Shellward vs LinkPilot

A side-by-side look at the Shellward and LinkPilot MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.

Shellward logoShellwardSecurity · Local subprocess (stdio)AI Agent Security Middleware & MCP Server with 8-layer defense including prompt injection detection, DLP data flow tracking, command blocking, and PII detection. 7 MCP tools, zero dependencies.60GoodAuth: no auth requiredLinkPilot logoLinkPilotSecurity · Local subprocess (stdio)Send a password or API key as a link that opens once. Encrypted client-side, so we cannot read it.56GoodAuth: not declared

Verdict: choose Shellward for security work as a local process; choose LinkPilot for security as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.

Which MCP server should you choose?

Shellward logoChoose Shellward when

  • You need dedicated capabilities in the Security domain.
  • You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
  • Its auth model fits you: No auth required.
  • You have the keys it needs: SHELLWARD_MODE, SHELLWARD_LOCALE, SHELLWARD_THRESHOLD, SHELLWARD_BASELINE_PATH.
Explore Shellward

LinkPilot logoChoose LinkPilot when

  • You need dedicated capabilities in the Security domain.
  • You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
  • You have the keys it needs: LINKPILOT_API_KEY.
  • You want tools like create_secret_link, create_short_link, list_links.
Explore LinkPilot

Feature & specification comparison

Rows where the two servers differ are marked.

SpecShellward logoShellwardLinkPilot logoLinkPilot
CategorySecuritySecurity
Quality signal60/100 · Good56/100 · Good
Install commandConfirmedConfirmed
TransportLocal subprocess (stdio)Local subprocess (stdio)
AuthNo auth requiredNot declared
PricingFreeNot declared
Required env varsSHELLWARD_MODESHELLWARD_LOCALESHELLWARD_THRESHOLDSHELLWARD_BASELINE_PATHLINKPILOT_API_KEY
Verified ownerCommunity listingCommunity listing
GitHub stars1391
Directory activity 3 views 0 installs 0 upvotes 1 views 0 installs 0 upvotes
ToolsNot listed6

Tools & capabilities

Shellward tools

No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from the listing page.

LinkPilot tools 6

  • create_secret_linkEncrypt text locally and return a one-time URL
  • create_short_linkShorten a URL, with click tracking
  • list_linksList short links and their click counts
  • list_secretsSecret **metadata** only: status, views, expiry
  • revoke_secretDestroy a secret link immediately
  • whoamiPlan, limits, usage and remaining rate budget

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.

Shellward

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "jnmetacode-shellward": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "shellward"
      ],
      "env": {
        "SHELLWARD_MODE": "YOUR_SHELLWARD_MODE_HERE",
        "SHELLWARD_LOCALE": "YOUR_SHELLWARD_LOCALE_HERE",
        "SHELLWARD_THRESHOLD": "YOUR_SHELLWARD_THRESHOLD_HERE",
        "SHELLWARD_BASELINE_PATH": "YOUR_SHELLWARD_BASELINE_PATH_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}

LinkPilot

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "linkpilot": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@uselinkpilot/mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "LINKPILOT_API_KEY": "YOUR_LINKPILOT_API_KEY_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}

Frequently asked questions

Shellward is categorized under Security and uses a local stdio subprocess. LinkPilot belongs to Security and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Shellward for security work and LinkPilot for security.

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.

Shellward is listed as free. Auth: no auth required. LinkPilot 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 jnmetacode-shellward and linkpilot as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.

On AllMCPs, Shellward has a quality signal of 60/100 (Good) with 3 views, 0 installs and 139 GitHub stars. LinkPilot has 56/100 (Good) with 1 views, 0 installs and 1 GitHub stars.