Skip to main content
Glama

Canny MCP Server

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that integrates with Canny.io for customer feedback management. Built following CIQ's CODE2 principles to deliver Customer-Centric, Optimistic, Dedicated, Efficient, and Excellent solutions.

Features

Customer-Centric

  • Board Management: List and access all available Canny boards

  • Post Retrieval: Get detailed post information with flexible filtering

  • Search Capability: Find posts across boards using powerful search

  • Content Management: Create and update posts seamlessly

Efficient & Excellent

  • Rate Limiting: Built-in protection against API rate limits

  • Error Handling: Robust error handling with detailed feedback

  • Validation: Input validation using Zod schemas

  • Type Safety: Full TypeScript implementation

Related MCP server: Feature-Discussion MCP Server

Installation

Prerequisites

  • Node.js 18 or higher

  • Canny.io API key

Quick Start

  1. Install dependencies:

    npm install
  2. Set up environment variables:

    export CANNY_API_KEY="your_api_key_here"
    export CANNY_BASE_URL="https://canny.io/api/v1"  # Optional
  3. Build the server:

    npm run build
  4. Run in development mode:

    npm run dev

Environment Variables

Required

  • CANNY_API_KEY: Your Canny.io API key

Optional

  • CANNY_BASE_URL: API base URL (default: https://canny.io/api/v1)

  • CANNY_TIMEOUT: Request timeout in ms (default: 30000)

  • CANNY_MAX_RETRIES: Max retry attempts (default: 3)

  • CANNY_RATE_LIMIT_RPM: Requests per minute limit (default: 60)

  • CANNY_RATE_LIMIT_BURST: Burst limit (default: 10)

Available Tools

Board Tools

  • get_boards: List all accessible Canny boards

Post Tools

  • get_posts: Get posts from a specific board with filtering options

  • get_post: Get detailed information about a specific post

  • search_posts: Search for posts across boards

  • create_post: Create a new post in a board

  • update_post: Update an existing post

Usage Examples

Get All Boards

{
  "name": "get_boards",
  "arguments": {}
}

Get Posts from a Board

{
  "name": "get_posts",
  "arguments": {
    "boardId": "board_123",
    "limit": 10,
    "status": "open",
    "sort": "newest"
  }
}

Search Posts

{
  "name": "search_posts",
  "arguments": {
    "query": "feature request",
    "limit": 20,
    "status": "open"
  }
}

Create a Post

{
  "name": "create_post",
  "arguments": {
    "authorId": "user_123",
    "boardId": "board_123",
    "title": "New Feature Request",
    "details": "Detailed description of the feature"
  }
}

Development

Running Tests

npm test

Linting

npm run lint
npm run lint:fix

Building

npm run build

Configuration with Claude

Add to your Claude MCP configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "canny": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/canny-mcp-server/dist/server.js"],
      "env": {
        "CANNY_API_KEY": "your_api_key_here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Error Handling

The server implements comprehensive error handling:

  • API rate limiting protection

  • Input validation with detailed error messages

  • Network error recovery with retries

  • Graceful handling of API failures

Contributing

Following CIQ's CODE2 principles:

  1. Customer-Centric: Focus on user value in every contribution

  2. Optimistic: Approach challenges as opportunities

  3. Dedicated: Own your contributions fully

  4. Efficient: Leverage existing solutions and automate where possible

  5. Excellent: Maintain high standards and continuous improvement

License

MIT License

Available Tools

6 tools
create_postC

Create a new post in a Canny board

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
authorIdYesID of the user creating the post
boardIdYesID of the board to create the post in
categoryIdNoID of the category for the post (optional)
customFieldsNoCustom field values as key-value pairs (optional)
detailsNoDetailed description of the post (optional)
titleYesTitle of the post

TDQS

C2.9/5.0
Behavior2/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

With no annotations provided, the description carries full burden for behavioral disclosure. It states the tool creates a post, implying a write/mutation operation, but doesn't mention permissions required, rate limits, side effects (e.g., notifications), or what happens on success/failure. For a mutation tool with zero annotation coverage, this leaves significant behavioral gaps.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is a single, efficient sentence that directly states the tool's purpose without any fluff or redundancy. It's front-loaded with the core action and resource, making it easy to parse. Every word earns its place, achieving maximum clarity with minimal verbiage.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness2/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

For a mutation tool with no annotations and no output schema, the description is insufficiently complete. It doesn't explain what the tool returns (e.g., post ID, success status), error conditions, or behavioral nuances. While the schema covers parameters well, the overall context for safe and effective use is lacking, especially given the tool's write nature.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

The input schema has 100% description coverage, providing clear documentation for all 6 parameters. The tool description adds no parameter-specific information beyond what's in the schema, so it doesn't enhance understanding of semantics. However, with full schema coverage, the baseline score of 3 is appropriate as the schema handles the parameter documentation adequately.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states the action ('Create') and target resource ('a new post in a Canny board'), making the purpose immediately understandable. It doesn't explicitly differentiate from siblings like 'update_post', but the verb 'Create' versus 'Update' provides inherent distinction. The description is specific enough to avoid vagueness or tautology.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines2/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description provides no guidance on when to use this tool versus alternatives like 'update_post' or 'get_posts'. It lacks context about prerequisites (e.g., needing board IDs from 'get_boards'), exclusions, or typical use cases. Without such information, the agent must infer usage from the tool name alone.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

get_boardsB

List all Canny boards accessible with the current API key

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault

No parameters

TDQS

B3.4/5.0
Behavior2/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

With no annotations provided, the description carries the full burden. It mentions the scope ('all Canny boards') and access constraint ('accessible with the current API key'), which adds some behavioral context. However, it lacks details on rate limits, pagination, error handling, or response format, which are important for a list operation.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is a single, clear sentence that efficiently conveys the tool's purpose without any wasted words. It is front-loaded with the main action and resource, making it easy to parse and understand quickly.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness3/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Given the tool's simplicity (0 parameters, no output schema, no annotations), the description is adequate but has gaps. It covers the basic purpose and access scope, but without annotations or output schema, it misses behavioral details like response structure or limitations, which could help the agent use it correctly.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters4/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

The tool has 0 parameters, and schema description coverage is 100%, so there are no parameters to document. The description appropriately doesn't add parameter details, and the baseline for 0 parameters is 4, as it avoids unnecessary information.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states the verb ('List') and resource ('all Canny boards'), making the purpose specific and understandable. However, it doesn't explicitly differentiate from sibling tools like 'get_posts' or 'search_posts', which might also list resources but for different entities.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines3/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description implies usage context by specifying 'accessible with the current API key', suggesting it's for retrieving accessible boards. However, it provides no explicit guidance on when to use this tool versus alternatives like 'get_posts' or 'search_posts', leaving the agent to infer based on resource type.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

get_postC

Get detailed information about a specific Canny post

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
postIdYesID of the post to retrieve

TDQS

C2.9/5.0
Behavior2/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

With no annotations provided, the description carries the full burden of behavioral disclosure. It states the tool retrieves 'detailed information' but doesn't clarify whether this is a read-only operation, what permissions are required, if there are rate limits, or what format the returned information takes. This leaves significant gaps for an agent to understand the tool's behavior.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is a single, efficient sentence that directly states the tool's purpose without any wasted words. It is appropriately sized and front-loaded, making it easy for an agent to parse quickly.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness2/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Given the lack of annotations and output schema, the description is incomplete. It doesn't address behavioral aspects like safety, permissions, or response format, which are crucial for a tool that retrieves data. While concise, it fails to compensate for the missing structured information, leaving the agent with insufficient context.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

The schema description coverage is 100%, with the single parameter 'postId' clearly documented in the schema. The description adds no additional parameter semantics beyond what the schema provides, such as format examples or constraints, so it meets the baseline for high schema coverage without adding extra value.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states the verb ('Get') and resource ('detailed information about a specific Canny post'), making the purpose immediately understandable. However, it doesn't explicitly differentiate from sibling tools like 'get_posts' (plural) or 'search_posts', which likely retrieve multiple posts rather than a single specific one.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines2/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description provides no guidance on when to use this tool versus alternatives like 'get_posts' or 'search_posts'. It implies usage for retrieving a single post by ID but doesn't specify prerequisites, exclusions, or contextual recommendations for choosing between sibling tools.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

get_postsC

Get posts from a specific Canny board with optional filtering

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
boardIdYesID of the board to fetch posts from
limitNoNumber of posts to retrieve
searchNoSearch term to filter posts
skipNoNumber of posts to skip for pagination
sortNoSort order for posts
statusNoFilter by post status

TDQS

C2.9/5.0
Behavior2/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

No annotations are provided, so the description carries full burden. It mentions 'optional filtering' but doesn't disclose key behavioral traits like pagination behavior (implied by 'skip' parameter but not explained), rate limits, authentication requirements, or what happens when no posts match. This leaves significant gaps for an agent to understand how to use it effectively.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is a single, efficient sentence that front-loads the core purpose ('Get posts from a specific Canny board') and adds a useful qualifier ('with optional filtering'). There's no wasted language or redundancy.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness2/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Given the complexity (6 parameters, no annotations, no output schema), the description is insufficient. It doesn't explain return values (e.g., post structure, pagination metadata), error conditions, or how filtering interacts with sorting. For a tool with multiple parameters and siblings, more context is needed for an agent to use it correctly.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 100%, so the schema fully documents all 6 parameters with descriptions, defaults, and enums. The description adds no additional parameter semantics beyond mentioning 'optional filtering', which is already covered by the schema. This meets the baseline of 3 for high schema coverage.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states the verb 'Get' and resource 'posts from a specific Canny board' with optional filtering, making the purpose understandable. However, it doesn't differentiate from sibling tools like 'get_post' (singular) or 'search_posts', which could cause confusion about when to use each.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines2/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

No guidance is provided on when to use this tool versus alternatives like 'get_post' (for a single post) or 'search_posts' (which might have different search capabilities). The description mentions 'optional filtering' but doesn't clarify if this is the primary filtering tool or how it compares to siblings.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

search_postsC

Search for posts across Canny boards

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
boardIdsNoOptional array of board IDs to limit search scope
limitNoNumber of posts to retrieve
queryYesSearch query to find posts
statusNoFilter by post status

TDQS

C2.9/5.0
Behavior2/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

No annotations are provided, so the description carries the full burden of behavioral disclosure. It states the tool searches for posts but doesn't describe how results are returned (e.g., pagination, sorting), error conditions, or performance characteristics like rate limits. For a search tool with zero annotation coverage, this leaves significant gaps in understanding its behavior.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is a single, efficient sentence that directly states the tool's purpose without unnecessary words. It's front-loaded and wastes no space, making it easy to parse quickly. Every word earns its place in conveying the core functionality.

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness2/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

Given the tool's complexity (search functionality with 4 parameters) and lack of annotations and output schema, the description is incomplete. It doesn't explain what the search returns, how results are structured, or any behavioral nuances. For a search tool, this leaves too much undefined for effective agent use.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

The description adds no parameter-specific information beyond what the input schema provides, which has 100% coverage with clear descriptions for all 4 parameters. The baseline is 3 since the schema does the heavy lifting, but the description doesn't compensate with additional context like query syntax examples or status filter implications.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states the action ('Search for posts') and resource ('across Canny boards'), making the purpose immediately understandable. However, it doesn't differentiate this tool from sibling tools like 'get_posts' or 'get_post', which likely retrieve posts without search functionality. The description is specific but lacks sibling distinction.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines2/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description provides no guidance on when to use this tool versus alternatives like 'get_posts' or 'get_post'. It mentions the scope ('across Canny boards') but doesn't specify use cases, prerequisites, or exclusions. Without this context, an agent might struggle to choose between similar tools.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

update_postC

Update an existing Canny post

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
categoryIdNoNew category ID for the post (optional)
customFieldsNoUpdated custom field values (optional)
detailsNoNew description for the post (optional)
postIdYesID of the post to update
statusNoNew status for the post (optional)
titleNoNew title for the post (optional)

TDQS

C2.9/5.0
Behavior2/5

Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?

With no annotations provided, the description carries full burden for behavioral disclosure. 'Update an existing Canny post' implies a mutation operation but doesn't specify required permissions, whether changes are reversible, rate limits, error conditions, or what the response contains. This leaves significant gaps for an agent to understand the tool's behavior beyond basic functionality.

Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.

Conciseness5/5

Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?

The description is a single, efficient sentence that states the core functionality without unnecessary words. It's appropriately sized for a straightforward update operation and front-loads the essential information ('Update an existing Canny post').

Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.

Completeness2/5

Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?

For a mutation tool with 6 parameters, no annotations, and no output schema, the description is incomplete. It doesn't address behavioral aspects like permissions, side effects, or response format. While the schema covers parameters well, the overall context for safe and effective use requires more guidance than provided.

Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.

Parameters3/5

Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?

Schema description coverage is 100%, so the schema fully documents all 6 parameters. The description adds no additional parameter information beyond what's in the schema (e.g., no examples, format details, or constraints). This meets the baseline of 3 when the schema does the heavy lifting, but doesn't provide extra semantic value.

Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.

Purpose4/5

Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?

The description clearly states the verb ('Update') and resource ('an existing Canny post'), making the purpose immediately understandable. It distinguishes from siblings like 'create_post' (create vs update) and 'get_post' (read vs update), though it doesn't explicitly mention these distinctions in the description text itself.

Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.

Usage Guidelines2/5

Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?

The description provides no guidance on when to use this tool versus alternatives. It doesn't mention prerequisites (e.g., needing an existing post ID), when not to use it (e.g., for creating new posts), or refer to sibling tools like 'create_post' for creation or 'get_post' for reading instead of updating.

Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.

Tool Schema Changelog

Recent tool additions, removals, and schema changes observed during successful MCP inspections. Dates show when Glama detected each change.

  1. 6 tool updatesv1.0.0
    • First observedcreate_post
    • First observedget_boards
    • First observedget_post
    • First observedget_posts
    • First observedsearch_posts
    • First observedupdate_post

TDQS

A3.5/5.0
Disambiguation5/5

Each tool has a clearly distinct purpose: create_post, get_post, update_post handle individual post lifecycle; get_boards lists boards; get_posts retrieves posts from a board; and search_posts searches across boards. No ambiguity exists between these operations.

Naming Consistency5/5

All tools follow a consistent verb_noun pattern with snake_case naming (e.g., create_post, get_boards, update_post). The verbs are standard and predictable across the set.

Tool Count5/5

With 6 tools, this server is well-scoped for managing Canny posts and boards. It covers core operations without being too sparse or bloated, fitting typical use cases efficiently.

Completeness4/5

The toolset provides solid CRUD coverage for posts (create, get, update, list, search) and board listing. A minor gap is the lack of delete_post or board management tools, but agents can still handle most workflows effectively.

Resources

Unclaimed servers have limited discoverability.

Looking for Admin?

If you are the server author, to access and configure the admin panel.

Related MCP Connectors

Related MCP Servers

Latest Blog Posts

MCP directory API

We provide all the information about MCP servers via our MCP API.

curl -X GET 'https://glama.ai/api/mcp/v1/servers/itsocialist/canny-mcp-server'

If you have feedback or need assistance with the MCP directory API, please join our Discord server