availability_mcp

A dependency-free MCP server that runs locally and reports the current user's activity/idle state. Agents can use it when deciding whether to wait for user feedback or continue autonomously. Activity data stays on-device and is only returned to the connected MCP client.

Install and configure

Python 3.10 or newer is required.

python -m pip install .

Add the server to your MCP client:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "availability": {
      "command": "availability-mcp"
    }
  }
}

For development, run it directly with:

PYTHONPATH=src python -m availability_mcp.server

Related MCP server: genpark-cue-desktop-ambient-context-trigger-skill

Tool

get_user_activity

Returns:

• idle_seconds: time since the last detected user input

• is_idle: whether idle time meets idle_threshold_seconds (default: 300)

• last_activity_at and observed_at: UTC ISO 8601 timestamps

• source: the operating-system API used for the reading

The optional idle_threshold_seconds argument must be non-negative.

Platform support

• Windows: GetLastInputInfo

• macOS: the built-in ioreg utility and IOHIDSystem

• Linux: xprintidle when installed, otherwise systemd-logind's user idle hint. Desktop environments that publish neither source return a tool error rather than guessing.

On macOS, terminal input-monitoring permissions may be required. Linux systemd-logind reports coarse active/idle state when xprintidle is not available; install xprintidle under X11 for exact idle duration.

Test

PYTHONPATH=src python -m unittest discover -s tests