What is the key difference between Directory and Shade?

Directory belongs to the Developer Tools category with cloud HTTP/SSE execution, while Shade belongs to the Developer Tools category with local stdio execution.

How do I install Directory or Shade 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 Directory and Shade free or paid?

Directory operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required). Shade operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required).

Which MCP server has more tools and community activity?

Directory lists 0 tools with 1 views and 0 GitHub stars. Shade lists 0 tools with 0 views and 0 GitHub stars.

Can I use both Directory and Shade 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 Directory or Shade 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 Directory and Shade free to use, or do they require API keys?

Directory is listed under a Free / Open Source model with No auth required . Shade 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 Directory and Shade at the same time in my AI client?

Yes! MCP clients support multi-server orchestration. You can include both directory and shade 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, Directory has a Quality Score of 40 /100 ( Fair ) with 1 views, 0 installs, and 0 GitHub stars. Shade holds a Quality Score of 27 /100 ( Emerging ) with 0 views, 0 installs, and 0 GitHub stars.

Side-by-Side Model Context Protocol Comparison

Directory vs Shade

In-depth architectural comparison of the Directory and Shade 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

Which MCP Server Should You Choose?

Choose Directory when:

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

Explore Directory Details

Choose Shade when:

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

Explore Shade Details

Feature & Specification Comparison

Specification	Directory Developer Tools	S Shade Developer Tools
Summary	Discover and query every business on ANOTS — search, ask, or find-and-ask over MCP.	Search, inspect, organize, annotate, share, and automate creative assets in Shade.
Category & Scope	Developer Tools	Developer Tools
Quality signal

Tools & Capabilities Breakdown

Directory Tools (0)

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

Shade 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).

Directory Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "directory": {
      "url": "http://localhost:6333/health"
    }
  }
}

Shade Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Directory is categorized under Developer Tools and uses a remote streaming HTTP/SSE transport. In contrast, Shade belongs to Developer Tools using local stdio subprocess. Select Directory when you need capabilities focused on developer tools and Shade when you require tools for developer tools.

More alternatives to Directory More alternatives to Shade Developer Tools category hub