In-depth architectural comparison of the Kanboard MCP and Google Workspace MCP 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
Kanboard MCP
Workplace & Productivity · Local stdio
Quality: 60/100 (Good) | Auth: API Key required
Google Workspace MCP
Workplace & Productivity · Local stdio
Quality: 67/100 (Great) | Auth: OAuth 2.0
Verdict Summary: Choose Kanboard MCP if you need specialized Workplace & Productivity tools running via a local process. Choose Google Workspace MCP if your workspace requires Workplace & Productivity integration with local subprocess execution. Both servers can be configured concurrently in your client's mcpServers manifest.
Which MCP Server Should You Choose?
Choose Kanboard MCP when:
You need dedicated capabilities in the Workplace & Productivity domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: API Key required (Free / Open Source).
You have access to required keys: KANBOARD_URL, KANBOARD_USERNAME, KANBOARD_API_TOKEN.
You need dedicated capabilities in the Workplace & Productivity domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: OAuth 2.0 (Free / Open Source).
You have access to required keys: GOOGLE_CLIENT_ID, GOOGLE_CLIENT_SECRET, GOOGLE_OAUTH_REDIRECT_URI, WORKSPACE_MCP_LOG_LEVEL, WORKSPACE_MCP_PORT, WORKSPACE_MCP_HOST.
TypeScript MCP server for Kanboard with multi-project routing via .kanboard.yaml. 37 tools, 982 unit tests, Docker multi-arch on GHCR, provenance-signed npm releases via OIDC, Diátaxis-structured docs, MIT licensed.
Comprehensive Google Workspace MCP server with full support for Google Calendar, Drive, Gmail, and Docs, Forms, Chats, Slides and Sheets over stdio, Streamable HTTP and SSE transports.
Category & Scope
Tools & Capabilities Breakdown
Kanboard MCP Tools (39)
add_project_user
Add a user to a Kanboard project with the given role. Role defaults to 'project-member' if not specified. Use list_project_users to find user ids and list_projects to find project ids; to unlink a member use remove_project_user. Returns { user_id, project_id, role } on success.
attach_file_to_task
Upload a file to a Kanboard task as an attachment. Provide either file_path (local file) or content_base64 (inline base64 content) — not both. project_id is resolved automatically from the task (no need to provide it). Maximum file size: 5 MB (5,242,880 bytes) — larger files return VALIDATION_ERROR before any HTTP request is made. Returns { file_id } on success.
close_task
Close (archive) an active Kanboard task. The task is set inactive and leaves the active board but is preserved — this is NOT a delete. Reversible: restore it with reopen_task. To permanently remove a task instead, use delete_task. Returns { ok: true, task_id } on success.
create_column
Add a column to a Kanboard project board. Project resolved from explicit project_id/project_identifier or .kanboard.yaml. To reorder it use move_column, to rename or change its WIP limit use update_column, to remove it use delete_column. Returns { column_id } on success.
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).
Kanboard MCP is categorized under Workplace & Productivity and uses a local stdio subprocess. In contrast, Google Workspace MCP belongs to Workplace & Productivity using local stdio subprocess. Select Kanboard MCP when you need capabilities focused on workplace & productivity and Google Workspace MCP when you require tools for workplace & productivity.
Create a comment on a Kanboard task. The comment author is automatically set to the authenticated user (via getMe() cache); do NOT pass user_id — it is injected server-side. To edit a comment's body use update_comment; to remove one use delete_comment. Returns { comment_id } on success.
create_project
Create a new Kanboard project. Requires a name (1–255 chars). Optionally provide a description, short identifier, owner user id, start_date / end_date (ISO 8601 string or epoch seconds), and email. After creating, adjust the board with create_column / create_swimlane, add members with add_project_user, and edit attributes with update_project. Returns { project_id } on success.
create_subtask
Create a subtask under an existing Kanboard task. Status: 0 = todo (default), 1 = in progress, 2 = done. To list a task's subtasks use list_subtasks; to edit one use update_subtask. Returns { subtask_id, task_id } on success.
create_swimlane
Add a swimlane to a Kanboard project. Project resolved from explicit project_id/project_identifier or .kanboard.yaml. To reorder it use move_swimlane, to rename it use update_swimlane, to remove it use delete_swimlane. Returns { swimlane_id } on success.
create_task
Create a new task in a Kanboard project. Project is resolved from explicit project_id or project_identifier, or from .kanboard.yaml. Optional fields (column_id, owner_id, category_id, swimlane_id) fall back to .kanboard.yaml defaults when not provided. To create many tasks at once use create_tasks_batch; to move the task afterward use move_task_position. Returns { task_id, project_id } on success.
create_tasks_batch
Bulk-create tasks in a Kanboard project using a single JSON-RPC batch request. Accepts 1–100 tasks per call. Non-atomic: partial failure is possible — check failed[] for per-task errors. Optional fields (column_id, owner_id, category_id, swimlane_id) fall back to .kanboard.yaml defaults when not provided. Returns { created: [...], failed: [...] } — never throws on partial failure.
delete_column
Permanently delete a Kanboard column from a project board. DESTRUCTIVE and irreversible — requires explicit `confirm: true`. To rename a column or change its WIP limit use update_column; to reorder it use move_column. Returns { ok: true, column_id } on success.
delete_comment
Permanently delete a Kanboard comment. DESTRUCTIVE and irreversible — requires explicit `confirm: true`. To edit a comment's text instead of deleting it use update_comment. Returns { ok: true, comment_id } on success.
+27 more tools listed on main page
Google Workspace MCP Tools (123)
start_google_auth
Manually initiate Google OAuth authentication flow.
NOTE: This is a legacy OAuth 2.0 tool and is disabled when OAuth 2.1 is enabled.
The authentication system automatically handles credential checks and prompts for
authentication when needed. Only use this tool if:
1. You need to re-authenticate with different credentials
2. You want to proactively authenticate before using other tools
3. The automatic authentication flow failed and you need to retry
In most cases, simply try calling the Google Workspace tool you need - it will
automatically handle authentication if required.
search_gmail_messages
Searches messages in a user's Gmail account based on a query.
Returns both Message IDs and Thread IDs for each found message, along with Gmail web interface links for manual verification.
Supports pagination via page_token parameter.
get_gmail_message_content
Retrieves the full content (subject, sender, recipients, body) of a specific Gmail message.
Bodies are returned inline and truncated at 20,000 characters. Set full=True to
get the complete, untruncated message instead: it is exported to disk and the
response carries a short-lived download URL (HTTP transport) or file path (stdio
transport) rather than the body, so large messages never stream through the model
context. Stateless deployments have no file storage, so there full=True returns the
untruncated body inline.
get_gmail_messages_content_batch
Retrieves the content of multiple Gmail messages in a single batch request.
Supports up to 25 messages per batch to prevent SSL connection exhaustion.
get_gmail_attachment_content
Downloads an email attachment and saves it to local disk.
In stdio mode, returns the local file path for direct access.
In HTTP mode, returns a temporary download URL (valid for 1 hour).
May re-fetch message metadata to resolve filename and MIME type.
send_gmail_message
Sends an email using the user's Gmail account. Supports new emails, replies, and
forwards, with optional attachments. Supports Gmail's "Send As" feature to send
from configured alias addresses.
To forward an existing message, pass forward_message_id. The original subject,
body (quoted with a "Forwarded message" header), and attachments are carried over.
In forward mode, body (if any) is prepended as a note and subject is optional.
Threading, reply, and signature options do not apply when forwarding.
THIS TOOL SENDS IMMEDIATELY AND CANNOT SCHEDULE. Gmail's REST API exposes no
send-time parameter; Schedule send is a web-UI feature with no API equivalent,
so no argument to this tool can defer delivery. Never tell a user a message
was scheduled. For "prepare now, deliver later", create a draft with
draft_gmail_message. An external scheduler must retain the message data to
create and send a new message via send_gmail_message at the chosen time, or
call users.drafts.send with the draft ID returned by draft_gmail_message.
Alternatively, let the user schedule that draft in the Gmail UI.
draft_gmail_message
Creates a draft email in the user's Gmail account. Supports both new drafts and reply drafts with optional attachments.
Supports Gmail's "Send As" feature to draft from configured alias addresses.
SCHEDULED SEND IS NOT AVAILABLE. Gmail's REST API exposes no send-time
parameter; the Schedule send feature is web-UI only, and a message cannot be
placed in the Scheduled folder through the API. Do not claim a message was
scheduled. To deliver at a chosen time, create a draft with
draft_gmail_message. An external scheduler must retain the message data to
create and send a new message via send_gmail_message then, or call
users.drafts.send with the draft ID returned by draft_gmail_message.
Alternatively, let the user schedule the draft in the Gmail UI.
get_gmail_thread_content
Retrieves the complete content of a Gmail conversation thread, including all messages.
Optionally also returns structured ownership analysis so a caller can
determine who sent the last message and who owes whom a response without
re-parsing the formatted string or making a second tool call.
get_gmail_threads_content_batch
Retrieves the content of multiple Gmail threads in a single batch request.
Supports up to 25 threads per batch to prevent SSL connection exhaustion.
list_gmail_labels
Lists labels in the user's Gmail account.
manage_gmail_label
Manages Gmail labels: create, update, or delete labels.
list_gmail_filters
Lists all Gmail filters configured in the user's mailbox.