Hammerspoon vs Capsulate
A side-by-side look at the Hammerspoon and Capsulate MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose Hammerspoon for os automation work as a local process; choose Capsulate for os automation as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose Hammerspoon when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the OS Automation domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You want tools like
hs_list_windows, hs_focus_window, hs_move_window.
Choose Capsulate when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the OS Automation domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
CAPSULATE_API_KEY. - You want tools like
capsulate_launch, capsulate_list, capsulate_get.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | OS Automation | OS Automation |
| Quality signal | 53/100 · Good | 61/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | Not declared |
| Pricing | Not declared | Not declared |
| Required env vars | None listed | CAPSULATE_API_KEY |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 2 | 0 |
| Directory activity | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 75 | 54 |
| Full listing | View Hammerspoon | View Capsulate |
Tools & capabilities
Hammerspoon tools 75
hs_list_windowsAll visible windows with app, title, frame, idhs_focus_windowBring window to front by id or title matchhs_move_windowMove/resize window by idhs_window_layout16 presets (halves, thirds, quarters, grid, cascade, center…) + custom fractional layoutshs_save_layoutSnapshot all window positions as a named layouths_restore_layoutRestore a saved layout (matches by app + title)hs_list_layoutsList saved layout nameshs_spaces_listAll spaces per screen with active markershs_spaces_activeCurrently focused space + screenhs_spaces_gotoSwitch by ID or indexhs_spaces_move_windowMove window to another space (optionally follow)hs_spaces_addCreate a new space- +63 more on the listing page
Capsulate tools 54
capsulate_launchLaunch a new isolated cloud sandbox (capsule) and (by default) wait until it is ready. Returns the capsule id and connection info. Use the returned sessionId for exec/files/etc. With skill, the capsule is the skill's environment (its saved template with the software set up) and the skill's setup procedure has run, so you can use its procedures right away.capsulate_listList the team's active capsules.capsulate_getFetch a capsule's full details by id.capsulate_destroyTerminate a capsule and release its resources.capsulate_execExecute a command inside a capsule and return stdout, stderr, and the exit code. Provide the command as an argv array, e.g. ['ls','-la','/workspace']. Commands first: files, installs, settings, scripts and data are one call here, a fraction of a second, where the screen takes many steps. On a Linux desktop capsule it runs as the desktop user 'capsulate' (home folder, DISPLAY :1, so apps open on the shared screen); prefix 'sudo' for root. On Windows pass ['powershell.exe', '-Command', '<script>']: it runs in the desktop session's PowerShell, about 0.3 s. It works while a person holds the screen.capsulate_run_codeRun a snippet of code inside a capsule: python, node or bash on Linux, powershell on Windows (about 0.3 s). Returns stdout/stderr/exit. Faster than doing the same on the screen.capsulate_write_fileWrite a UTF-8 text file inside a capsule (the folder is created). One call, far faster than typing it into an editor on the screen; open it afterwards with capsulate_open if the person should see it.capsulate_read_fileRead a UTF-8 text file from inside a capsule. One call, no screen needed.capsulate_set_envSet environment variables inside a running capsule.capsulate_screenshotCapture a screenshot of a desktop capsule. Returns the image so you can see the screen. For a smaller, faster image ask for format 'jpeg', a scale such as 0.5, or only a region (x, y, w, h) of the screen; the text after the image says how its points map back to screen pixels, which click and the other tools take.capsulate_clickClick at pixel (x, y) in a desktop capsule. Pass screenshot:true to see the screen after the click.capsulate_typeType text into the focused field of a desktop capsule.- +42 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.
Hammerspoon
{
"mcpServers": {
"hammerspoon": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"hammerspoon-mcp"
]
}
}
}
Capsulate
{
"mcpServers": {
"capsulate": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"@capsulate/mcp"
],
"env": {
"CAPSULATE_API_KEY": "YOUR_CAPSULATE_API_KEY_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Hammerspoon is categorized under OS Automation and uses a local stdio subprocess. Capsulate belongs to OS Automation and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Hammerspoon for os automation work and Capsulate 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.
Hammerspoon has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Capsulate has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. 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 hammerspoon and capsulate as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Hammerspoon has a quality signal of 53/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 2 GitHub stars. Capsulate has 61/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars.