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asana-mcp

MCP server + typed TypeScript client for the Asana API.

Two ways to use it:

  1. MCP server (asana-mcp bin) — gives MCP clients (Claude Desktop, Claude Code, MCP Inspector, any mcporter-style runner) a guarded Asana tool surface over stdio.

  2. Client library (asana-mcp/client) — a small typed Asana REST client for direct in-process use in Node services, with retry/backoff and normalized errors.

Unofficial. Not affiliated with or endorsed by Asana, Inc. If you want Asana's hosted, OAuth-based MCP integration for interactive AI assistants, see Asana's official MCP server — this package exists for headless / personal-access-token use cases (service bots, automation, server-side integrations), which the official server does not support.

Design choices

  • No delete tools, in any mode. Destructive removal is excluded from the tool surface by design.

  • Write access is opt-in and tiered (read_onlyrestrictedfull), so an AI agent can be given exactly as much write capability as you intend — down to an allowlist of specific custom fields.

  • Zero baked-in account specifics. Workspace, fields, and tokens all arrive via environment variables.

Related MCP server: Asana MCP Server

MCP server

ASANA_ACCESS_TOKEN=0/123abc... npx asana-mcp

Environment

Variable

Required

Description

ASANA_ACCESS_TOKEN

yes

Asana personal access token

ASANA_MCP_WRITE_MODE

no

read_only (default), restricted, or full

ASANA_MCP_WRITABLE_CUSTOM_FIELDS

no

Comma-separated custom field GIDs writable in restricted mode

ASANA_MCP_DEFAULT_WORKSPACE

no

Default workspace GID for list/search tools

Write modes

Mode

Registered write tools

Notes

read_only

none

Default. Read tools only.

restricted

asana_add_comment, asana_update_task

asana_update_task may modify only custom fields whose GIDs are in ASANA_MCP_WRITABLE_CUSTOM_FIELDS; every other task field is rejected.

full

+ asana_create_task, unrestricted asana_update_task

Still no delete tools.

Tools

Read (always): asana_get_task, asana_list_tasks, asana_list_task_comments, asana_list_task_attachments, asana_get_user, asana_list_project_sections, asana_list_tasks_in_section, asana_typeahead_search.

Write (per mode, above): asana_add_comment, asana_update_task, asana_create_task.

Example MCP client config

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "asana": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["asana-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "ASANA_ACCESS_TOKEN": "0/123abc...",
        "ASANA_MCP_WRITE_MODE": "restricted",
        "ASANA_MCP_WRITABLE_CUSTOM_FIELDS": "1200000000000001,1200000000000002",
        "ASANA_MCP_DEFAULT_WORKSPACE": "1100000000000001"
      }
    }
  }
}

Client library

import { AsanaClient, AsanaApiError } from 'asana-mcp/client';

const asana = new AsanaClient({ accessToken: process.env.ASANA_ACCESS_TOKEN! });

const task = await asana.getTask('1300000000000001', {
  optFields: 'name,notes,assignee.name,custom_fields.display_value',
});

await asana.addComment(task.gid, {
  text: 'Done!',
  htmlText: '<body><strong>Done!</strong></body>', // tried first, falls back to text
});

await asana.setAssignee(task.gid, null); // unassign

for await (const t of asana.iterateTasks({
  project: '1400000000000001',
  optFields: 'name,completed',
  limit: 100,
})) {
  // auto-follows pagination
}

Client behavior

  • Retries 429 (honoring Retry-After), 500/502/503/504, and network errors with exponential backoff + jitter (default 3 retries, base 500 ms).

  • Per-attempt timeout (default 30 s) via AbortController.

  • Errors throw AsanaApiError with .status, .body, and .request — non-retryable 4xx throws immediately.

  • Injectable fetchImpl for tests; everything is constructor-configurable (baseUrl, maxRetries, timeoutMs, retryBaseDelayMs).

Surface: getTask, listTasks, iterateTasks, createTask, updateTask, setAssignee, getTaskStories, getStory, addComment, getTaskAttachments, getUser, getProjectSections, listTasksInSection, typeaheadSearch. (No delete methods — see design choices.)

Development

npm install
npm test        # vitest unit suite (mocked fetch — no network, no token needed)
npm run build   # tsc → build/
npm run inspector  # poke the server with MCP Inspector

License

MIT

Available Tools

8 tools
asana_get_taskA

Get an Asana task by GID, including any requested opt_fields (name, notes, assignee, custom_fields, memberships, etc).

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
task_gidYesTask GID
opt_fieldsNoComma-separated Asana opt_fields to include in the response (e.g. "name,notes,assignee.name")

TDQS

A4/5.0
Behavior3/5

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

No annotations provided, so description carries full burden. It correctly indicates a read operation and mentions optional fields, but does not disclose error handling, authentication needs, or rate limits.

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?

Single sentence that is front-loaded with purpose and includes essential detail about opt_fields. No wasted words.

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

Completeness4/5

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

Given simplicity of the tool and good schema coverage, description adequately covers purpose and parameters. Could mention response format, but not critical for this getter tool.

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?

Schema has 100% coverage, but description adds value by listing example opt_fields (name, notes, assignee, etc.), providing concrete examples beyond schema descriptions.

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

Purpose5/5

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

Description clearly states verb 'Get', resource 'Asana task', and key parameter 'by GID'. Also mentions opt_fields capability. Differentiates from sibling tools that are list or search operations.

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?

Description implies use when you have a specific task GID, but no explicit guidance on when to use vs alternatives like listing tasks. Lacks exclusions or context on when not to use.

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

asana_get_userA

Get an Asana user by GID (or "me") — name, email, etc.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
user_gidYes
opt_fieldsNoComma-separated Asana opt_fields to include in the response (e.g. "name,notes,assignee.name")

TDQS

A4/5.0
Behavior3/5

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

With no annotations provided, the description bears the full burden of behavioral disclosure. It states it retrieves user details, which is a simple read operation, but does not mention any behavioral traits such as authentication requirements, rate limits, error handling, or the specific scope of the returned data.

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 sentence of 13 words that is front-loaded with the purpose. Every word adds value, with no redundancy or filler. It is appropriately sized for the tool's simplicity.

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

Completeness4/5

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

For a simple get-user tool with two parameters and no output schema, the description adequately covers the function, key input, and expected output fields. It could be slightly more specific about the full list of returned fields, but given the tool's simplicity and standard API conventions, it is sufficient.

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 description adds meaning to the required `user_gid` parameter by explaining valid values: 'GID (or "me")'. This compensates for the lack of a description in the schema. The `opt_fields` parameter already has a schema description, so no additional value needed.

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

Purpose5/5

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

The description clearly states the verb 'Get', resource 'Asana user', and specifies the key parameter 'by GID (or "me")' and the kind of data returned ('name, email, etc.'). It effectively distinguishes from sibling tools like asana_get_task (different resource) and asana_list_tasks (different action).

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 the tool is for retrieving a single user by GID, but it does not explicitly state when to use this versus alternatives like search tools, nor does it mention any prerequisites or exclusions. The context from sibling tools is not leveraged in the description.

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

asana_list_project_sectionsC

List the sections of a project.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
project_gidYes
opt_fieldsNoComma-separated Asana opt_fields to include in the response (e.g. "name,notes,assignee.name")

TDQS

C2.7/5.0
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 only states the basic action without any mention of pagination, ordering, rate limits, or side effects. The tool is a read operation, but the description does not confirm idempotency or safety.

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

Conciseness4/5

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

The description is a single sentence, front-loading the core action. It is concise and avoids unnecessary words. However, it could be slightly expanded to include key context without sacrificing brevity.

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 simple list operation, the description should at least hint at the output format or typical use. With no output schema, the agent has no idea what data the response contains. The description could mention that each section has properties like 'name' or 'gid' to provide closure.

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

Parameters2/5

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

With only 50% schema description coverage (opt_fields has a description but project_gid does not), the description fails to clarify the required parameter 'project_gid.' It does not specify how to obtain it or what format is expected. The opt_fields parameter is already documented in the schema, so the description adds no 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 'List' and the resource 'sections of a project,' making the tool's purpose immediately understandable. It distinguishes from sibling tools like asana_list_tasks_in_section by focusing on sections rather than tasks. However, it could be more explicit about the scope, e.g., 'all sections within a specific project.'

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 such as asana_list_tasks_in_section or asana_list_tasks. There is no mention of prerequisites, typical use cases, or conditions that would make this tool preferable over siblings.

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

asana_list_task_attachmentsB

List attachments on a task (name, host, download_url).

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
task_gidYes
opt_fieldsNoComma-separated Asana opt_fields to include in the response (e.g. "name,notes,assignee.name")

TDQS

B3.4/5.0
Behavior3/5

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

No annotations are provided, so the description carries the full burden. It indicates a read operation ('list') and specifies returned fields, but does not disclose potential side effects, permissions, or pagination 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?

Single sentence with essential information in parentheses. No redundant content; every word serves a purpose.

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?

The tool is simple and the description covers return fields, but it lacks context about error handling, task existence requirements, or behavior when no attachments exist. Given no output schema, the description provides minimal but sufficient context.

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

Parameters2/5

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

Schema coverage is 50% (only opt_fields has a description), and the description adds no parameter details. The description only explains the output, not the input parameters, failing to compensate for the missing schema documentation.

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

Purpose5/5

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

Description clearly states 'List attachments on a task' with specific verb and resource, and lists returned fields (name, host, download_url). This distinguishes it from sibling tools like asana_list_task_comments or asana_list_tasks.

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 explicit when-to-use or when-not-to-use guidance is provided. The description only states what the tool does, with no mention of alternatives or prerequisites for calling the tool.

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

asana_list_task_commentsB

List the stories (comments and system events) on a task. Filter client-side on type="comment" for human comments.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
task_gidYes
opt_fieldsNoComma-separated Asana opt_fields to include in the response (e.g. "name,notes,assignee.name")

TDQS

B3.2/5.0
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. It mentions that the tool returns both comments and system events, but does not disclose other important behaviors like pagination, rate limits, or permissions.

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

Conciseness4/5

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

The description is concise with two sentences, front-loading the purpose and providing a relevant usage tip. Every sentence adds value without unnecessary detail.

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 absence of annotations and output schema, the description should explain the return format, pagination, and precise content more fully. It only hints at filtering without detailing what system events mean for the agent.

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

Parameters2/5

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

The input schema has 50% description coverage (only opt_fields is described). The description adds no meaning to task_gid and does not elaborate on opt_fields usage. The filter tip is helpful but does not address parameter semantics directly.

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

Purpose5/5

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

The description clearly states the action (list) and the resource (stories/comments on a task). It effectively distinguishes itself from sibling tools that list other resources like tasks or attachments.

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 gives a tip for filtering client-side to get human comments, implying a common use case. However, it does not explicitly state when to use this tool over alternatives or provide exclusions (e.g., not for system events).

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

asana_list_tasksA

List tasks filtered by workspace+assignee, project, or section. Use completed_since="now" for incomplete tasks only.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
workspaceNoWorkspace GID (combine with assignee)
assigneeNoAssignee user GID or "me"
projectNoProject GID
sectionNoSection GID
completed_sinceNoISO-8601 time or "now"
modified_sinceNoISO-8601 time
opt_fieldsNoComma-separated Asana opt_fields to include in the response (e.g. "name,notes,assignee.name")
limitNo
offsetNoPagination offset token from a previous page

TDQS

A4.3/5.0
Behavior3/5

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

No annotations are provided, so the description must fully disclose behavior. It reveals filtering behavior but does not mention pagination (though schema includes limit/offset), rate limits, authentication requirements, or that it is a read-only 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?

Two sentences with no wasted words. The key filtering options and a valuable tip are front-loaded.

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

Completeness4/5

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

Covers main filtering use cases but omits default behavior (e.g., what if no filters are provided?), sorting, and response structure. Without an output schema, some additional context would be beneficial.

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

Parameters5/5

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

The description adds meaningful guidance beyond the schema descriptions, such as the workspace+assignee combination, project/section filtering, and the completed_since='now' trick. With 89% schema coverage, this elevates parameter understanding.

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

Purpose5/5

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

The description clearly states the action (list tasks) and the main filtering options (workspace+assignee, project, or section). It distinguishes from siblings like asana_get_task (single task) and asana_list_task_comments (comments).

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

Usage Guidelines4/5

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

Provides a specific guideline: use completed_since='now' for incomplete tasks only. However, it does not explicitly state when not to use this tool or differentiate from sibling tools like asana_list_tasks_in_section.

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

asana_list_tasks_in_sectionC

List the tasks in a section.

ParametersJSON Schema
NameRequiredDescriptionDefault
section_gidYes
opt_fieldsNoComma-separated Asana opt_fields to include in the response (e.g. "name,notes,assignee.name")
completed_sinceNo
limitNo
offsetNo

TDQS

C2/5.0
Behavior2/5

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

With no annotations, the description must disclose behavioral traits, but it only says 'List' without mentioning pagination, permissions, rate limits, or return format.

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

Conciseness2/5

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

The description is extremely short, but it lacks necessary details. Conciseness should not sacrifice completeness; this is under-specified.

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

Completeness1/5

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

Given the tool has 5 parameters, no output schema, and no annotations, the description is severely incomplete, providing no context beyond the tool's name.

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

Parameters1/5

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

Schema description coverage is only 20% (only opt_fields has a description). The description adds no information about any parameters, failing to compensate for the low schema coverage.

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

Purpose3/5

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

The description 'List the tasks in a section' clearly states the verb and resource, but it is very vague and does not differentiate from sibling tools like 'asana_list_tasks' or 'asana_list_project_sections'.

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, nor any prerequisites or context.

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. 8 tool updatesv1.0.0
    • First observedasana_get_task
    • First observedasana_get_user
    • First observedasana_list_project_sections
    • First observedasana_list_task_attachments
    • First observedasana_list_task_comments
    • First observedasana_list_tasks
    • First observedasana_list_tasks_in_section
    • First observedasana_typeahead_search

TDQS

B3.1/5.0
Disambiguation5/5

Each tool targets a distinct resource or action: get_task, get_user, list_project_sections, list_task_attachments, list_task_comments, list_tasks, list_tasks_in_section, and typeahead_search all have clearly different purposes with minimal overlap.

Naming Consistency4/5

Most tools follow a consistent 'verb_noun' pattern (e.g., get_task, list_tasks), but 'typeahead_search' breaks the verb-first convention, using a noun modifier instead. The inconsistency is minor.

Tool Count4/5

With 8 tools, the server is reasonably scoped for a read-only Asana client. It covers essential retrieval operations without being too heavy, though it lacks write capabilities.

Completeness2/5

The tool surface is severely limited to read operations only, missing common CRUD (create, update, delete) and other important resources like projects, workspaces, and portfolios. This makes it incomplete for full Asana workflows.

Maintenance

ActivityMaintained
ResponsivenessNo issues

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