Excaliself MCP
Excaliself is a self-hosted Excalidraw whiteboard whose built-in MCP lets agents find, read, create and export drawings.
- 153 ★ on the repository
- Last commit
- MIT
Extended access
Why this level
- A token acts as you: the agent sees drawings and can move them to the trash.
Install
- Works in
In your terminal, with SkillFoxx CLI
npx skillfoxx add mcp/excaliselfDetects the agents on your machine, shows the access level and pins the version.
Other ways to install
Access and checks
How we reviewExtended accessThe tool runs code or makes network calls and only reads external data.
- A token acts as you: the agent sees drawings and can move them to the trash.
This is third-party code. Review the repository files before installing.
What it does
Excaliself is a small app with the Excalidraw editor, real-time collaboration, a team space, folders and search. Every drawing lives in your own Postgres. The app ships an MCP server at `/api/mcp`, and the instance needs no LLM key. The agent finds and reads a drawing: shapes, text and what the arrows connect. It creates a new one from simple shapes or a Mermaid flowchart, exports PNG, SVG or an `.excalidraw` file, creates folders and moves drawings. Edits arrive as drafts: they wait on the canvas until you click Apply, after which everyone in the drawing sees them.
Who it is for. Teams that keep architecture diagrams and boards on their own server and want an agent to draw and find them.
Good fit when
- An agent draws a diagram from a system description and files it in a team folder.
- You need to find an old drawing by the text inside diagrams.
- Documentation gets a schema export in SVG with embedded fonts.
- An agent proposes a diagram edit and its author accepts it with one click.
Not a fit when
- You want a cloud whiteboard without running a server.
- Diagrams must not be opened to an agent in any form.
- The agent has to change the canvas without confirmation.
Example request
Draw the project services as a Mermaid flowchart and put it in the Team folder.MCP
- Transport
- http
- Authentication
- OAuth
Environment variables
POSTGRES_PASSWORDrequired, secret- Application database password, set in `.env`.
BETTER_AUTH_SECRETrequired, secret- Application session secret, set in `.env`.
BASE_URLrequired- Public instance URL.
Limitations
The app must be deployed with Postgres via Docker Compose, Coolify or Railway. Signing in through Claude.ai requires the instance to be reachable from the internet over HTTPS. Other clients connect with a token from Settings, MCP, shown only once. Claude Desktop works through `mcp-remote` and needs Node. A token acts as you: the agent sees your drawings and can move them to the trash, where they stay for 30 days.
How to disable. Revoke the token or disconnect the app in Settings, MCP. Remove the `excaliself` entry from the client configuration.
FAQ
How do I connect Excaliself to Claude Code?
Create a token in Settings, MCP and run `claude mcp add --transport http excaliself https://draw.example.com/api/mcp --header "Authorization: Bearer exs_..."`. The token dialog shows the ready command.
Can an agent damage a drawing?
Not without you knowing: `edit_drawing` changes wait for Apply on the canvas. Deletion goes to the trash for 30 days, and the agent never erases anything for good.
Does the server need an OpenAI or Anthropic key?
No. The client brings the model and the instance needs no LLM key.
How can I try Excaliself quickly?
Run `docker run --rm -p 127.0.0.1:3000:3000 -e PREVIEW_MODE=true ghcr.io/maciekzygmunt/excaliself` and open `/preview/login`. Data stays in memory and vanishes on stop.
Which formats can the agent export?
PNG or SVG through `export_drawing`, and `export_scene` returns an `.excalidraw` file. The SVG embeds the drawing fonts.
Discussion
No questions or reviews yet.
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Comparison with similar tools
Cards that share the main search query, and how they differ.
| Tool | Official | Authentication | Repository stars | Main difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Excaliself (this card) | yes | OAuth | 153 | |
| Excalidraw MCP | yes | not required | 5,667 | an Excalidraw MCP app without storage; Excaliself keeps drawings in Postgres and manages accounts |
| Excalidraw MCP Server | no | not required | 2,646 | an MCP, CLI and skill set around Excalidraw; Excaliself deploys as a team server |
README in short
Excaliself is a full app on TanStack Start with Better Auth, Postgres and Drizzle under the MIT licence. MCP has its own README section with the tool list.