Filesystem vs Pickuppatrol MCP
A side-by-side look at the Filesystem and Pickuppatrol MCP MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Filesystem for file systems work as a local process; choose Pickuppatrol MCP for education as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Filesystem when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the File Systems domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: No auth required.
- You want tools like
path, head, tail.
Choose Pickuppatrol MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Education domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: other.
- You have the keys it needs:
PICKUPPATROL_USERNAME, PICKUPPATROL_PASSWORD. - You want tools like
pup_get_session, pup_list_students, pup_get_student.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | File Systems | Education |
| Quality signal | 85/100 · Excellent | 57/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | No auth required | other |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Required env vars | None listed | PICKUPPATROL_USERNAMEPICKUPPATROL_PASSWORD |
| Verified owner | Verified | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 91,487 | 0 |
| Directory activity | 9 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 17 | 14 |
| Full listing | View Filesystem | View Pickuppatrol MCP |
Tools & capabilities
Filesystem tools 17
pathheadtailpathscontenteditsoldTextnewTextdryRunsortBysourcedestination- +5 more on the listing page
Pickuppatrol MCP tools 14
pup_get_sessionThe signed-in account and the students linked to itpup_list_studentsEvery student with their weekly defaults and review flagpup_get_studentOne student in fullpup_get_default_plansA student's weekly default plan, day by daypup_list_plansDay-by-day plans across a date rangepup_get_planOne student, one date — including whether it is lockedpup_list_transportationsA school's dismissal options and the rules each imposespup_get_schoolSchool profile, notify times, cutoff times, settingspup_list_non_school_daysDates no plan can be set for, and dates already changedpup_list_car_numbersCar numbers the school issued to this accountpup_healthcheckCredentials sign in and the API answers; on failure, `error.kind` says which hop broke (`edge_blocked`, `credential_rejected`, …)pup_set_planDismissal for one or more specific dates, or clears them back to the default- +2 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.
Filesystem
{
"mcpServers": {
"filesystem": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem"
]
}
}
}
Pickuppatrol MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"pickuppatrol-mcp": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@chrischall/pickuppatrol-mcp"
],
"env": {
"PICKUPPATROL_USERNAME": "YOUR_PICKUPPATROL_USERNAME_HERE",
"PICKUPPATROL_PASSWORD": "YOUR_PICKUPPATROL_PASSWORD_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Filesystem is categorized under File Systems and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pickuppatrol MCP belongs to Education and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Filesystem for file systems work and Pickuppatrol MCP for education.
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.
Filesystem is listed as free. Auth: no auth required. Pickuppatrol MCP is listed as free. Auth: other. 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 filesystem and pickuppatrol-mcp as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Filesystem has a quality signal of 85/100 (Excellent) with 9 views, 0 installs and 91,487 GitHub stars. Pickuppatrol MCP has 57/100 (Good) with 2 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars.