What is the key difference between OpenHCS and Chiplab?

OpenHCS belongs to the Developer Tools category with local stdio execution, while Chiplab belongs to the Developer Tools category with cloud HTTP/SSE execution.

How do I install OpenHCS or Chiplab in Claude Desktop or Cursor?

Copy the mcpServers JSON configuration snippet provided on this page into your claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json file and restart your AI client.

Are OpenHCS and Chiplab free or paid?

OpenHCS operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required). Chiplab operates under a Free / Open Source model (No auth required).

Which MCP server has more tools and community activity?

OpenHCS lists 0 tools with 0 views and 0 GitHub stars. Chiplab lists 0 tools with 0 views and 14 GitHub stars.

Can I use both OpenHCS and Chiplab together in the same MCP host?

Yes! MCP hosts like Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, and VS Code support configuring multiple servers under the mcpServers object simultaneously.

How do I install OpenHCS or Chiplab in Claude Desktop, Cursor, or Windsurf?

Both servers follow the standard Model Context Protocol configuration format. Simply copy the JSON block from the configuration section above and paste it into your AI client's mcpServers configuration object (for instance in claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json ), then completely restart or refresh the application.

Are OpenHCS and Chiplab free to use, or do they require API keys?

OpenHCS is listed under a Free / Open Source model with No auth required . Chiplab operates under a Free / Open Source model with No auth required . If environment variables are required (such as API keys), be sure to define them under the env key in your MCP client's configuration file.

Can I run both OpenHCS and Chiplab at the same time in my AI client?

Yes! MCP clients support multi-server orchestration. You can include both openhcs and chiplab as distinct keys inside the single mcpServers object in your configuration file. Your AI assistant will automatically select and call the appropriate tool from either server during chat sessions.

Which MCP server has higher directory engagement and quality ratings?

On AllMCPs, OpenHCS has a Quality Score of 27 /100 ( Emerging ) with 0 views, 0 installs, and 0 GitHub stars. Chiplab holds a Quality Score of 43 /100 ( Fair ) with 0 views, 0 installs, and 14 GitHub stars.

Side-by-Side Model Context Protocol Comparison

OpenHCS vs Chiplab

In-depth architectural comparison of the OpenHCS and Chiplab MCP servers. Compare execution transports, security boundaries, tool capabilities, quality scores, and ready-to-paste client installation snippets for Claude, Cursor, Windsurf, and VS Code.

At a Glance & Executive Verdict

OpenHCS

Developer Tools · Local stdio

Quality: 27/100 (Emerging) | Auth: No auth required

Chiplab

Developer Tools · Remote HTTP/SSE

Quality: 43/100 (Fair) | Auth: No auth required

Verdict Summary: Choose OpenHCS if you need specialized Developer Tools tools running via a local process. Choose Chiplab if your workspace requires Developer Tools integration with remote web transport. Both servers can be configured concurrently in your client's mcpServers manifest.

Which MCP Server Should You Choose?

Choose OpenHCS when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Developer Tools domain.
You prefer local stdio subprocess transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).

Explore OpenHCS Details

Choose Chiplab when:

You need dedicated capabilities in the Developer Tools domain.
You prefer remote streaming HTTP/SSE transport architecture.
Your security boundary fits: No auth required (Free / Open Source).

Explore Chiplab Details

Feature & Specification Comparison

Specification	O OpenHCS Developer Tools	Chiplab Developer Tools
Summary	Inspect, author, validate, and run high-content microscopy workflows.	Run, build, and validate firmware on virtual hardware from your AI agent. Hardware knowledge corpus.
Category & Scope	Developer Tools	Developer Tools
Quality signal

Tools & Capabilities Breakdown

OpenHCS Tools (0)

No explicit tool names declared in metadata yet. Check project README on main listing page.

Chiplab Tools (0)

No explicit tool names declared in metadata yet. Check project README on main listing page.

Ready-to-Paste Client Configurations

Paste either (or both) of these JSON server blocks into your client config file (e.g. claude_desktop_config.json or ~/.cursor/mcp.json).

OpenHCS Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "openhcs": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "openhcs"
      ]
    }
  }
}

Chiplab Configuration

mcpServers (Claude Desktop / Cursor)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "chiplab": {
      "url": "https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-yellow.svg)](LICENSE"
    }
  }
}

Frequently Asked Questions

OpenHCS is categorized under Developer Tools and uses a local stdio subprocess. In contrast, Chiplab belongs to Developer Tools using remote streaming HTTP/SSE transport. Select OpenHCS when you need capabilities focused on developer tools and Chiplab when you require tools for developer tools.

More alternatives to OpenHCS More alternatives to Chiplab Developer Tools category hub Canonical compare URL