Melta UI vs PDFGate MCP Server

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

Melta UI logoMelta UILegal · Local subprocess (stdio)AI-Ready design system MCP: melta UI tokens, component contracts, 99 rules, check_html self-verify68GreatAuth: not declaredPDFGate MCP Server logoPDFGate MCP ServerLegal · Local subprocess (stdio)MCP server for the PDFGate API. Generate PDFs, manage documents and handle e-signatures.61GoodAuth: api key required

Verdict: choose Melta UI for legal work as a local process; choose PDFGate MCP Server for legal as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.

Which MCP server should you choose?

Melta UI logoChoose Melta UI when

  • You need dedicated capabilities in the Legal domain.
  • You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
  • You want tools like get_token, get_component, check_rule.
Explore Melta UI

PDFGate MCP Server logoChoose PDFGate MCP Server when

  • You need dedicated capabilities in the Legal domain.
  • You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
  • Its auth model fits you: API key required.
  • You have the keys it needs: PDFGATE_API_KEY.
  • You want tools like generate_pdf, upload_file, get_document.
Explore PDFGate MCP Server

Feature & specification comparison

Rows where the two servers differ are marked.

SpecMelta UI logoMelta UIPDFGate MCP Server logoPDFGate MCP Server
CategoryLegalLegal
Quality signal68/100 · Great61/100 · Good
Install commandConfirmedConfirmed
TransportLocal subprocess (stdio)Local subprocess (stdio)
AuthNot declaredAPI key required
PricingNot declaredBYOK (pay the provider)
Required env varsNone listedPDFGATE_API_KEY
Verified ownerCommunity listingCommunity listing
GitHub stars2020
Directory activity 3 views 0 installs 0 upvotes 5 views 0 installs 0 upvotes
Tools624

Tools & capabilities

Melta UI tools 6

  • get_tokenGet a design token by dot-path. Returns the token object with its value and class mapping.
  • get_componentGet component metadata including variants, sizes, accessibility requirements, HTML sample, per-state specs (stateSpecs: disabled/loading/open/empty etc. — each with delta class strings + aria changes), and anatomy parts (overlay/container/th etc. with element/roles/class). Prefer these structured fields over inferring states from the HTML sample.
  • check_ruleCheck class strings against this design system's prohibition rules. Returns violations with reasons and alternatives.
  • check_htmlLint a full HTML/JSX source against melta-ui rules — the same checks as CI and the PostToolUse hook (class rules + html-attr rules + composition rules for HTML). Use this AFTER generating UI code to self-verify before presenting it. Response always includes coverage info (manual rules cannot be auto-checked).
  • searchSearch across tokens and components by keyword. Matches against names, values, class strings, and descriptions. Returns up to 20 results (truncated flag when more matched).
  • get_rulesGet melta-ui prohibition rules from rules.json (107 total). Use this to retrieve manual/contextual rules that check_rule cannot auto-detect. Supports filtering by category, severity, or detector.

PDFGate MCP Server tools 24

  • generate_pdfGenerate a PDF from a URL or raw HTML. Provide either 'url' or 'html', not both.
  • upload_fileUpload a PDF to PDFGate so it can be referenced by other operations. Provide either 'filePath' (local path) or 'url'.
  • get_documentRetrieve metadata for a stored PDFGate document by its ID.
  • delete_documentDelete a PDFGate document.
  • flatten_pdfFlatten an interactive PDF into a static, non-editable PDF. Creates a new document; does not overwrite the original.
  • extract_form_dataExtract form field values from a fillable PDF. Returns a JSON object mapping field names to their values.
  • add_form_fieldsAdd interactive form fields to a stored PDF — from placeholder tags (refined via fieldOverrides) and/or explicitly positioned fields.
  • compress_pdfCompress/optimise a PDF to reduce file size without changing visual content.
  • protect_pdfEncrypt a PDF with a password and optional permission restrictions. Produces a new document; the original is unchanged.
  • watermark_pdfApply a text or image watermark to a PDF. For type='text' provide 'text'; for type='image' provide 'watermarkImagePath'.
  • download_fileDownload the raw PDF bytes of a stored document, returned as an embedded resource. For a shareable link instead, use get_document.
  • create_envelopeCreate a signing envelope from one or more existing PDFGate documents. Each recipient is given either as email and name or as the recipientId of a stored recipient. Recipients marked embedded sign inside your application via create_embed_link and receive no emails. Use signingOrder to make recipients sign in sequence. Returns an envelope in 'created' status; call send_envelope to dispatch signing emails.
  • +12 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.

Melta UI

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "melta-ui": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "melta-ds-mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

PDFGate MCP Server

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mcp-server-37": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@pdfgate/mcp-server"
      ],
      "env": {
        "PDFGATE_API_KEY": "YOUR_PDFGATE_API_KEY_HERE"
      }
    }
  }
}

Frequently asked questions

Melta UI is categorized under Legal and uses a local stdio subprocess. PDFGate MCP Server belongs to Legal and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Melta UI for legal work and PDFGate MCP Server for legal.

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.

Melta UI has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. PDFGate MCP Server is bring-your-own-key: usage is billed by the API provider you supply a key for. Auth: api key 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 melta-ui and mcp-server-37 as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.

On AllMCPs, Melta UI has a quality signal of 68/100 (Great) with 3 views, 0 installs and 202 GitHub stars. PDFGate MCP Server has 61/100 (Good) with 5 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars.