Maidr vs Semiotic
A side-by-side look at the Maidr and Semiotic MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
M
MaidrData Visualization · Local subprocess (stdio)Accessible maidr charts in ChatGPT and Claude, explored by sound, braille and screen reader53GoodAuth: no auth requiredVerdict: choose Maidr for data visualization work as a local process; choose Semiotic for data visualization as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
MChoose Maidr when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Data Visualization domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: No auth required.
- You want tools like
show_chart, update_chart, maidr_list_charts.
Choose Semiotic when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Data Visualization domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- Its auth model fits you: No auth required.
- You want tools like
renderChart, renderInteractiveChart, getSchema.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | M Maidr | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Data Visualization | Data Visualization |
| Quality signal | 53/100 · Good | 67/100 · Great |
| Install command | Confirmed | Confirmed |
| Transport | Local subprocess (stdio) | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | No auth required | No auth required |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Required env vars | None listed | None listed |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | 1 | 2,716 |
| Directory activity | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 5 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | 7 | 18 |
| Full listing | View Maidr | View Semiotic |
Tools & capabilities
Maidr tools 7
show_chartDraws the chart and shows it. Returns the `viewId` the other tools take.update_chartDraws a new chart and puts it in place of the one in that `viewId`'s view. Adds no view. A reader in the chart stays in it, on the new chart; anyone else keeps their focus. Both are told it changed.maidr_list_chartsReturns the chart's layers, point counts, and, while the reader is in the chart, where they are, live. Silent.maidr_get_layer_dataReturns a page of a layer's points, each with the `target` that `maidr_navigate` takes. Silent.maidr_navigateMoves the reader to a point and announces it. With `focus: true`, for a reader who asked to be taken there, maidr first moves their keyboard focus into the chart, and answers `focused: true`, or `focused: false` when it could not, leaving the move to wait for them.maidr_list_commandsReturns the reader's commands, each with its id, title, keys, and whether the model can run it, and the reader's current modes (text, sound, braille, autoplay and more). Silent.maidr_run_commandRuns one of the reader's commands, such as `toggle_braille`, `autoplay_forward` or `go_to_max_value`, as if they had pressed its keys, and announces the result. Commands that open a dialog or text field are the reader's own. With `focus: true`, for a reader who asked for it now, maidr first moves t…
Semiotic tools 18
renderChartRender a Semiotic chart to static SVG. Supports the components returned by `getSchema` that are marked `[renderable]`. Pass `{ component: "LineChart", props: { data: [...], xAccessor: "x", yAccessor: "y" } }`. Returns SVG string plus a "Render evidence" JSON block (mark counts by scene type, resolv…renderInteractiveChartRender a static-data chart as a ChatGPT Apps widget. Uses the same Semiotic server render path as `renderChart`, then hydrates an iframe UI with fit, zoom, data, hover, and render-evidence controls.getSchemaReturn the prop schema for a specific component. Pass `{ component: "LineChart" }` to get its props, or omit `component` to list the complete schema-backed catalog. Components marked `[renderable]` are available through `renderChart`; realtime charts require a browser/live environment.suggestChartSample-row recommender. Pass `{ data: [{...}, ...] }` with 1–5 sample objects plus optional broad intent/capability filters.suggestChartsCapability-based recommender for bounded row data. Returns ranked chart suggestions with scores, reasons, caveats, import paths, and ready-to-use props.suggestStreamChartsRecommend streaming charts from a schema (shape, key, throughput). Returns `{ suggestions, excluded, stretchSuggestions }`.suggestStreamDashboardCompose a multi-panel dashboard from stream schemas and an audience layout policy.suggestDashboardBuild a multi-panel dashboard suggestion that covers distinct analytical intents.suggestStretchChartsRecommend audience-literacy stretch picks from an `AudienceProfile`.repairChartConfigCheck whether a requested chart fits a dataset and return ranked alternatives when it does not.interrogateChartReturn a statistical summary and chart-aware context for answering natural-language questions with optional annotations.diagnoseConfigCheck a chart configuration for common problems — empty data, bad dimensions, missing accessors, wrong data shape, and more. Returns a human-readable diagnostic report with actionable fixes.- +6 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.
Maidr
{
"mcpServers": {
"maidr": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"maidr-mcp"
]
}
}
}
Semiotic
{
"mcpServers": {
"nteract-semiotic": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"semiotic-mcp"
]
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Maidr is categorized under Data Visualization and uses a local stdio subprocess. Semiotic belongs to Data Visualization and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Maidr for data visualization work and Semiotic for data visualization.
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.
Maidr is listed as free. Auth: no auth required. Semiotic 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 maidr and nteract-semiotic as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Maidr has a quality signal of 53/100 (Good) with 0 views, 0 installs and 1 GitHub stars. Semiotic has 67/100 (Great) with 5 views, 0 installs and 2,716 GitHub stars.