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Hoot

v1.0.0•Developer Tools•stable

MCP Testing Tool — Like Postman, but for the Model Context Protocol.

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What is Hoot?

Hoot is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to mcp testing tool — like postman, but for the model context protocol.

MCP Testing Tool — Like Postman, but for the Model Context Protocol.

This server falls under the Developer Tools category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.

Features

  • MCP Testing Tool — Like Postman, but for the Model Context P

Use Cases

MCP server testing and debugging
Protocol validation
Portkey-AI

Maintainer

LicenseMIT
Languagetypescript
Versionv1.0.0
UpdatedMay 20, 2026
Statushealthy
Maintenanceactive

Works with

ClaudeOpenAIwindowsmacoslinux
View SourceBrowse All Servers

Installation

Manual Installation

npx hoot

Configuration

Configuration Details

Config File

claude_desktop_config.json

Performance

Response Metrics

Response Time< 200ms
ThroughputMedium

Resource Usage

Memory UsageLow
CPU UsageLow

How to Set Up and Use Hoot

Hoot is a visual testing and debugging tool for MCP servers, often described as "Postman for the Model Context Protocol." It lets developers connect to any MCP server, browse its available tools, execute them with custom parameters, and inspect responses in real time — all through a browser-based or locally-hosted UI. Built by Portkey AI, Hoot supports OAuth 2.1 discovery, multiple transports (HTTP and SSE), and includes an AI-powered chat interface for conversational tool testing.

Prerequisites

  • Node.js 18 or later installed (for local npx usage)
  • An MCP-compatible client or browser (Hoot itself is the client here)
  • The URL or command of the MCP server you want to test
  • OAuth tokens or API keys for the target MCP server if it requires authentication
1

Run Hoot instantly with npx

The fastest way to start Hoot is via npx. This downloads and launches the Hoot server locally, opening the UI on localhost:8009 with no prior installation.

npx -y @portkey-ai/hoot
2

Open the Hoot UI in your browser

After the command starts, open http://localhost:8009 in your browser. Alternatively, visit hoot.run for the fully hosted cloud version with no local setup required.

3

Connect to an MCP server

Paste the MCP server's URL or command into Hoot's connection field. Hoot auto-detects the transport type (HTTP streaming or SSE) and prompts for OAuth or API key authentication if the server requires it.

4

Browse and execute tools

Once connected, Hoot lists all tools exposed by the server. Select a tool, fill in its parameters using the form UI, and click Execute. The response is displayed with syntax highlighting and a copy button.

5

Use the AI chat interface for conversational testing

Switch to Hoot's chat mode to interact with the MCP server through natural language. Hoot uses AI-powered tool selection to pick the right tool for your prompt and shows the underlying tool call and response side by side.

Hoot Examples

Client configuration

If you want to expose Hoot itself as an MCP server endpoint, use this config. More commonly you run it standalone via npx.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "hoot": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "@portkey-ai/hoot"]
    }
  }
}

Prompts to try

Actions to perform in Hoot's UI once you've connected to an MCP server.

- Connect to a local MCP server at http://localhost:3000 and list its tools
- Execute the 'search' tool with the query parameter set to 'climate change'
- Test an OAuth-protected MCP server by pasting its discovery URL and completing the OAuth flow
- Use the chat interface to ask 'what tools does this server provide?' and inspect the response
- Run a tool call and copy the raw JSON response for debugging

Troubleshooting Hoot

Port 8009 is already in use when starting Hoot

Kill the process using port 8009 with 'lsof -ti:8009 | xargs kill' on macOS/Linux, or use the hosted version at hoot.run instead.

Hoot shows 'connection failed' for an MCP server

Check that the target MCP server is running and reachable. For local servers, confirm the port matches. For OAuth servers, ensure the redirect URI in the server config matches what Hoot uses (typically http://localhost:8009/callback).

OAuth flow completes but Hoot shows no tools

The server may require specific scopes. Check the server's documentation for required OAuth scopes and re-initiate the OAuth flow after clearing stored tokens from ~/.hoot/hoot-mcp.db.

Frequently Asked Questions about Hoot

What is Hoot?

Hoot is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that mcp testing tool — like postman, but for the model context protocol. It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.

How do I install Hoot?

Follow the installation instructions on the Hoot GitHub repository. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and add the server config to your AI client.

Which AI clients work with Hoot?

Hoot works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.

Is Hoot free to use?

Yes, Hoot is open source and available under the MIT license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.

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Quick Config Preview

{ "mcpServers": { "hoot": { "command": "npx", "args": ["-y", "hoot"] } } }

Add this to your claude_desktop_config.json or .cursor/mcp.json

Read the full setup guide →

Ready to use Hoot?

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