What is the key difference between Cortex and SUBSTRATE?

Cortex belongs to the Knowledge & Memory category with cloud HTTP/SSE execution, while SUBSTRATE belongs to the Knowledge & Memory category with local stdio execution.

How do I install Cortex or SUBSTRATE 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 Cortex and SUBSTRATE free or paid?

Cortex operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required). SUBSTRATE operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required).

Which MCP server has more tools and community activity?

Cortex lists 0 tools with 0 views and 0 GitHub stars. SUBSTRATE lists 0 tools with 0 views and 0 GitHub stars.

Can I use both Cortex and SUBSTRATE 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.

How do I install Cortex or SUBSTRATE in Claude Desktop, Cursor, or Windsurf?

Both servers follow the standard Model Context Protocol configuration format. Simply copy the JSON block from the configuration section above and paste it into your AI client's mcpServers configuration object (for instance in claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json ), then completely restart or refresh the application.

Are Cortex and SUBSTRATE free to use, or do they require API keys?

Cortex is listed under a Free / Open Source model with No auth required . SUBSTRATE operates under a Free / Open Source model with No auth required . If environment variables are required (such as API keys), be sure to define them under the env key in your MCP client's configuration file.

Can I run both Cortex and SUBSTRATE at the same time in my AI client?

Yes! MCP clients support multi-server orchestration. You can include both cortex-2 and substrate as distinct keys inside the single mcpServers object in your configuration file. Your AI assistant will automatically select and call the appropriate tool from either server during chat sessions.

Which MCP server has higher directory engagement and quality ratings?

On AllMCPs, Cortex has a Quality Score of 45 /100 ( Fair ) with 0 views, 0 installs, and 0 GitHub stars. SUBSTRATE holds a Quality Score of 27 /100 ( Emerging ) with 0 views, 0 installs, and 0 GitHub stars.

Side-by-Side Model Context Protocol Comparison

Cortex vs SUBSTRATE

In-depth architectural comparison of the Cortex and SUBSTRATE 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

Cortex

Knowledge & Memory · Remote HTTP/SSE

Quality: 45/100 (Fair) | Auth: No auth required

SUBSTRATE

Knowledge & Memory · Local stdio

Quality: 27/100 (Emerging) | Auth: No auth required

Verdict Summary: Choose Cortex if you need specialized Knowledge & Memory tools running via a hosted cloud SSE transport. Choose SUBSTRATE if your workspace requires Knowledge & Memory integration with local subprocess execution. Both servers can be configured concurrently in your client's mcpServers manifest.

Which MCP Server Should You Choose?

Choose Cortex when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Knowledge & Memory domain.
You prefer remote streaming HTTP/SSE transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).

Explore Cortex Details

Choose SUBSTRATE when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Knowledge & Memory domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).

Explore SUBSTRATE Details

Feature & Specification Comparison

Specification	C Cortex Knowledge & Memory	S SUBSTRATE Knowledge & Memory
Summary	Shared, persistent semantic memory for your AI: save, search by meaning, recall with sources.	Persistent AI entity framework with causal memory, emotional state, and identity.
Category & Scope	Knowledge & Memory	Knowledge & Memory
Quality signal

Tools & Capabilities Breakdown

Cortex Tools (0)

No explicit tool names declared in metadata yet. Check project README on main listing page.

SUBSTRATE Tools (0)

No explicit tool names declared in metadata yet. Check project README on main listing page.

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).

Cortex Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "cortex-2": {
      "url": "https://skynetlab-cortex.com"
    }
  }
}

SUBSTRATE Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "substrate": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "substrate"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Frequently Asked Questions

Cortex is categorized under Knowledge & Memory and uses a remote streaming HTTP/SSE transport. In contrast, SUBSTRATE belongs to Knowledge & Memory using local stdio subprocess. Select Cortex when you need capabilities focused on knowledge & memory and SUBSTRATE when you require tools for knowledge & memory.

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