canvas-parent-mcp

MCP server for Canvas LMS (Instructure) — read courses, grades, assignments, announcements, planner items, and conversations; download course files. Mirrors the parent/observer scope of the sibling infinitecampus-mcp.

• npm: npmjs.com/package/canvas-parent-mcp
• Source: github.com/chrischall/canvas-parent-mcp

Setup

Option A — npx (recommended)

Add to .mcp.json in your project or ~/.claude/mcp.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "canvas": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "canvas-parent-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "CANVAS_BASE_URL": "https://cms.instructure.com"
      }
    }
  }
}

With the fetchproxy extension installed and a signed-in Canvas tab, that's enough — the MCP reads your session cookies at startup. Add CANVAS_TOKEN, CANVAS_CLIENT_*/CANVAS_REFRESH_TOKEN, or CANVAS_USERNAME/CANVAS_PASSWORD to the env block if you'd rather use one of those modes.

Option B — from source

git clone https://github.com/chrischall/canvas-parent-mcp
cd canvas-parent-mcp
npm install && npm run build

Authentication

fetchproxy fallback (recommended, zero-config). Set only CANVAS_BASE_URL. Install the fetchproxy browser extension, sign into your Canvas instance once. The MCP reads canvas_session + pseudonym_credentials cookies from your tab at startup; all API calls go directly from Node after that. Works with any auth flow (SSO/SAML/2FA included).

Alternatives (env-var)

• Personal access token — set CANVAS_TOKEN. Most institutions have disabled this for non-admins.
• OAuth — set CANVAS_CLIENT_ID, CANVAS_CLIENT_SECRET, CANVAS_REFRESH_TOKEN. Bootstrap via canvas-parent-mcp-qr-login.
• Username/password (session-scrape) — set CANVAS_USERNAME + CANVAS_PASSWORD. Direct Canvas accounts only (no SSO/2FA). Brittle.

Precedence when multiple are set: CANVAS_TOKEN > username/password > OAuth > fetchproxy. Set CANVAS_DISABLE_FETCHPROXY=1 to opt out of the fallback.

Tools (prefix canvas_)

Profile & observees

• canvas_get_profile — your Canvas profile
• canvas_list_observees — students linked to your observer account

Courses

• canvas_list_courses — your active courses with grades
• canvas_get_course(courseId) — course detail with syllabus + teachers

Assignments & submissions

• canvas_list_assignments(courseId) — assignments in a course
• canvas_list_missing_submissions — past-due unsubmitted work
• canvas_get_submission(courseId, assignmentId) — your submission with comments + rubric
• canvas_list_recent_submissions(courseId) — recently graded submissions (default 14d)

Grades

• canvas_list_enrollments — per-course grades

Calendar & planner

• canvas_list_calendar_events — calendar events / assignments
• canvas_list_upcoming_events — server-curated next 7 days
• canvas_list_planner_items — unified to-do feed

Communication

• canvas_list_announcements(contextCodes) — course announcements
• canvas_list_conversations — inbox
• canvas_get_conversation(id) — full conversation thread
• canvas_list_discussion_topics(courseId) — course discussion topics

Files

• canvas_list_course_files(courseId) — file metadata
• canvas_download_file(url, destinationPath) — download a file to disk

Notes

• Set CANVAS_NAME if you want a friendly label other than the host portion of the base URL.
• All read tools that target a user accept an optional observeeId parameter (defaults to self) — useful when an observer is checking on a linked student.