GNOME UI MCP vs Gnome Desktop MCP
A side-by-side look at the GNOME UI MCP and Gnome Desktop MCP MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose GNOME UI MCP for os automation work over a hosted endpoint; choose Gnome Desktop MCP for os automation. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose GNOME UI MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the OS Automation domain.
- You prefer a remote HTTP/SSE transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESS, XDG_RUNTIME_DIR, WAYLAND_DISPLAY, DISPLAY, XDG_SESSION_TYPE.
Choose Gnome Desktop MCP when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the OS Automation domain.
- Its auth model fits you: No auth required.
- You want tools like
screenshot, screenshot_window, screenshot_area.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | OS Automation | OS Automation |
| Quality signal | 37/100 · Fair | 49/100 · Fair |
| Install command | Confirmed | Not confirmed yet |
| Transport | Remote HTTP/SSE | — |
| Auth | Not declared | No auth required |
| Pricing | Not declared | Free |
| Required env vars | DBUS_SESSION_BUS_ADDRESSXDG_RUNTIME_DIRWAYLAND_DISPLAYDISPLAYXDG_SESSION_TYPE | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 1 | 15 |
| Directory activity | 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 4 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | Not listed | 26 |
| Full listing | View GNOME UI MCP | View Gnome Desktop MCP |
Tools & capabilities
GNOME UI MCP tools
No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from the listing page.
Gnome Desktop MCP tools 26
screenshotFull screen capturescreenshot_windowCapture a specific windowscreenshot_areaCapture a rectangular regionpick_colorGet pixel color at coordinatescleanup_screenshotsRemove temp screenshot fileslist_windowsList all open windowsget_windowGet detailed window propertiesfocus_windowFocus and raise a windowmove_resize_windowMove and resize a windowminimize_windowMinimize/restoremaximize_windowMaximize/restoreclose_windowClose a window- +14 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.
GNOME UI MCP
{
"mcpServers": {
"gnome-ui-mcp": {
"url": "http://127.0.0.1:8000/mcp"
}
}
}
Gnome Desktop MCP
No confirmed install command for Gnome Desktop MCP yet — follow the setup steps linked from its listing page rather than a guessed package name.
Frequently asked questions
GNOME UI MCP is categorized under OS Automation and uses a remote HTTP/SSE transport. Gnome Desktop MCP belongs to OS Automation and uses an install path we have not confirmed yet. Pick GNOME UI MCP for os automation work and Gnome Desktop 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. Gnome Desktop MCP has no confirmed install command yet — follow its own setup instructions.
GNOME UI MCP has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Gnome Desktop 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 gnome-ui-mcp and sbuysse-gnome-desktop-mcp as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, GNOME UI MCP has a quality signal of 37/100 (Fair) with 2 views, 0 installs and 1 GitHub stars. Gnome Desktop MCP has 49/100 (Fair) with 4 views, 0 installs and 15 GitHub stars.