article

README

Canvas MCP Server

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for interacting with the Canvas API. This server allows you to manage courses, assignments, enrollments, and grades within Canvas.

Prerequisites

Node.js: Version 18 or higher
Canvas API Token: Obtain from your Canvas account
Canvas Domain: Typically canvas.instructure.com

Setup

Clone the Repository

git clone https://github.com/yourusername/canvas-mcp-server.git
cd canvas-mcp-server

Install Dependencies
```
npm install
```
Configure Environment Variables

Copy the example environment file:

cp .env.example .env

Edit .env and replace the placeholder values with your actual Canvas API token and domain.

Build the Project

npm run build

Run the Server
```
npm start
```
The server will start and listen for MCP requests via stdio.

Connecting to Claude Desktop

Update Claude Configuration

Add the MCP server configuration to your claude_desktop_config.json:

  "canvas-mcp-server": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "canvas-mcp-server"]
    },

Restart Claude Desktop

Quit Claude Desktop completely. Start Claude Desktop again. Navigate to the 🔌 menu to find and connect your Canvas MCP server.

Available Tools (more student focused stuff coming soon)

canvas_create_course: Create a new course in Canvas.
canvas_update_course: Update an existing course in Canvas.
canvas_create_assignment: Create a new assignment in a Canvas course.
canvas_update_assignment: Update an existing assignment.
canvas_submit_grade: Submit a grade for a student's assignment.
canvas_enroll_user: Enroll a user in a course.

Error Handling

Tools return error messages with isError: true to indicate issues. Ensure all required environment variables are set to avoid runtime errors.

Troubleshooting

Build Errors:

Check TypeScript version: npx tsc --version Clean and rebuild: rm -rf build/ && npm run build

Runtime Errors:

Check logs for detailed error messages. Ensure environment variables are correctly set.
Type Errors:

Validate types using TypeScript's type checking: npx tsc --noEmit

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please open an issue or submit a pull request for any improvements or bug fixes.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.

Additional Notes

Type Safety: The types.ts file ensures that all interactions with the Canvas API are type-safe, reducing runtime errors and improving code maintainability.
Error Handling: The server gracefully handles errors by returning meaningful messages with the isError flag, allowing the client (e.g., Claude Desktop) to understand and react appropriately.
Environment Variables: Sensitive information like API tokens are managed through environment variables, enhancing security and flexibility across different environments.
Modularity: Separating concerns into different files (types.ts, client.ts, index.ts) makes the codebase easier to navigate and maintain.

Feel free to adjust the file paths and configurations according to your project's specific needs. Let me know if you need further assistance!

mcp-canvas-lms