@rishblob/canvas-mcp-server

TypeScript MCP server for Canvas LMS. It runs over stdio and exposes Canvas API workflows for courses, assignments, submissions, modules, pages, discussions, announcements, files, users, enrollments, conversations, calendar, and utility endpoints.

This package is published to npm as @rishblob/canvas-mcp-server.

Requirements

• Node.js >=18

• Canvas API token

Related MCP server: canvas-parent-mcp

Environment variables

• CANVAS_API_TOKEN required: Canvas bearer token for API authentication.

• CANVAS_BASE_URL optional: Canvas host URL (example: https://school.instructure.com).

If CANVAS_BASE_URL is omitted, the server defaults to https://houstonisd.instructure.com.

Install and run locally

npm install
npm run build
npm start

For one-shot local development:

npm run dev

Use as a published npm package

npx -y @rishblob/canvas-mcp-server
# or
bunx @rishblob/canvas-mcp-server

MCP client configuration

Option 1: Run from local build

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "canvas": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/absolute/path/to/canvas-mcp-server/dist/index.js"],
      "env": {
        "CANVAS_API_TOKEN": "your-canvas-token",
        "CANVAS_BASE_URL": "https://school.instructure.com"
      }
    }
  }
}

Option 2: Run from npm (recommended)

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "canvas": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@rishblob/canvas-mcp-server"],
      "env": {
        "CANVAS_API_TOKEN": "your-canvas-token",
        "CANVAS_BASE_URL": "https://school.instructure.com"
      }
    }
  }
}

Available MCP tools

• Courses: list_courses, get_course, list_students, get_course_settings

• Assignments/submissions: list_assignments, get_assignment, create_assignment, update_assignment, list_submissions, get_submission, grade_submission

• Users: get_user_profile, get_user, list_course_users

• Announcements: list_announcements, create_announcement

• Modules: list_modules, get_module, list_module_items

• Discussions: list_discussions, get_discussion, create_discussion, list_discussion_entries

• Calendar: list_calendar_events, create_calendar_event

• Files: list_files, get_file, list_folders

• Pages: list_pages, get_page, create_page, update_page

• Enrollments: list_enrollments, get_user_enrollments

• Conversations: list_conversations, get_conversation, create_conversation

• Misc: list_todo_items, search_courses, get_course_activity_stream

Publish to npm

npm login
npm publish

prepack runs npm run build, so package artifacts are built automatically before publish.