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CanvasKeep

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Create and edit Excalidraw diagrams in your CanvasKeep workspace, with auto-layout and folders.

Source code Website Documentation

Install

Add this to your client's MCP configuration (Claude Desktop: claude_desktop_config.json; Cursor: .cursor/mcp.json; VS Code and others use the same "mcpServers" shape).

NPM package canvaskeep-mcp
Claude Code 
claude mcp add canvaskeep -e 'CANVASKEEP_API_KEY=<your canvaskeep_api_key>' -e 'CANVASKEEP_MASTER_KEY=<your canvaskeep_master_key>' -e 'CANVASKEEP_API_URL=https://canvaskeep.com' -- npx -y canvaskeep-mcp@0.6.2
JSON configuration (Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code) 
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "canvaskeep": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": [
                "-y",
                "canvaskeep-mcp@0.6.2"
            ],
            "env": {
                "CANVASKEEP_API_KEY": "<your canvaskeep_api_key>",
                "CANVASKEEP_MASTER_KEY": "<your canvaskeep_master_key>",
                "CANVASKEEP_API_URL": "https://canvaskeep.com"
            }
        }
    }
}

Environment variables

  • CANVASKEEP_API_KEY required secret API key from your CanvasKeep dashboard (profile menu, API Keys)
  • CANVASKEEP_MASTER_KEY secret Needed to read or edit encrypted diagrams. Copy it from canvaskeep.com/dashboard/encryption
  • CANVASKEEP_API_URL API base URL, override for local development

Documentation

From the project's README on GitHub, refreshed weekly. Links open on GitHub.

Contents
  1. CanvasKeep MCP Server
  2. Setup
  3. Available tools
  4. Encryption
  5. Example usage
  6. Development
  7. License

CanvasKeep MCP Server

An MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that lets AI tools like Claude Code and Codex generate Excalidraw diagrams and save them directly into your CanvasKeep workspace.

Setup

1. Get an API key
  1. Log in to CanvasKeep
  2. Click your profile menu (top right) and select API Keys
  3. Generate a new key and copy it immediately (you won't see it again)
2. Install and register

Claude Code:

claude mcp add canvaskeep \
  -e CANVASKEEP_API_KEY=ck_your_key_here \
  -- npx canvaskeep-mcp

Codex / other MCP clients:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "canvaskeep": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["canvaskeep-mcp"],
      "env": {
        "CANVASKEEP_API_KEY": "ck_your_key_here"
      }
    }
  }
}
3. Environment variables
VariableRequiredDefaultDescription
CANVASKEEP_API_KEYYes-Your API key from the CanvasKeep dashboard
CANVASKEEP_MASTER_KEYNo-Needed to read or edit encrypted diagrams. Copy it from canvaskeep.com/dashboard/encryption (Key for the MCP server)
CANVASKEEP_API_URLNohttps://canvaskeep.comAPI base URL (override for local dev)

Available tools

ToolDescription
list_workspacesList all your workspaces
create_workspaceCreate a new workspace
list_foldersList folders in a workspace
create_folderCreate a new folder, optionally nested
list_diagramsList diagrams in a workspace
create_diagramCreate a diagram, optionally inside a folder
update_diagramRename a diagram
delete_diagramPermanently delete a diagram
get_diagram_summaryGet diagram metadata and element count
get_diagram_sceneRead the full Excalidraw scene of a diagram
save_diagram_sceneWrite a full Excalidraw scene back to a diagram
generate_diagramGenerate a diagram from nodes and edges with auto-layout

Encryption

Diagrams you encrypt in CanvasKeep stay encrypted when an AI tool works with them. When get_diagram_scene or save_diagram_scene touches an encrypted diagram, this server decrypts and re-encrypts it locally (AES-GCM, see src/encryption.ts) using CANVASKEEP_MASTER_KEY. The master key never leaves your machine.

generate_diagram sends the nodes and edges you give it to CanvasKeep, which lays them out on the server, so diagrams generated this way are stored unencrypted.

Example usage

Ask Claude Code something like:

"Draw an architecture diagram of a web app with a React frontend, Node API, PostgreSQL database, and Redis cache"

Claude will use the MCP tools to create a diagram in your CanvasKeep workspace with properly laid-out boxes and labeled arrows.

Development

git clone https://github.com/CanvasKeep/canvaskeep-mcp.git
cd canvaskeep-mcp
npm install
npm run build
CANVASKEEP_API_KEY=ck_... CANVASKEEP_API_URL=http://localhost:3000 node dist/index.js

To run your local build from Claude Code:

claude mcp add canvaskeep \
  -e CANVASKEEP_API_KEY=ck_your_key_here \
  -- node /path/to/canvaskeep-mcp/dist/index.js

License

MIT

Frequently asked questions

What is CanvasKeep?

Create and edit Excalidraw diagrams in your CanvasKeep workspace, with auto-layout and folders.

How do I install CanvasKeep?

It runs on your machine. In Claude Code: claude mcp add canvaskeep -e 'CANVASKEEP_API_KEY=<your canvaskeep_api_key>' -e 'CANVASKEEP_MASTER_KEY=<your canvaskeep_master_key>' -e 'CANVASKEEP_API_URL=https://canvaskeep.com' -- npx -y canvaskeep-mcp@0.6.2. For other clients, paste the JSON configuration from this page into their MCP settings.

Does CanvasKeep need an API key?

Yes. It expects CANVASKEEP_API_KEY, CANVASKEEP_MASTER_KEY, which you set in its configuration.

Is CanvasKeep open source?

Yes. Its code is on GitHub under the MIT license.

Who maintains CanvasKeep?

It is published by CanvasKeep. AI.tn lists it but does not maintain or endorse it.

From the official MCP Registry. Listing is not an endorsement: review a server's code and permissions before giving it access to your data.