Metabase MCP Server

Instructions

Implementation Reference

• src/metabase_mcp_server.py:700-712 (handler)

  The main handler function for the get_dashboard_cards tool. It accepts a dashboard_id parameter and returns cards from the specified dashboard by making a GET request to the Metabase API endpoint /api/dashboard/{dashboard_id}/cards. The function is decorated with @mcp.tool() which registers it as an MCP tool.

  @mcp.tool()
  async def get_dashboard_cards(dashboard_id: int) -> Dict[str, Any]:
      """
      Get cards in a dashboard.
  
      Args:
          dashboard_id (int): ID of the dashboard.
  
      Returns:
          Dict[str, Any]: Cards in the dashboard.
      """
      logger.info(f"Getting cards for dashboard {dashboard_id}")
      return await make_metabase_request(RequestMethod.GET, f"/api/dashboard/{dashboard_id}/cards")

• src/metabase_mcp_server.py:160-160 (registration)

  Initialization of the FastMCP server instance named 'mcp'. This is the MCP server object that the @mcp.tool() decorator uses to register the get_dashboard_cards function as an available tool.

  mcp = FastMCP("metabase", lifespan=app_lifespan)

• src/metabase_mcp_server.py:162-240 (helper)

  The make_metabase_request helper function that handles all HTTP communication with the Metabase API. It accepts RequestMethod, endpoint, and optional parameters, then makes the actual API call. The get_dashboard_cards handler delegates to this function with RequestMethod.GET and the appropriate endpoint.

  async def make_metabase_request(
      method: RequestMethod,
      endpoint: str,
      data: Optional[Dict[str, Any] | bytes] = None,
      params: Optional[Dict[str, Any]] = None,
      json: Any = None,
      headers: Optional[Dict[str, str]] = None,
  ) -> Dict[str, Any]:
      """
      Make a request to the Metabase API.
      
      Args:
          method: HTTP method to use (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE)
          endpoint: API endpoint path
          data: Request data (for form data)
          params: URL parameters
          json: JSON request body
          headers: Additional headers
          
      Returns:
          Dict[str, Any]: Response data
          
      Raises:
          MetabaseConnectionError: When the Metabase server is unreachable
          MetabaseResponseError: When Metabase returns a non-2xx status code
          RuntimeError: For other errors
      """
      
      if not METABASE_URL or not METABASE_API_KEY:
          raise RuntimeError("METABASE_URL or METABASE_API_KEY environment variable is not set. Metabase API requests will fail.")
  
      if session is None:
          raise RuntimeError("HTTP session is not initialized. Ensure app_lifespan was called.")
  
      try:
          request_headers = headers or {}
          
          logger.debug(f"Making {method.name} request to {METABASE_URL}{endpoint}")
          
          # Log request payload for debugging (omit sensitive info)
          if json and logger.level <= logging.DEBUG:
              sanitized_json = {**json}
              if 'password' in sanitized_json:
                  sanitized_json['password'] = '********'
              logger.debug(f"Request payload: {sanitized_json}")
              
          response = await session.request(
              method=method.name,
              url=endpoint,
              timeout=aiohttp.ClientTimeout(total=30),
              headers=request_headers,
              data=data,
              params=params,
              json=json,
          )
  
          try:
              # Handle 500 errors with more detailed info
              if response.status >= 500:
                  error_text = await response.text()
                  logger.error(f"Server error {response.status}: {error_text[:200]}")
                  raise MetabaseResponseError(response.status, f"Server Error: {error_text[:200]}", endpoint)
              
              response.raise_for_status()
              response_data = await response.json()
              
              # Ensure the response is a dictionary for FastMCP compatibility
              return ensure_dict_response(response_data)
              
          except aiohttp.ContentTypeError:
              # Handle empty responses or non-JSON responses
              content = await response.text()
              if not content:
                  return {"data": {}}
              logger.warning(f"Received non-JSON response: {content}")
              return {"data": content}
  
      except aiohttp.ClientConnectionError as e:
          logger.error(f"Connection error: {str(e)}")

• src/enums/request_enum.py:4-8 (helper)

  The RequestMethod enum defines the HTTP methods (GET, POST, PUT, DELETE) used by the helper function. The get_dashboard_cards tool uses RequestMethod.GET to specify the HTTP method for the API request.

  class RequestMethod(Enum):
      GET = auto()
      POST = auto()
      PUT = auto()
      DELETE = auto()

• src/models/dashboard_card.py:4-26 (schema)

  The DashboardCard dataclass defines the schema for a dashboard card in Metabase. While not directly used by the get_dashboard_cards function (which returns Dict[str, Any]), this model represents the structure of cards that may be returned and is used by related dashboard manipulation tools.

  @dataclass
  class DashboardCard:
      """
      Represents a card within a Metabase dashboard.
      
      Attributes:
          id (int): Use negative numbers to auto generate the ids 
              or use any unique value but,
              it must be unique within the dashboard
          card_id (int): The ID of the card/visualization
          row (int): The row position in the dashboard grid
          col (int): The column position in the dashboard grid
          size_x (int): The width of the card in grid units
          size_y (int): The height of the card in grid units
          parameter_mappings (List[Dict[str, Any]]): Parameter mappings for the card
      """
      id: int  # Use negative numbers to auto generate the ids
      card_id: int
      row: int
      col: int
      size_x: int
      size_y: int
      parameter_mappings: List[Dict[str, Any]] = field(default_factory=list)