Computer Use vs Kwin MCP
A side-by-side look at the Computer Use and Kwin MCP MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
K
Kwin MCPOS Automation · Local subprocess (stdio)MCP server for Linux desktop GUI automation on KDE Plasma 6 Wayland — 29 tools for virtual and live sessions59GoodAuth: no auth requiredVerdict: choose Computer Use for os automation work as a local process; choose Kwin 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 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.
KChoose Kwin MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the OS Automation domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: No auth required.
- You want tools like
session_start, session_connect, session_stop.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | K Kwin MCP | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | OS Automation | OS Automation |
| Quality signal | 52/100 · Good | 59/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | No auth required |
| Pricing | Not declared | Free |
| Required env vars | None listed | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 3 | 71 |
| Directory activity | 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 44 | 29 |
| Full listing | View Computer Use | View Kwin MCP |
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
Kwin MCP tools 29
session_startStart an isolated virtual KWin Wayland session (one at a time) with its own `dbus-run-session` bus, `kwin_wayland --virtual` compositor, AT-SPI2 bus and EIS input. `screen_width`/`screen_height` must be positive integers. `enable_clipboard=true` serves the clipboard tools (off by default because `w…session_connectAttach to an already running KWin session: the real desktop or a KWin inside a container. Empty values default to `$DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS` and `$WAYLAND_DISPLAY` (a socket name is resolved under `$XDG_RUNTIME_DIR`). Clipboard is always enabled. Actions affect real applications, and `window_close…session_stopEnd the current session. Virtual: terminate the whole session process group (`SIGTERM`, then `SIGKILL` for members that remain), KWin, launched apps and the bus. Live: detach, kill only apps launched through kwin-mcp, restore the accessibility switch. Releases all held input and reports it. Idempot…session_infoReport the current session (or `null`): its kind, Wayland socket, bus address, screen size, enabled backends (input, clipboard, accessibility), retention and artifacts directory, every app launched through kwin-mcp, and the held input. Works without a session.app_launchLaunch a program in the session, split with `shlex` (no shell), in its own process group, with stdin closed. `env` adds environment variables for this process. stdout and stderr go to a log file read with `app_log`. An empty command or unbalanced quotes is an error. A failed launch keeps the sessio…app_logReturn the tail of the captured stdout/stderr of an app launched with `app_launch` (`session_info` lists the PIDs). `last_n_lines=0` returns the whole log.screen_captureCapture the whole workspace, or a `region` rectangle of it, as a PNG via KWin ScreenShot2 (Spectacle fallback). Returns a `Frame`: the file path, the `kwin://screenshots/{name}` URI, the image size, `size_kb`, the image-to-logical `mapping` and `coverage`, plus the `Coordinate space` text line. `ma…element_queryReturn the AT-SPI2 elements matching `locator`, in pre-order, with role, name, description, states, rectangle (or the reason it is unavailable), actions, text content (capped at 200 characters), slider/scrollbar value, `app`, `window_id`, `child_count` and a `ref` to use as a target. `locator.match…element_actInvoke a named AT-SPI action (case-insensitive, e.g. `Press`, `Toggle`, `Activate`) on exactly one element without pointer coordinates: `element={ref}` from `element_query`, or `element={strict: Locator}` for a strict search with the same `match` modes (depth 64, fails closed on any unreadable node…window_listList KWin windows, dialogs, popups and shell surfaces included, with `id`, `app_id`, `caption`, `kind`, `active`, `frame` and `client` rectangles, `moveable`/`resizeable`/`closeable`, and `desktops`. `filter` is the same `WindowSelector` the mutators use, applied as an AND-ed filter: `{active: true…desktop_listList KWin virtual desktops in pager order (`id`, `name`) with the current one marked.window_focusRaise and activate exactly one window through KWin scripting (`workspace.activeWindow`). The result reports the window's observed state afterwards, or that it vanished.- +17 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"
]
}
}
}
Kwin MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"kwin-mcp-2": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"kwin-mcp"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Computer Use is categorized under OS Automation and uses a local stdio subprocess. Kwin MCP belongs to OS Automation and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Computer Use for os automation work and Kwin 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.
Computer Use has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Kwin MCP is listed as free. Auth: no auth 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 computer-use-2 and kwin-mcp-2 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 2 views, 0 installs and 3 GitHub stars. Kwin MCP has 59/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 71 GitHub stars.