Scientific research · MCP server
Gramps Web MCP: MCP server, setup and security
Gramps Web MCP is an open-source MCP server published on GitHub that lets an AI agent search and edit family trees and explore genealogy relationships. Its repository has 14 stars and its last commit is from October 24, 2026 and it is licensed under AGPL-3.0.
| Adoption (stars) | 11/40 | |
|---|---|---|
| Maintenance | 30/30 | |
| Framework (licence, registry, official) | 20/30 |
What Gramps Web MCP does
According to its repository: “Gramps Web genealogy: search and edit family tree records, explore ancestors, descendants, relationships and timelines, and read media with privacy-aware previews. Includes a read-only mode and Claude Desktop bundles.”
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. Gramps Web MCP is listed under Scientific research, a category of 35 servers in the directory, where it ranks #20 by stars.
Installing and connecting Gramps Web MCP
Distribution modes declared in the official MCP registry:
- Docker (OCI) image
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: C#. Listed systems: macOS, Windows, Linux.
The registry lists 2 secret variables to provide (API key, access token). Keep them in the client's environment variables, never in a shared file or a repository.
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.
Points found for Gramps Web MCP:
- Secrets: the server acts with your credentials. Create a dedicated key with minimum rights and an expiry date.
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 June 23, 2026, the Scormave/gramps-web-mcp repository has 14 stars and 3 forks, with 0 open issues. It has more stars than 32% of the servers in the directory. It received changes this month. Version published in the registry: 2.6.0 (October 16, 2026).
Stars measure attention, not quality: a recent, heavily promoted project can collect them fast, while a useful but niche server will have few.
Verdict
Gramps Web MCP is a reasonable choice; check the points below before connecting it.
Strengths
- Active project: recent commit
- Listed in the official MCP registry
Limitations
- Requires an API key or token
Avoid if…
- You do not want to give credentials to an agent
Alternatives
- Zotero MCP (54yyyu)5.5K ★
- ToolUniverse1.8K ★
- Idea reality MCP828 ★
- Research toolkit299 ★
- Paper preflight100 ★
- OmniSeek95 ★
Learn more
Frequently asked questions
How do I install Gramps Web MCP?
Gramps Web MCP is distributed as Docker (OCI) image. Add it to your client's MCP configuration (Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code…) following the README of Scormave/gramps-web-mcp.
Is Gramps Web MCP free?
The code is published under the AGPL-3.0 licence and can be used free of charge. It needs an API key: the service it connects to may be paid.
Is Gramps Web MCP safe?
Points to watch: secrets. Give it minimum rights and approve sensitive actions.
Is it an official server?
Nothing says so: it is a project published by Scormave on GitHub. Check who maintains it before giving it access.
What are the alternatives to Gramps Web MCP?
In the same category: Zotero MCP (54yyyu), ToolUniverse, Idea reality MCP, and Research toolkit. Zotero MCP (54yyyu) and ToolUniverse 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