ITASCA MCP Server vs Vnsh
A side-by-side look at the ITASCA MCP Server and Vnsh MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
Verdict: choose ITASCA MCP Server for developer tools work as a local process; choose Vnsh for developer tools as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
Choose ITASCA MCP Server when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Developer Tools domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: No auth required.
- You want tools like
itasca_browse_commands, itasca_browse_python_api, itasca_browse_reference.
Choose Vnsh when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Developer Tools domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You want tools like
vnsh_read, vnsh_share, vnsh_share_file.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | ||
|---|---|---|
| Category | Developer Tools | Developer Tools |
| Quality signal | 64/100 · Good | 64/100 · Good |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | No auth required | Not declared |
| Pricing | Free | Not declared |
| Required env vars | None listed | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 220 | 158 |
| Directory activity | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 10 | 14 |
| Full listing | View ITASCA MCP Server | View Vnsh |
Tools & capabilities
ITASCA MCP Server tools 10
itasca_browse_commandsBrowse Itasca command documentation by path (like glob + cat). Navigation levels: - No command: All command categories overview - Category only (e.g., "ball"): List commands in category - Full command (e.g., "ball create"): Full documentation When to use: - You know the command category or exact command - You want to explore available commands Related tools: - itasca_query_command: Search commands by keywords (when path unknown) - itasca_browse_reference: Browse reference docs (e.g., "contact-models linear")itasca_browse_python_apiBrowse Itasca Python SDK documentation by path (like glob + cat).itasca_browse_referenceBrowse ITASCA reference documentation (syntax elements, model properties). Works across engines via the required ``software`` selector (pfc/flac/3dec). References are language elements used within commands, not standalone commands. Navigation levels: - No topic: All reference categories for the engine - Category (e.g., "constitutive-models"): List items in category - Full path (e.g., "constitutive-models mohr-coulomb"): Full documentation - Sub-item path (e.g., "plot-items zone contour"): Sub-item details When to use: - Need material/contact/joint model property names (kn, ks, fric, cohesion, friction, ...) - Need range filtering syntax (position, cylinder, group, id) - Need plot item configuration (contour, label, color-by, cut, transparency, legend) - Setting up model-assignment commands (e.g. "... cmodel assign ... property ...") - Using range filters in any command - Configuring "plot item create" commands Related tools: - itasca_browse_commands: Command syntax (e.g., "zone create") - itasca_query_command: Search commands by keywordsitasca_query_commandSearch Itasca command documentation by keywords (like grep). Returns matching command paths. Use itasca_browse_commands for full documentation. When to use: - You have keywords but don't know exact command path - Example: "ball create", "contact property", "model solve" Related tools: - itasca_browse_commands: Get full documentation for a known command path - itasca_browse_reference: Browse reference docs (e.g., "contact-models linear") - itasca_query_python_api: Search Python SDK by keywordsitasca_query_python_apiSearch Itasca Python SDK documentation by keywords (like grep). Returns matching API paths with signatures. Use itasca_browse_python_api for full documentation. When to use: - You have keywords but don't know exact API path - Example: "ball velocity", "create", "contact force" Related tools: - itasca_browse_python_api: Get full documentation for a known API path - itasca_query_command: Search Itasca commands by keywordsitasca_execute_taskSubmit a Python script file for asynchronous execution in the Itasca engine. Returns a task_id immediately; the script runs in the background. Companion tools manage the lifecycle: - itasca_check_task_status: poll output, progress, and final status - itasca_interrupt_task: cancel a running task - itasca_list_tasks: browse task history For synchronous, inline execution, use itasca_execute_code instead. While the task is cycling, itasca_execute_code shares the same __main__ namespace in the engine's main thread, so you can inspect or modify simulation state live — probe progress, tune parameters mid-run, swap callbacks, or trigger early termination via a sentinel variable. Submit with reasonable starting values and refine as the task runs. Console output from itasca.command() inside the script (table dumps, list output, command summaries) is captured into the task log alongside Python prints, visible through itasca_check_task_status. Script-writing rules: - Multi-line itasca.command("""...""") batches are normalized to one engine call per command, keeping the task interruptible mid-batch. Normalization recognizes itasca.command through its import name; call it through that name directly — rebinding via intermediate variables (`_it = itasca`) bypasses it and logs a bridge warning. - Pass each FISH definition block (`fish define` / `fish operator` / legacy bare `define`, through its terminating standalone `end`) whole, in ONE itasca.command() string; feeding one line-by-line leaves the engine blocked in interactive FISH mode until completed manually in the GUI console. Per-line loops are fine for ordinary commands. - `program call '<file>'` (.p3dat / .p2dat / .dat / ...) is supported: the bridge runs the file inline, one command per engine call, so the bridge stays reachable, the task stays interruptible, and the file's output lands in the task log command by command.itasca_check_task_statusCheck status and paginated output for a submitted Itasca task. Output combines Python prints and Itasca console output from itasca.command() calls (table dumps, list output, command summaries) interleaved in execution order. Use skip_newest / limit to paginate, or filter to keep only matching lines.itasca_list_tasksList tasks tracked by the bridge, newest first. Read-only. Each entry carries task_id, status (pending / running / completed / failed / interrupted), description, entry_script, start_time, end_time and elapsed_time; total_count gives the size of the full history for paging via skip_newest + limit. Task history is persisted in the engine working directory and survives GUI restarts. Use this to recover a task_id from an earlier session, to see what is running or recently finished, or as a cheap bridge-connectivity check. For a task's output and result use itasca_check_task_status; to submit a script use itasca_execute_task.itasca_interrupt_taskRequest interruption of a pending or running Itasca task. Returns as soon as the request is accepted; it does not wait for the task to stop. Confirm the stop and read the output produced so far with itasca_check_task_status. Only the script stops; the engine state is preserved, so you can inspect it with itasca_execute_code or continue from it with a new itasca_execute_task. Tasks already completed, failed or interrupted return an error. If the task_id is unknown, find it with itasca_list_tasks.itasca_execute_codeExecute Python code synchronously in the running Itasca engine process. Returns stdout and an optional result variable immediately. Code runs in the engine's main thread, sharing the same __main__ namespace as any running task — side effects persist and are immediately visible to the task on its next cycle. The tool stays responsive while a task submitted via itasca_execute_task is cycling (calls interleave at cycle gaps), so use it as a live REPL — nothing has to be pre-scripted into the task up front. Typical uses: - Query model state and read Itasca command output: itasca.command('ball list') etc. — table dumps, list output, and command summaries are captured and interleaved with Python prints in execution order - Live inspection and tuning during a running task: check forces or contact statistics, modify parameters, swap callbacks, set sentinel variables the task reads each cycle - Create and export plots: itasca.command('plot ...') Environment: the engine's embedded Python interpreter (Itasca 9+ → Python 3.10, pre-9 → Python 3.6 or older; the product+version is encoded in sys.executable, e.g. PFC900). When unsure, check sys.version_info before relying on newer syntax. Code-writing rules (shared with itasca_execute_task): - Multi-line itasca.command("""...""") batches are normalized to one engine call per command, keeping the bridge reachable mid-batch. Normalization recognizes itasca.command through its import name; call it through that name directly — rebinding via intermediate variables (`_it = itasca`) bypasses it and the output carries a bridge warning. - Pass each FISH definition block (`fish define` / `fish operator` / legacy bare `define`, through its terminating standalone `end`) whole, in ONE itasca.command() string; feeding one line-by-line leaves the engine blocked in interactive FISH mode until completed manually in the GUI console. Per-line loops are fine for ordinary commands. - `program call '<file>'` (.p3dat / .p2dat / .dat / ...) is supported: the bridge runs the file inline, one command per engine call, so the bridge stays reachable, the run stays interruptible, and the file's output arrives command by command. Synchronous semantics: the request blocks until the code finishes or hits the timeout (default 10s, max 20s), and output is returned in full. The call is not tracked by itasca_list_tasks and cannot be interrupted mid-execution. For cancellable, pollable, or background work, submit via itasca_execute_task instead.
Vnsh tools 14
vnsh_readReads any vnsh URL: decrypts legacy vnsh.dev/v links locally, or directly fetches a public vnshcontent.dev/p link. Public content is intentionally unencrypted.vnsh_shareEncrypts text content locally and uploads it to vnsh, returning a shareable URL. Use this when output exceeds ~50 lines or ~2000 characters, when generating complete code files, or when the user wants portable/shareable output. ALWAYS prefer vnsh_share over dumping large content into chat. The content is encrypted before upload - the server only sees encrypted bytes.vnsh_share_fileEncrypts a local file and uploads it to vnsh, returning a shareable URL. Use this for images, screenshots, PDFs, binaries, or any file that should not be loaded into context. More efficient than vnsh_share for large or binary files.vnsh_artifact_createCreates a permanent, service-readable Account Artifact in the signed-in user’s Library. Use this for durable knowledge that the user wants their other Agents to discover and update. Requires VNSH_TOKEN. This is different from an encrypted Incognito workspace: vnsh can read Account Artifact content so authorized Agents can collaborate on it.vnsh_artifact_listLists permanent Account Artifacts available to the connected user. Use this instead of asking the human to paste a link when continuing earlier account knowledge. Requires VNSH_TOKEN.vnsh_artifact_readReads the current content and version of one permanent Account Artifact. Pass the returned version to vnsh_artifact_update so another Agent cannot be overwritten.vnsh_artifact_updateCreates a new immutable version of an Account Artifact. Requires the base_version returned by vnsh_artifact_read. On conflict, re-read, merge, and retry; never silently overwrite.vnsh_workspace_createCreates a shared workspace and returns one link that any agent can read AND write. Use this when work will continue somewhere else: handing a plan, status doc, design, or investigation to another agent or another session, or when the user says they will pick this up in a different tool. Unlike vnsh_share (a one-shot snapshot), a workspace keeps the same URL as its content evolves. Content is encrypted locally; the server never sees the key. Anonymous workspaces expire 24h after the last write (ttl can extend this to a week). With VNSH_TOKEN, new workspaces and artifacts are kept until the account owner deletes them.vnsh_workspace_renewExtends the expiry of a vnsh workspace without changing its content. Use this when the user says a link is about to expire, or asks to keep something alive longer. Needs the edit link (a #w= fragment); a view-only #r= link cannot renew. The version is not bumped, so any pending edit still applies.vnsh_workspace_readReads the current content of a workspace: encrypted /w/ links with #w= or #r=, and public /p/ links with no fragment. Use this whenever the user provides such a link — it is how you pick up work another agent left for you. Returns the content and its version number; pass that version to vnsh_workspace_update to write safely.vnsh_workspace_updateReplaces the content of a vnsh workspace, keeping the same URL. Use this to record progress so far, revise a shared plan, or leave the next agent an updated document. Writes are version-checked: if someone else wrote first, this returns their current content so you can merge it with yours and call this again.vnsh_workspace_openDecrypts a vnsh workspace to a local temp file and opens it in the browser. Use this when the user wants to LOOK at a workspace rather than have its content read into context — HTML reports, dashboards, and diagrams render properly this way. Rendering happens locally from file://, so nothing is exposed to any server.- +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.
ITASCA MCP Server
{
"mcpServers": {
"itasca-mcp-server": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"itasca-mcp"
]
}
}
}
Vnsh
{
"mcpServers": {
"vnsh": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"vnsh-mcp@1.9.0"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
ITASCA MCP Server is categorized under Developer Tools and uses a local stdio subprocess. Vnsh belongs to Developer Tools and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick ITASCA MCP Server for developer tools work and Vnsh for developer tools.
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.
ITASCA MCP Server is listed as free. Auth: no auth required. Vnsh 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 itasca-mcp-server and vnsh as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, ITASCA MCP Server has a quality signal of 64/100 (Good) with 0 views, 0 installs and 220 GitHub stars. Vnsh has 64/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 158 GitHub stars.