Time Machine vs Brightspace
A side-by-side look at the Time Machine and Brightspace MCP servers: transport, auth, tools, quality signals, and the config to install either one in Claude, Cursor, Windsurf or VS Code.
T
Time MachineEducationAI-powered corporate learning platform — manage courses, users, and insights via Claude.37FairAuth: not declaredVerdict: choose Time Machine for education work; choose Brightspace for education as a local process. You can also run both side by side in one mcpServers block.
Which MCP server should you choose?
TChoose Time Machine when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Education domain.
Choose Brightspace when
- You need dedicated capabilities in the Education domain.
- You prefer a local stdio subprocess transport.
- You have the keys it needs:
BRIGHTSPACE_API_TOKEN, BRIGHTSPACE_USERNAME, BRIGHTSPACE_PASSWORD, BRIGHTSPACE_TOTP_SECRET, BRIGHTSPACE_COOKIE, BRIGHTSPACE_NO_UPDATE_CHECK. - You want tools like
check_auth, list_my_courses, get_my_grades.
Feature & specification comparison
Rows where the two servers differ are marked.
| Spec | T Time Machine | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Education | Education |
| Quality signal | 37/100 · Fair | 59/100 · Good |
| Install command | Not confirmed yet | Confirmed |
| Transport | — | Local subprocess (stdio) |
| Auth | Not declared | Not declared |
| Pricing | Not declared | Not declared |
| Required env vars | None listed | BRIGHTSPACE_API_TOKENBRIGHTSPACE_USERNAMEBRIGHTSPACE_PASSWORDBRIGHTSPACE_TOTP_SECRETBRIGHTSPACE_COOKIEBRIGHTSPACE_NO_UPDATE_CHECK |
| Verified owner | Community listing | Community listing |
| GitHub stars | — | 13 |
| Directory activity | 0 views 0 installs 0 upvotes | 2 views 0 installs 0 upvotes |
| Tools | Not listed | 29 |
| Full listing | View Time Machine | View Brightspace |
Tools & capabilities
Time Machine tools
No tool names declared yet. Check the project README from the listing page.
Brightspace tools 29
check_authVerify authentication and show the active user identitylist_my_coursesList all enrolled coursesget_my_gradesGet grades for a courseget_assignmentsList assignments and dropbox foldersget_assignment_filesDownload and read instructor-posted assignment filesget_upcoming_due_datesList assignments due in the next N daysget_feedbackRead the grade, instructor comments and per-criterion rubric results for an assignmentget_assignment_rubricShow an assignment's grading rubric (criteria, levels, points, descriptions)get_my_submissionsList and download the files you (or your group) submitted, even after the folder closesget_syllabusFetch the course syllabusget_course_contentBrowse modules and topics (includes topic IDs)get_topic_fileDownload and read a content topic file (DOCX, PDF, HTML, plain text)- +17 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.
Time Machine
No confirmed install command for Time Machine yet — follow the setup steps linked from its listing page rather than a guessed package name.
Brightspace
{
"mcpServers": {
"brightspace": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"brightspace-mcp@latest"
],
"env": {
"BRIGHTSPACE_API_TOKEN": "YOUR_BRIGHTSPACE_API_TOKEN_HERE",
"BRIGHTSPACE_USERNAME": "YOUR_BRIGHTSPACE_USERNAME_HERE",
"BRIGHTSPACE_PASSWORD": "YOUR_BRIGHTSPACE_PASSWORD_HERE",
"BRIGHTSPACE_TOTP_SECRET": "YOUR_BRIGHTSPACE_TOTP_SECRET_HERE",
"BRIGHTSPACE_COOKIE": "YOUR_BRIGHTSPACE_COOKIE_HERE",
"BRIGHTSPACE_NO_UPDATE_CHECK": "YOUR_BRIGHTSPACE_NO_UPDATE_CHECK_HERE"
}
}
}
}
Frequently asked questions
Time Machine is categorized under Education and uses an install path we have not confirmed yet. Brightspace belongs to Education and uses a local stdio subprocess. Pick Time Machine for education work and Brightspace for education.
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. Time Machine has no confirmed install command yet — follow its own setup instructions.
Time Machine has no declared pricing — check the project's own site. Brightspace 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 time-machine and brightspace as separate keys in the same mcpServers object, and your assistant will call tools from either one.
On AllMCPs, Time Machine has a quality signal of 37/100 (Fair) with 0 views, 0 installs and 0 GitHub stars. Brightspace has 59/100 (Good) with 2 views, 0 installs and 13 GitHub stars.