Canvas MCP Server v2.3.0

A comprehensive Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for Canvas LMS with complete student, instructor, and account administration functionality

🚀 What's New in v2.3.0

• 🌐 NEW: Streamable HTTP transport support (MCP_TRANSPORT=streamable-http)
• 🖥️ Preserved: First-class stdio transport for local MCP clients
• 🧪 Added: Behavior tests for lifecycle, transports, and structured failure-path errors
• 🧱 Improved: Stricter tool schemas and codemode-oriented tool descriptions
• 🔧 FIXED: Course creation "page not found" error (missing account_id parameter)
• 👨‍💼 Account Management: Complete account-level administration tools
• 📊 Reports & Analytics: Generate and access Canvas account reports
• 👥 User Management: Create and manage users at the account level
• 🏢 Multi-Account Support: Handle account hierarchies and sub-accounts
• ✅ API Compliance: All endpoints now follow proper Canvas API patterns

🎯 Key Features

🎓 For Students

• Course Management: Access all courses, syllabi, and course materials
• Assignment Workflow: View, submit (text/URL/files), and track assignments
• Communication: Participate in discussions, read announcements, send messages
• Progress Tracking: Monitor grades, module completion, and calendar events
• Quizzes: Take quizzes, view results and feedback
• File Access: Browse and download course files and resources

👨‍🏫 For Instructors

• Course Creation: Create and manage course structure (now with proper account support)
• Grading: Grade submissions, provide feedback, manage rubrics
• User Management: Enroll students, manage permissions
• Content Management: Create assignments, quizzes, discussions

👨‍💼 For Account Administrators (NEW!)

• Account Management: Manage institutional Canvas accounts
• User Administration: Create and manage users across accounts
• Course Oversight: List and manage all courses within accounts
• Reporting: Generate enrollment, grade, and activity reports
• Sub-Account Management: Handle account hierarchies and structures

🛠️ Technical Excellence

• Robust API: Automatic retries, pagination, comprehensive error handling
• Cloud Ready: Docker containers, Kubernetes manifests, health checks
• Well Tested: Unit tests, integration tests, mocking, coverage reports
• Type Safe: Full TypeScript implementation with strict types
• 50+ Tools: Comprehensive coverage of Canvas LMS functionality

Quick Start

Option 1: Claude Desktop Integration (Recommended MCP Setup)

Add to claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "canvas-mcp-server": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "canvas-mcp-server"],
      "env": {
        "CANVAS_API_TOKEN": "your_token_here",
        "CANVAS_DOMAIN": "your_school.instructure.com"
      }
    }
  }
}

Option 2: NPM Package

# Install globally
npm install -g canvas-mcp-server

# Configure
export CANVAS_API_TOKEN="your_token_here"
export CANVAS_DOMAIN="your_school.instructure.com"

# Run
canvas-mcp-server

Option 3: Docker

docker run -d \
  --name canvas-mcp \
  -p 3000:3000 \
  -e CANVAS_API_TOKEN="your_token" \
  -e CANVAS_DOMAIN="school.instructure.com" \
  -e MCP_TRANSPORT="streamable-http" \
  -e MCP_HTTP_HOST="0.0.0.0" \
  -e MCP_HTTP_PORT="3000" \
  -e MCP_HTTP_PATH="/mcp" \
  ghcr.io/dmontgomery40/mcp-canvas-lms:latest

Transport Modes

The server supports two explicit transport modes:

• stdio (default): best for Claude Desktop/Codex/Cursor local MCP wiring.
• streamable-http: best for local HTTP integrations and containerized workflows.

Transport environment variables

# Required Canvas auth
CANVAS_API_TOKEN=your_token
CANVAS_DOMAIN=your_school.instructure.com

# Transport selection
MCP_TRANSPORT=stdio # or streamable-http

# Streamable HTTP settings
MCP_HTTP_HOST=127.0.0.1
MCP_

... [View full README on GitHub](https://github.com/DMontgomery40/mcp-canvas-lms#readme)