dev.to MCP Server

An MCP (Model Context Protocol) server for dev.to — the developer blogging and community platform powered by Forem. Covers the full Forem REST API with 40 tools for articles, comments, users, organizations, tags, reactions, and more.

Prerequisites

• Node.js v18 or higher
• A dev.to API key — go to dev.to/settings/extensions, scroll to "DEV API Keys", and generate a key.

Note: Many tools are public and work without an API key. An API key is only required for authenticated endpoints (creating/updating content, accessing your profile, reactions, etc.).

Setup

1. Build

npm install
npm run build

2. Configure your MCP client

Set DEVTO_API_KEY as an environment variable. Pick your client below:

GitHub Copilot CLI

Edit ~/.copilot/mcp-config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "devto": {
      "type": "local",
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/mcp-servers/servers/devto/dist/index.js"],
      "env": {
        "DEVTO_API_KEY": "your_api_key_here"
      },
      "tools": ["*"]
    }
  }
}

Claude Desktop

Edit ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (macOS) or %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json (Windows):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "devto": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/mcp-servers/servers/devto/dist/index.js"],
      "env": {
        "DEVTO_API_KEY": "your_api_key_here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Cursor

Edit ~/.cursor/mcp.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "devto": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/mcp-servers/servers/devto/dist/index.js"],
      "env": {
        "DEVTO_API_KEY": "your_api_key_here"
      }
    }
  }
}

VS Code

Edit .vscode/mcp.json in your workspace:

{
  "servers": {
    "devto": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/mcp-servers/servers/devto/dist/index.js"],
      "env": {
        "DEVTO_API_KEY": "your_api_key_here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Available Tools (40)

Legend: 🌐 Public (no API key needed) · 🔐 Auth required · 🛡️ Admin/mod only

Articles (12)

list_articles 🌐

List articles with optional filters.

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description | |-----------|------|----------|-------------| | page | number | No | Page number (default: 1) | | per_page | number | No | Items per page (default: 30, max: 1000) | | tag | string | No | Filter by single tag slug | | tags | string | No | Comma-separated tags to include | | tags_exclude | string | No | Comma-separated tags to exclude | | username | string | No | Filter by author username | | state | fresh | rising | all | No | Filter by article state | | top | number | No | Top articles from the last N days | | collection_id | number | No | Filter by collection ID |

list_latest_articles 🌐

List the latest articles ordered by publish date.

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description | |-----------|------|----------|-------------| | page | number | No | Page number | | per_page | number | No | Items per page |

get_article_by_id 🌐

Get a specific article by its numeric ID.

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description | |-----------|------|----------|-------------| | id | number | Yes | The article ID |

get_article_by_path 🌐

Get a specific article by author username and slug.

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description | |-----------|------|----------|-------------| | username | string | Yes | The author's username | | slug | string | Yes | The article slug |

list_videos 🌐

List articles with video content.

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description | |-----------|------|----------|-------------| | page | number | No | Page number | | per_page | number | No | Items per page (default: 24) |

create_article 🔐

Create a new article. New articles are drafts by default.

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description | |-----------|------|----------|-------------| | title | string | Yes | Article title | | body_markdown | string | No | Article body in Markdown | | published | boolean | No | Publish immediately (default: false = draft) | | tags | string[] | No | Array of tag strings | | series | string | No | Series name to add this article to | | canonical_url | string | No | Canonical URL if cross-posting | | description | string | No | Article description/summary | | main_image | string | No | Cover image URL | | organization_id | number | No | Publish under an organization |

update_article 🔐

Update an existing article you own.

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description | |-----------|------|----------|-------------| | id | number | Yes | The article ID to update | | title | string | No | New title | | body_markdown | string | No | New body in Markdown | | published | boolean | No | Publish or unpublish | | tags | string[] | No | New tag list | | series | string | No | Series name | | canonical_url | string | No | Canonical URL | | description | string | No | Description | | main_image | string | No | Cover image URL | | organization_id | number | No | Organization ID |

list_my_articles 🔐

List the authenticated user's articles (most recent first).

list_my_published_articles 🔐

List only the authenticated user's published articles.

list_my_unpublished_articles 🔐

List only the authenticated user's unpublished (draft) articles.

list_all_my_articles 🔐

List all of the authenticated user's articles (published and drafts).

The above four listing tools accept optional page and per_page parameters.

unpublish_article 🛡️

Unpublish an article (admin/moderator only).

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description | |-----------|------|----------|-------------| | id | number | Yes | The article ID | | note | string | No | Reason for unpublishing |

Comments (2)

list_comments 🌐

List comments for an article or podcast episode.

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description | |-----------|------|----------|-------------| | a_id | number | No | Article ID | | p_id | number | No | Podcast episode ID |

get_comment 🌐

Get a single comment and all its descendants (full thread).

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description | |-----------|------|----------|-------------| | id | string | Yes | The comment ID code |

Users (5)

get_current_user 🔐

Get the authenticated user's profile. No parameters.

get_user 🔐

Get any user's profile by ID or username.

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description | |-----------|------|----------|-------------| | id | number | string | Yes | User ID or username |

unpublish_user 🛡️

Unpublish all of a user's articles and comments.

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description | |-----------|------|----------|-------------| | id | number | Yes | The user ID |

suspend_user 🛡️

Suspend a user, preventing them from posting.

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description | |-----------|------|----------|-------------| | id | number | Yes | The user ID |

invite_user 🛡️

Invite a new user to the platform (super_admin only).

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description | |-----------|------|----------|-------------| | email | string | Yes | Email address | | name | string | Yes | Full name |

Organizations (3)

get_organization 🌐

Get an organization's profile.

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description | |-----------|------|----------|-------------| | username | string | Yes | Organization username |

list_organization_users 🌐

List members of an organization.

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description | |-----------|------|----------|-------------| | username | string | Yes | Organization username | | page | number | No | Page number | | per_page | number | No | Items per page |

list_organization_articles 🌐

List articles published by an organization.

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description | |-----------|------|----------|-------------| | username | string | Yes | Organization username | | page | number | No | Page number | | per_page | number | No | Items per page |

Tags (2)

list_tags 🌐

List popular tags ordered by usage.

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description | |-----------|------|----------|-------------| | page | number | No | Page number | | per_page | number | No | Items per page (default: 10) |

list_followed_tags 🔐

List tags the authenticated user follows. No parameters.

Followers (1)

list_followers 🔐

List users who follow the authenticated user.

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description | |-----------|------|----------|-------------| | page | number | No | Page number | | per_page | number | No | Items per page (default: 80) | | sort | string | No | Sort field (default: created_at) |

Podcast Episodes (1)

list_podcast_episodes 🌐

List podcast episodes.

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description | |-----------|------|----------|-------------| | page | number | No | Page number | | per_page | number | No | Items per page | | username | string | No | Filter by podcast username |

Profile Images (1)

get_profile_image 🔐

Get a user's or organization's profile image URLs.

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description | |-----------|------|----------|-------------| | username | string | Yes | Username to fetch the image for |

Reactions (2)

create_reaction 🔐

Add a reaction to an article, comment, or user.

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description | |-----------|------|----------|-------------| | category | like | unicorn | exploding_head | raised_hands | fire | Yes | Reaction type | | reactable_id | number | Yes | ID of the item | | reactable_type | Article | Comment | User | Yes | Type of item |

toggle_reaction 🔐

Toggle a reaction — creates it if absent, removes it if already present. Same parameters as create_reaction.

Reading List (1)

list_reading_list 🔐

List the authenticated user's reading list.

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description | |-----------|------|----------|-------------| | page | number | No | Page number | | per_page | number | No | Items per page (default: 30) |

Pages (5)

list_pages 🌐

List all custom pages. No parameters.

get_page 🌐

Get a specific custom page.

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description | |-----------|------|----------|-------------| | id | number | Yes | The page ID |

create_page 🔐

Create a new custom page.

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description | |-----------|------|----------|-------------| | title | string | Yes | Page title | | slug | string | Yes | URL slug | | description | string | Yes | Page description | | template | contained | full_within_layout | nav_bar_included | json | Yes | Layout template | | body_markdown | string | No | Body in Markdown | | body_json | string | No | Body as JSON (for json template) | | is_top_level_path | boolean | No | Use top-level URL path |

update_page 🔐

Update an existing custom page. Accepts the same fields as create_page (all optional) plus id.

delete_page 🔐

Delete a custom page.

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description | |-----------|------|----------|-------------| | id | number | Yes | The page ID |

Display Ads (5) 🛡️

All display ad tools require admin privileges.

list_display_ads

List all display ads. No parameters.

get_display_ad

Get a specific display ad by ID.

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description | |-----------|------|----------|-------------| | id | number | Yes | The ad ID |

create_display_ad

Create a new display ad.

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description | |-----------|------|----------|-------------| | name | string | Yes | Internal name | | body_markdown | string | Yes | Ad body in Markdown | | placement_area | string | Yes | Where the ad is displayed | | approved | boolean | No | Approval status | | published | boolean | No | Whether the ad is live | | tag_list | string | No | Comma-separated tag targeting | | type_of | in_house | community | external | No | Ad type |

update_display_ad

Update an existing display ad. Same fields as create_display_ad (all optional) plus id.

unpublish_display_ad

Unpublish a display ad.

| Parameter | Type | Required | Description | |-----------|------|----------|-------------| | id | number | Yes | The ad ID |

Error Handling

When an API call fails, the tool returns isError: true with a message in the format:

[<status_code>] <error_message>

| Status | Meaning | |--------|---------| | 401 | Missing or invalid API key | | 403 | Insufficient privileges (admin/mod required) | | 404 | Resource does not exist | | 422 | Validation error (invalid parameters) | | 429 | Rate limit exceeded | | 500 | dev.to server error |

Rate Limits

dev.to does not publish hard rate limit numbers. Handle 429 Too Many Requests responses gracefully with backoff. For best results, avoid making large numbers of requests in rapid succession.