Field-by-field comparison
Compare the evidence before choosing an MCP.
Each signal stays separate, missing facts remain visible, and the column order follows your selection.
| Evidence field | KiCAD MCP ServerMCP100 Selected | Ghidra MCP ServerMCP100 Selected |
|---|---|---|
| Task fit | ||
| Best for |
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| Not ideal for |
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| Avoid when |
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| Provenance | ||
| Provenance details | Community implementation github:mixelpixx · Publisher source ↗ | Community implementation github:bethington · Publisher source ↗ |
| Maintenance | ||
| Maintenance details | Repo: Aug 14, 2026 Package: Not documented | Repo: Aug 14, 2026 Package: Not documented |
| Popularity evidence | ||
| GitHub stars | 1,876 GitHub stars · checked 2026-08-14T18:46:26.000Z | 3,308 GitHub stars · checked 2026-08-14T18:46:26.000Z |
| External adoption evidence |
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| Client coverage | ||
| Client coverage details | Claude Code✓ Local stdio Claude Desktop✓ Local stdio Codex✓ Local stdio VS Code✓ Local stdio Cursor✓ Local stdio OpenCode✓ Local stdio | Claude Code✓ Local stdio Claude Desktop✓ Local stdio Codex✓ Local stdio VS Code✓ Local stdio Cursor✓ Local stdio OpenCode✓ Local stdio |
| Client coverage note | Local stdio runs on your computer. Streamable HTTP connects to a remotely hosted MCP server. | |
| Access and data | ||
| Authentication | No authentication is documented for the local MCP server. JLCPCB live lookup optionally uses JLCPCB_APP_ID, JLCPCB_API_KEY, and JLCPCB_API_SECRET; local catalog search needs no credentials. | HTTP bearer authentication is optional through GHIDRA_MCP_AUTH_TOKEN; without it authentication is disabled. Non-loopback binding is refused without a token. Scripts require GHIDRA_MCP_ALLOW_SCRIPTS. |
| Cost | The MIT-licensed server lists no MCP fee. The JLCPCB guide says Basic parts have free assembly and Extended parts charge a $3 setup fee per unique part; manufacturing charges are separate. | The Apache-2.0 project lists no MCP fee. Ghidra, Java, Maven, hosting, and shared-server costs are separate. |
| Permissions | Reads and writes KiCad boards, schematics, projects, libraries, and assets, with auto-save, UI control, autorouting, exports, and optional JLCPCB catalog and API operations. | Reads and writes binaries and projects, renames and types symbols, adds comments and structures, executes scripts, performs P-code emulation and debugging, and integrates with Ghidra Server. |
| Data handling | Local operations read and write design files and paths. Developer logs contain tool-call history, paths, and design details. Optional JLCPCB lookups send configured credentials and requests to JLCPCB; retention is not documented. | Operates on local binaries and projects and optionally shared Ghidra Server data; decompilation, memory, debugger, and script results are returned through MCP. Telemetry and retention are not documented. |
| Limitations | ||
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| Risk context | Auto-save, deletion, board and schematic writes, routing, and external integrations can damage designs or expose files and credentials. Use backups and version control, review writes, and protect environment files and logs. | Write access, optional arbitrary Java scripts, debugger control, and shared-server access create substantial integrity and confidentiality risk. Prefer loopback, bearer auth, scopes, scripts disabled, and supervised writes. |
| Evidence date | ||
| Editorial review | 2026-08-11 | 2026-08-11 |
| Candidate evidence | 2026-08-14T18:46:26.000Z | 2026-08-14T18:46:26.000Z |
Popularity, maintenance, fit, permissions, and client support are independent evidence fields.
Read the evidence method →