Gretl MCP
Server Configuration
Describes the environment variables required to run the server.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| GRETL_CLI | No | Optional path to gretlcli or gretlcli.exe | |
| GRETL_GUI | No | Optional path to gretl or gretl.exe | |
| GRETLMCP_OPEN_GUI | No | Set to 'false' to stop tools from opening Gretl windows by default | |
| GRETLMCP_REQUIRE_GUI | No | Set to 'false' to allow CLI-only success when GUI opening is disabled or unavailable | |
| GRETLMCP_WORKSPACE_DIR | No | Optional directory for Gretl run workspaces | |
| GRETLMCP_ENFORCE_GUI_ONLY | No | Set to 'true' to reject any headless workflow request |
Instructions
Guidance the server publishes about itself, which clients place ahead of the tool catalog so the model reads it before choosing anything.
This server publishes no instructions, or was last inspected before Glama recorded them.
Capabilities
Features and capabilities supported by this server
Protocol revision2025-11-25
| Capability | Details |
|---|---|
| tools | {
"listChanged": true
} |
Tools
Functions exposed to the LLM to take actions
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
| gretl_versionB | Return the installed Gretl version by running gretlcli. |
| gretl_gui_versionB | Return the installed Gretl GUI version by running gretl.exe --version. |
| gretl_gui_launchB | Launch the visible Gretl desktop GUI, optionally opening a local dataset/script or running a provided script on startup. |
| gretl_run_scriptC | Run any Gretl/Hansl script through gretlcli. By default this also requires opening the same workflow in the visible Gretl GUI. |
| gretl_run_commandsC | Run one or more raw Gretl command lines. By default this also requires opening the same workflow in the visible Gretl GUI. |
| gretl_run_script_fileB | Run an existing local Gretl .inp script file with gretlcli. By default this also requires opening the same workflow in the visible Gretl GUI. |
| gretl_capabilitiesC | List Gretl commands, built-in functions, and package-management help from the installed Gretl version. |
| gretl_packageB | Install, query, run samples for, unload, remove, or index Gretl function/data packages using the native pkg command. By default this also requires opening the generated workflow in the visible Gretl GUI. |
| gretl_make_packageC | Build a Gretl function package (.gfn or .zip) using the native makepkg command. By default this also requires opening the generated workflow in the visible Gretl GUI. |
| gretl_helpB | Ask Gretl for command help, for example ols, summary, open, arima, or gnuplot. By default this also requires opening the help workflow in the visible Gretl GUI. |
| gretl_dataset_summaryC | Open a Gretl-supported dataset file, return summary statistics, and open the same workflow in Gretl GUI by default. |
| gretl_olsB | Open a dataset, estimate an OLS model, and open the same workflow in Gretl GUI by default. |
Prompts
Interactive templates invoked by user choice
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
No prompts | |
Resources
Contextual data attached and managed by the client
| Name | Description |
|---|---|
No resources | |
TDQS
Scored across 12 tools
Tools are mostly distinct: version, launch, script/command execution, package management, help, data summary, and OLS. The three 'run' tools (script, commands, script_file) could cause confusion, but descriptions clarify their different inputs.
All tools share the 'gretl_' prefix, but naming patterns vary: some use verb+noun (gretl_run_script), others use noun-only (gretl_version, gretl_capabilities). While readable, there is no strict verb_noun pattern throughout.
With 12 tools, the server covers essential Gretl operations (version, GUI, script execution, packages, help, data summary, OLS) without being excessive. The count feels well-scoped for the econometrics domain.
The surface includes core tasks: version checking, GUI launching, script execution, package management, help, data summary, and OLS. While missing some advanced models or data manipulation tools, the ability to run arbitrary scripts/commands fills many gaps.