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README.md
# D2L Brightspace MCP Server

An MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that provides AI assistants with tools to interact with D2L Brightspace LMS.

## ⚠️ WARNING! ⚠️

This server should **not** be used in any way to engage in academic misconduct.
Do not use this MCP server to cheat on any assignments, or to gain an unfair advantage
over other students. This server is only intended for use to enable agents to
better understand your assignment scheduling and to help with your _learning_ of the
course material.

**I do not condone the use of this server in any activities that would violate the user's university's Academic Code of Conduct.**

## Features

- **Automated SSO authentication** via Playwright (handles Microsoft/institutional login)
- **Persistent session storage** - login once, use for hours
- **12 tools** for accessing assignments, grades, calendar, announcements, course content
- **File downloads** with automatic text extraction (docx, txt, etc.)
- **LLM-optimized responses** - clean, token-efficient output

## Installation

```bash
npm install -g d2l-mcp-server
```

This will automatically install Chromium for browser automation.

## Setup

### 1. First-time authentication

```bash
d2l-mcp-auth
```

This opens a browser window where you log in to Brightspace. Your session is saved to `~/.d2l-session/`.

### 2. Configure Claude Desktop

Add to `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json` (macOS) or `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json` (Windows):

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "d2l": {
      "command": "d2l-mcp",
      "env": {
        "D2L_HOST": "learn.ul.ie",
        "D2L_COURSE_ID": "68929"
      }
    }
  }
}
```

## Available Tools

### Assignments
| Tool | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `get_assignments` | List all assignments with due dates and instructions |
| `get_assignment` | Get full details for a specific assignment |
| `get_assignment_submissions` | Get your submissions, grades, and feedback |

### Course Content
| Tool | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `get_course_content` | Get complete course syllabus/structure |
| `get_course_topic` | Get details for a specific topic/lecture |
| `get_course_modules` | Get main sections/modules of a course |
| `get_course_module` | Get contents within a specific module |

### Grades & Calendar
| Tool | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `get_my_grades` | Get all your grades with scores and feedback |
| `get_upcoming_due_dates` | Get calendar events and deadlines |

### Other
| Tool | Description |
|------|-------------|
| `get_announcements` | Get course announcements from instructors |
| `get_my_courses` | List all your enrolled courses |
| `download_file` | Download and extract content from course files |

## Example Prompts

Once connected to Claude, you can ask things like:

- "What assignments are due this week?"
- "Show me my grades"
- "What announcements have been posted?"
- "Download the weekly report template"
- "What's the syllabus for this course?"

## Environment Variables

| Variable | Description | Default |
|----------|-------------|---------|
| `D2L_HOST` | Your Brightspace hostname | `learn.ul.ie` |
| `D2L_COURSE_ID` | Default course ID (optional) | none |

Setting `D2L_COURSE_ID` allows you to omit the course ID from tool calls.

## Session Management

- **Token expiry**: Auth tokens expire after ~1 hour but auto-refresh using the saved browser session
- **Session expiry**: Browser sessions expire after ~24h of inactivity
- **Re-authenticate**: Run `d2l-mcp-auth` if your session expires

## Development

```bash
# Run tests
npm test

# Run integration tests (requires auth)
npm run test:integration

# Watch mode
npm run test:watch
```

## License

MIT

TDQS

A4.1/5.0

Scored across 12 tools

Disambiguation4/5

Most tools have distinct purposes, but there is some overlap between get_course_content, get_course_modules, and get_course_module, which could cause confusion about which to use for exploring course structure. Similarly, get_assignments and get_upcoming_due_dates both handle assignment deadlines, though their scopes differ (list vs. calendar view). Descriptions help clarify, but minor ambiguity exists.

Naming Consistency5/5

All tool names follow a consistent verb_noun pattern with clear, descriptive verbs (e.g., get_, download_) and nouns (e.g., announcements, assignments). The naming is uniform and predictable, making it easy to understand each tool's function at a glance.

Tool Count5/5

With 12 tools, the server is well-scoped for managing a D2L Brightspace learning management system. Each tool serves a specific purpose in the domain, such as accessing courses, content, assignments, announcements, and grades, without being overly broad or sparse.

Completeness4/5

The tool set covers core LMS functionalities like course listing, content browsing, assignment management, announcements, and grades. Minor gaps include no tools for submitting assignments, posting to discussions, or interacting with quizzes, which might limit some agent workflows, but the existing tools support most common student queries.

Maintenance

ActivityInactive
ResponsivenessNo issues