Which integrations are available for this server?

Allows users to write threads and comments using Markdown, which the server automatically converts to Ed Discussion's native XML format. Provides tools for interacting with and previewing Ed Discussion's proprietary XML document format for forum content.

How do I use edstem-mcp?

1. Click on "Install Server". 2. Wait a few minutes for the server to deploy. Once ready, it will show a "Started" state. 3. In the chat, type @ followed by the MCP server name and your instructions, e.g., "@edstem-mcp find all unanswered questions about the midterm in course 1234" That's it! The server will respond to your query, and you can continue using it as needed. Here is a step-by-step guide with screenshots.

edstem-mcp

MCP server for Ed Discussion — expose Ed's full API to Claude and other MCP clients.

Setup

npm install
npm run build

Set your API token (get one at https://edstem.org/us/settings/api-tokens):

export ED_API_TOKEN=your_token
export ED_REGION=us  # optional: us (default), au, etc.

Claude Code

Add to ~/.claude.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "edstem": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/edstem-mcp/dist/index.js"],
      "env": {
        "ED_API_TOKEN": "your_token"
      }
    }
  }
}

Tools (22)

Tool	Description
`get_user`	Get authenticated user info and enrolled courses
`list_threads`	List threads in a course (sortable, paginated)
`get_thread`	Get thread by global ID with comments
`get_course_thread`	Get thread by course-local number (the # in the UI)
`search_threads`	Search threads by title, content, or category
`post_thread`	Create a new thread (supports markdown input)
`edit_thread`	Edit an existing thread
`lock_thread`	Lock a thread
`unlock_thread`	Unlock a thread
`pin_thread`	Pin a thread
`unpin_thread`	Unpin a thread
`endorse_thread`	Endorse a thread
`unendorse_thread`	Remove thread endorsement
`star_thread`	Star/bookmark a thread
`unstar_thread`	Remove star
`post_comment`	Post a comment or answer on a thread
`reply_to_comment`	Reply to an existing comment
`endorse_comment`	Endorse a comment
`unendorse_comment`	Remove comment endorsement
`accept_answer`	Accept a comment as the answer
`list_users`	List course roster (staff/admin)
`list_user_activity`	List a user's threads and comments
`upload_file_from_url`	Upload a file to Ed from a URL
`format_content`	Preview markdown to Ed XML conversion

Resources (2)

Resource	URI	Description
User Info	`edstem://user`	Authenticated user details
Courses	`edstem://courses`	Enrolled courses list

Prompts (3)

Prompt	Description
`check_assignment`	Look up assignment details, requirements, and staff clarifications
`unanswered_questions`	List unresolved questions in a course
`my_activity`	Show your recent posts and comments in a course

Content Format

Thread and comment content uses Ed's XML document format. This server auto-converts markdown to Ed XML, so you can write content naturally:

# Heading
**Bold** and *italic* text with `inline code`

- Bullet list
- Items

1. Numbered
2. List

> [!info] This becomes an Ed callout

Pass raw Ed XML (starting with <document) to bypass conversion.

Testing

npm test

Uses Node's built-in test runner (node:test). Tests cover the markdown-to-XML content converter and API client (URL construction, headers, error handling).