io.github.specshield-io/specshield-mcp-server
The API-change deploy gate for AI coding agents. Read-only breaking-change detection.
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).
specshield-mcp-serverclaude mcp add specshield-mcp-server -e 'SPECSHIELD_API_KEY=<your specshield_api_key>' -e 'SPECSHIELD_API_URL=<SPECSHIELD_API_URL>' -e 'SPECSHIELD_TIMEOUT_MS=<SPECSHIELD_TIMEOUT_MS>' -e 'SPECSHIELD_LOG_LEVEL=<SPECSHIELD_LOG_LEVEL>' -- npx -y specshield-mcp-server@1.1.1
{
"mcpServers": {
"specshield-mcp-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"specshield-mcp-server@1.1.1"
],
"env": {
"SPECSHIELD_API_KEY": "<your specshield_api_key>",
"SPECSHIELD_API_URL": "<SPECSHIELD_API_URL>",
"SPECSHIELD_TIMEOUT_MS": "<SPECSHIELD_TIMEOUT_MS>",
"SPECSHIELD_LOG_LEVEL": "<SPECSHIELD_LOG_LEVEL>"
}
}
}
}
Environment variables
SPECSHIELD_API_KEYrequired secret SpecShield API keySPECSHIELD_API_URLBackend base URLSPECSHIELD_TIMEOUT_MSPer-request timeout (ms)SPECSHIELD_LOG_LEVELdebug|info|warn|error
Documentation
From the project's README on GitHub, refreshed weekly. Links open on GitHub.
Contents
SpecShield MCP Server
The API-change deploy gate for AI coding agents. Ask "is it safe to ship this API change to my consumers?" right inside Claude, Cursor, and other MCP clients — and catch breaking changes before they reach your consumers.
It's a thin adapter over the SpecShield backend. Every tool is read-only / analyze-only — it never modifies your code.
Why not just diff specs? Plenty of tools (including free ones) list breaking changes. SpecShield's job is the decision: can I deploy this? — the deploy gate is the hero tool here.
⚙️ In CI/CD instead of an agent? The
specshieldCLI runs the same breaking-change andcan-i-deploychecks in your pipeline (GitHub Action, exit codes). Same job, two entry points: this server for AI agents, the CLI for CI/CD.
Tools
| # | Tool | What it answers |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | is_change_safe ⭐ | Is this change safe to merge/deploy? Will it break consumers? (safeToMerge + risk + blocking reasons) |
| 2 | explain_breaking_changes | What breaks, developer & consumer impact, suggested migration |
| 3 | generate_migration_guide | Migration guide (markdown) + safe rollout steps |
| 4 | generate_release_notes | Release notes for developer / customer / internal |
| 5 | compare_specs | The raw diff (breaking / additions / modifications / warnings) + risk score |
| 6 | run_governance_review 🔒 | API governance ruleset beyond breaking changes (missing operationId, error responses, security scheme, pagination, versioning…) → located findings + suggested fixes. Paid (Team+) |
Tools 1–5 accept specs inline (baseSpecContent / targetSpecContent) or by path
(baseSpecPath / targetSpecPath). run_governance_review reviews a single spec
(specContent / specPath).
🔒 run_governance_review is a paid feature — a FREE API key returns a
payment_required error. Upgrade at specshield.io/pricing.
Full setup, verification & troubleshooting: docs/mcp-server-setup.md.
Install
Requires Node.js ≥ 20 and a SpecShield API key (from specshield.io/account).
npx -y specshield-mcp-server
Claude Desktop
claude_desktop_config.json:
{
"mcpServers": {
"specshield": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "specshield-mcp-server"],
"env": { "SPECSHIELD_API_KEY": "ss_your_key_here" }
}
}
}
Claude Code
claude mcp add specshield --env SPECSHIELD_API_KEY=ss_your_key_here -- npx -y specshield-mcp-server
Cursor
~/.cursor/mcp.json (or the project .cursor/mcp.json):
{
"mcpServers": {
"specshield": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "specshield-mcp-server"],
"env": { "SPECSHIELD_API_KEY": "ss_your_key_here" }
}
}
}
Configuration
| Env var | Required | Default | Purpose | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
SPECSHIELD_API_KEY | yes | — | Your SpecShield API key. Store it as a secret; never commit it. | |||
SPECSHIELD_API_URL | no | https://api.specshield.io | Backend base URL (override for self-hosted/staging). | |||
SPECSHIELD_TIMEOUT_MS | no | 30000 | Per-request timeout. | |||
SPECSHIELD_LOG_LEVEL | no | info | debug \ | info \ | warn \ | error (logs go to stderr). |
Example prompts (lead with the deploy gate)
- "Here are my old and new
openapi.yaml— is it safe to ship this API change to my consumers?" - "Compare
v1.yamlandv2.yamland tell me if I can deploy, and why not." - "Explain the breaking changes between these two specs and how consumers should migrate."
- "Generate customer-facing release notes for this API change."
Security & privacy
- API key required. Sent only as the
X-Api-Keyheader to your configured backend. - Read-only / analyze-only. No mutation tools, no shell execution, no arbitrary file access (a spec file is read only when you explicitly pass a path).
- No secret or spec logging. The server never logs spec content, API keys, or request bodies; error messages are redacted and machine-readable.
- Specs are sent to your configured SpecShield backend for analysis.
Local development
npm install
npm run build # tsc → dist/
npm test # vitest (no network)
npm run lint
npm run smoke # boots the server against a stubbed backend and lists tools
npm start # run the built server over stdio
License
MIT © SpecShield Software Private Limited
Frequently asked questions
What is io.github.specshield-io/specshield-mcp-server?
The API-change deploy gate for AI coding agents. Read-only breaking-change detection.
How do I install io.github.specshield-io/specshield-mcp-server?
It runs on your machine. In Claude Code: claude mcp add specshield-mcp-server -e 'SPECSHIELD_API_KEY=<your specshield_api_key>' -e 'SPECSHIELD_API_URL=<SPECSHIELD_API_URL>' -e 'SPECSHIELD_TIMEOUT_MS=<SPECSHIELD_TIMEOUT_MS>' -e 'SPECSHIELD_LOG_LEVEL=<SPECSHIELD_LOG_LEVEL>' -- npx -y specshield-mcp-server@1.1.1. For other clients, paste the JSON configuration from this page into their MCP settings.
Does io.github.specshield-io/specshield-mcp-server need an API key?
Yes. It expects SPECSHIELD_API_KEY, which you set in its configuration.
Is io.github.specshield-io/specshield-mcp-server open source?
Yes. Its code is on GitHub under the MIT license.
Who maintains io.github.specshield-io/specshield-mcp-server?
It is published by specshield-io. AI.tn lists it but does not maintain or endorse it.
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