Workplace and productivity · MCP server
Backlog: MCP server, setup and security
Backlog is an open-source MCP server published on GitHub that lets an AI agent manage persistent tasks and coordinate agents across project sessions. Its repository has 5 stars and its last commit is from May 30, 2026 and it is licensed under MIT.
| Adoption (stars) | 7/40 | |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | 18/30 | |
| Framework (licence, registry, official) | 15/30 |
What Backlog does
According to its repository: “Persistent, cross-session task management for Claude Code with agent coordination, event-sourced storage and per-project isolation.”
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is a standard plug between an AI agent and an outside service: once the server is connected, its tools show up in the agent, which decides when to call them. Backlog is listed under Workplace and productivity, a category of 54 servers in the directory, where it ranks #42 by stars.
Installing and connecting Backlog
No package or remote server is declared in the official MCP registry: you install it from source, following the repository README.
It works with any MCP-compatible client (Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code, Codex and most recent agents). You add one entry to the client's MCP configuration: server name, start command or URL, environment variables. Project language: TypeScript. Listed systems: macOS, Windows, Linux.
Security: what to check
Connecting an MCP server means installing software that talks straight to your agent: it runs with your rights and the model trusts its tool descriptions. The risk therefore depends on what it can touch and how far its code can be trusted.
None of the risk signals we track (system access, secrets, missing licence, abandonment) applies to Backlog. That does not replace reading the code.
Good practice: grant only the rights needed (least privilege), require human approval for irreversible actions, and run the AI agent security check.
Project activity and maintenance
Created on April 6, 2026, the backloghq/backlog repository has 5 stars and 2 forks, with 0 open issues. It has more stars than 13% of the servers in the directory. Last change 5 months ago.
Stars measure attention, not quality: a recent, heavily promoted project can collect them fast, while a useful but niche server will have few.
Verdict
Backlog is still a modest project: read its code and compare it with the alternatives before using it.
Strengths
- Permissive licence (MIT)
Limitations
- Few visible users
- Install from source
Alternatives
- Crosspaste desktop2.7K ★
- Google workspace MCP3.4K ★
- Workopia — Job Search314 ★
- Boss agent cli2.1K ★
- Teamwork MCP27 ★
- OfficeAgent.NET27 ★
Learn more
Frequently asked questions
How do I install Backlog?
No package is declared in the MCP registry: clone the backloghq/backlog repository, follow its README, then declare the start command in your client's MCP configuration.
Is Backlog free?
The code is published under the MIT licence and can be used free of charge.
Is Backlog safe?
No risk signal found (system access, secrets, licence, abandonment). As with any MCP server, keep rights minimal and read the code before sensitive use.
Is it an official server?
Nothing says so: it is a project published by backloghq on GitHub. Check who maintains it before giving it access.
What are the alternatives to Backlog?
In the same category: Crosspaste desktop, Google workspace MCP, Workopia — Job Search, and Boss agent cli. Crosspaste desktop and Google workspace MCP score higher on our grid.
Related articles
- Build your own MCP server in 30 minutesOctober 24, 2026
- Automate your inbox with an AI agentOctober 18, 2026
- MCP, A2A, and tool calling: agent protocols explainedOctober 17, 2026
- Build an AI agent with n8n, without codingOctober 16, 2026
Neutrality. No affiliate links. No vendor pays to be reviewed, rated or ranked. Reviews are directed by François Chollet, neutral and factual, and every data point is dated and sourced. How we score