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Reported issues for mcp-server

Pod holds 24 of 394 problems reported by people outside the maintainer team. Issues filed by the project's own owners, members and collaborators are excluded entirely — a maintainer's release checklist is not a warning to a prospective user.

Back to mcp-server.

Most discussed

Feat: MCP Server — auto cost estimation, smart error recovery, and batch scraping

Problem

  1. Users don't discover the alterlab_estimate_cost tool and run expensive scrapes blind
  2. On timeout errors, users don't know if credits were consumed
  3. Scraping multiple URLs requires calling alterlab_scrape N times manually

Solution

1. Optional Pre-Flight Cost Check

Add estimate_first parameter to alterlab_scrape:

{
  "url": "https://amazon.com/dp/B0BSHF7WHW",
  "estimate_first": true
}

When enabled, runs cost estimation first and includes it in the r

Read the thread · 2026-03-31 · closed · 17 comments

Feat: MCP Server — interactive setup wizard, OAuth auth, and proactive balance warnings

Problem

Setting up the MCP server requires 6+ steps: visit website → sign up → verify email → find API keys page → copy key → paste into config. Users who run npx alterlab-mcp-server without a key get a stderr exit with no recovery path.

Once running, users get no warning when credits are low — they discover it only when a scrape fails with 402.

Solution

1. Interactive First-Run Setup

When ALTERLAB_API_KEY is missing, instead of process.exit(1):

🔑 No API key found. Let's 

[Read the thread](https://github.com/RapierCraft/alterlab-mcp-server/issues/28) · 2026-03-31 · closed · 17 comments

### Add OAuth device flow for seamless CLI authentication

## Summary

Currently, setting up the MCP server requires users to manually sign up at alterlab.io, find their API key in the dashboard, and paste it into a JSON config file. This could be streamlined with an OAuth device flow during installation — similar to how `gh auth login` or `vercel login` work.

## Proposed Flow

$ claude mcp add alterlab -- npx -y alterlab-mcp-server

→ No API key found. Authenticate with AlterLab: → Open this link: https://alterlab.io/auth/cli?session=abc123 → Or s

Read the thread · 2026-02-28 · closed · 17 comments

Zero-friction auth: Device Authorization Flow + auto key creation on first run

Problem

Today, getting started with alterlab-mcp-server requires 5 manual steps:

  1. Go to alterlab.io
  2. Create an account
  3. Navigate to the API keys dashboard
  4. Copy the key
  5. Paste it into a JSON config file (different path per MCP client)

This is the #1 source of friction for new users. Every extra step is a drop-off point. The MCP server currently just crashes with an error if no key is found:

if (!apiKey) {
  console.error("Error: ALTERLAB_API_KEY environment variable 

[Read the thread](https://github.com/RapierCraft/alterlab-mcp-server/issues/3) · 2026-02-28 · closed · 16 comments

### fix: balance warning not surfaced in error-path tool responses (review finding — PR #381)

## Problem

When a scrape/extract/screenshot/crawl API call returns a 4xx error (e.g., 402 Insufficient Balance), the balance warning suffix is not appended to the error response. The `X-AlterLab-Balance-Warning` header IS parsed on error responses, but `formatErrorResult()` is called directly without appending `formatBalanceWarning(client.getLastBalanceWarning())`.

**Source**: PR #381 — Feat: proactive balance warnings (#28)
**Agent**: Security + Billing (dual finding)
**Confidence**: POSSIBLE

[Read the thread](https://github.com/RapierCraft/alterlab-mcp-server/issues/382) · 2026-07-07 · closed · outside contributor · 15 comments

### fix: estimate tool formats description overstates cost prediction impact (review finding — PR #236)

## Problem

The `estimate` tool's `formats` parameter description states it `Affects cost prediction accuracy` (`src/tools/estimate.ts:24`), but the `/api/v1/scrape/estimate` endpoint currently ignores the `formats` field in its cost calculation — it only uses `url`, `cost_controls`, and URL-pattern heuristics.

**Source**: PR #236 — Fix: add formats parameter to estimate tool (json_v2, rag, raw)
**Agent**: General Security (security)
**Confidence**: POSSIBLE
**Severity**: LOW
**Review comment**

[Read the thread](https://github.com/RapierCraft/alterlab-mcp-server/issues/237) · 2026-06-03 · closed · outside contributor · 15 comments

### feat(sync): comprehensive API parity — all missing params, response fields, and endpoints

## Problem

The MCP server tool schemas are significantly behind the AlterLab API surface. ~30 scrape params, ~16 crawl params, and 16+ API endpoints have no MCP tool coverage. This single issue supersedes all individual sync issues (#102–#211).

## Scope

### Scrape Tool — Missing Input Params

**cost_controls** (entire object):
- `cost_controls.force_tier` (1/2/3/3.5/4) — bypass tier escalation
- `cost_controls.max_tier` (1/2/3/3.5/4) — cap maximum tier
- `cost_controls.max_credits` (float) — 

[Read the thread](https://github.com/RapierCraft/alterlab-mcp-server/issues/213) · 2026-05-29 · closed · outside contributor · 15 comments

### Review: truncation warning gives incorrect advice for readability caps (PR #141)

## Review Finding

**Source**: PR #141 — Feat: add max_response_bytes scrape parameter (sync #137)
**Agent**: General Security + API Design
**Confidence**: LIKELY
**Severity**: LOW
**Location**: `src/format.ts:77`

## Code Context

```ts
// src/format.ts:72-79
if (response.content_truncated) {
  const t = response.content_truncated;
  parts.push(
    `Warning: Content truncated at ${truncatedMB} MB (..., reason: ${t.truncation_reason}). ` +
      `Increase max_response_bytes or use a more target

[Read the thread](https://github.com/RapierCraft/alterlab-mcp-server/issues/142) · 2026-05-07 · closed · 15 comments

## Most recent

### Sync: Scrape API modification (from #33400)

## Ecosystem Sync

**Source**: [RapierCraftStudios/AlterLab](https://github.com/RapierCraftStudios/AlterLab) @ `main`
**PR**: #33400
**Commits**:

cfce6c1 Merge pull request #33400 from RapierCraftStudios/staging 69f2149 Merge pull request #33412 from RapierCraftStudios/forge/issue-33407-pr33400 72dff11 fix(dashboard): scope personal tier insights (#33407) a317874 Merge pull request #33398 from RapierCraftStudios/fix/promotion-batch-contract-33372 b8b7948 fix(test): preserve batch billing sou

Read the thread · 2026-08-30 · open · 0 comments

Sync: New scrape parameter — account_tier (from #33400)

Ecosystem Sync

Source: RapierCraftStudios/AlterLab @ main PR: #33400 Commits:

cfce6c1 Merge pull request #33400 from RapierCraftStudios/staging
69f2149 Merge pull request #33412 from RapierCraftStudios/forge/issue-33407-pr33400
72dff11 fix(dashboard): scope personal tier insights (#33407)
a317874 Merge pull request #33398 from RapierCraftStudios/fix/promotion-batch-contract-33372
b8b7948 fix(test): preserve batch billing sou

[Read the thread](https://github.com/RapierCraft/alterlab-mcp-server/issues/521) · 2026-08-30 · open · 0 comments

### Sync: Scrape API modification (from #33397)

## Ecosystem Sync

**Source**: [RapierCraftStudios/AlterLab](https://github.com/RapierCraftStudios/AlterLab) @ `staging`
**PR**: #33397
**Commits**:

7faef0b Merge pull request #33397 from RapierCraftStudios/fix/manual-usage-attribution-33382 d270f41 fix(usage): preserve replay and crawl attribution (#33382) c80f822 fix(usage): propagate billing identity through async paths (#33382) a522b86 fix(usage): complete billing-principal attribution (#33382) 21c1644 style(usage): format organization a

Read the thread · 2026-08-30 · open · 0 comments

Sync: New scrape parameter — account_tier (from #33376)

Ecosystem Sync

Source: RapierCraftStudios/AlterLab @ staging PR: #33376 Commits:

78b7cfe fix(api): align dispatch 429 schema with runtime (#33376)

Detected by: ecosystem-sync.yml workflow

What to Update in MCP Server

  1. Tool schema — Add parameter to the Zod schema in src/tools/scrape.ts
  2. Client — Pass parameter through in src/client.ts
  3. Types — Update src/types.ts if new enum values

Read the thread · 2026-08-30 · open · 0 comments

Sync: Scrape API modification (from #33297)

Ecosystem Sync

Source: RapierCraftStudios/AlterLab @ staging PR: #33297 Commits:

60860d1 Merge pull request #33297 from RapierCraftStudios/fix/support-deploy-gates
d778a55 fix: clear support deployment CI gates

Detected by: ecosystem-sync.yml workflow

What to Update in MCP Server

Review the diff below and update the relevant tool schemas, client code, and types.

Likely files

  • src/tools/ — Tool sch

Read the thread · 2026-08-28 · open · 0 comments

Sync: Scrape API modification (from #33294)

Ecosystem Sync

Source: RapierCraftStudios/AlterLab @ staging PR: #33294 Commits:

b5c2fbb Merge pull request #33294 from RapierCraftStudios/forge/issue-32037-7a460634
aa371f9 forge: address review for issue #32037
74ec5d3 forge: address review for issue #32037
7cc2542 forge: implement issue #32037

Detected by: ecosystem-sync.yml workflow

What to Update in MCP Server

Review the diff below and update the rel

Read the thread · 2026-08-28 · open · 0 comments

Sync: New scrape parameter — content, base_response, headers (from #33150)

Ecosystem Sync

Source: RapierCraftStudios/AlterLab @ main PR: #33150 Commits:

07603d5 Merge pull request #33150 from RapierCraftStudios/staging
ea084fa Merge pull request #33161 from RapierCraftStudios/fix/local-validation-command-bits-33150
50588f6 fix(ci): mark validation scripts executable
2177ffb Merge pull request #33159 from RapierCraftStudios/fix/local-validation-33150
f86fbb0 fix(platform): close local validation reg

[Read the thread](https://github.com/RapierCraft/alterlab-mcp-server/issues/511) · 2026-08-27 · open · 0 comments

### Sync: Scrape API modification (from #33152)

## Ecosystem Sync

**Source**: [RapierCraftStudios/AlterLab](https://github.com/RapierCraftStudios/AlterLab) @ `staging`
**PR**: #33152
**Commits**:

d60192b Merge pull request #33152 from RapierCraftStudios/fix/deploy-bundle-formatting-33150 ac8b586 style: format staging deployment bundle

**Detected by**: `ecosystem-sync.yml` workflow

---

## What to Update in MCP Server

Review the diff below and update the relevant tool schemas, client code, and types.

### Likely files
- `src/tools/`

[Read the thread](https://github.com/RapierCraft/alterlab-mcp-server/issues/510) · 2026-08-26 · open · 0 comments

### Sync: New scrape parameter — sync_policy, credits_status, estimated_completion_s (from #33149)

## Ecosystem Sync

**Source**: [RapierCraftStudios/AlterLab](https://github.com/RapierCraftStudios/AlterLab) @ `staging`
**PR**: #33149
**Commits**:

f31f9b6 Merge pull request #33149 from RapierCraftStudios/feat/sync-wait-policy-33132-v2 492f7d0 style(api): format sync policy changes 87ede7a feat(api): add synchronous deadline wait policy

**Detected by**: `ecosystem-sync.yml` workflow

---

## What to Update in MCP Server

1. **Tool schema** — Add parameter to the Zod schema in `src/tool

[Read the thread](https://github.com/RapierCraft/alterlab-mcp-server/issues/509) · 2026-08-26 · open · 0 comments

### Sync: New scrape parameter — content, base_response, headers (from #33142)

## Ecosystem Sync

**Source**: [RapierCraftStudios/AlterLab](https://github.com/RapierCraftStudios/AlterLab) @ `staging`
**PR**: #33142
**Commits**:

edf409c Merge pull request #33142 from RapierCraftStudios/fix/async-poll-url-33134 24c43a2 fix(api): include poll URL in every async handoff (#33134)

**Detected by**: `ecosystem-sync.yml` workflow

---

## What to Update in MCP Server

1. **Tool schema** — Add parameter to the Zod schema in `src/tools/scrape.ts`
2. **Client** — Pass paramete

[Read the thread](https://github.com/RapierCraft/alterlab-mcp-server/issues/506) · 2026-08-26 · open · 0 comments

### Sync: New scrape parameter — template, template (from #33103)

## Ecosystem Sync

**Source**: [RapierCraftStudios/AlterLab](https://github.com/RapierCraftStudios/AlterLab) @ `staging`
**PR**: #33103
**Commits**:

05852fd fix(billing): reconcile failed-job refunds (#33103) 92c94e3 fix(billing): format failed-job ledger parser 668a398 fix(billing): harden failed-job replay attribution 49afc69 fix(billing): fence failed-job spend retries (#33103) 4894d13 fix(billing): reconcile failed-job refund obligations 1d2768e fix(billing): bridge legacy failed-job spe

Read the thread · 2026-08-13 · open · 0 comments

Sync: Scrape API modification (from #32913)

Ecosystem Sync

Source: RapierCraftStudios/AlterLab @ staging PR: #32913 Commits:

9c11b87 Merge pull request #32913 from RapierCraftStudios/fix/429-response-envelopes-32856-clean
760cfa6 fix(remediate): complete public 429 contract (#32856)
e04fea0 fix(api): document all scrape 429 envelopes (#32856)

Detected by: ecosystem-sync.yml workflow

What to Update in MCP Server

Review the diff below and update the

Read the thread · 2026-08-10 · open · 0 comments

Sync: Scrape API modification (from #32879)

Ecosystem Sync

Source: RapierCraftStudios/AlterLab @ staging PR: #32879 Commits:

ebae344 Merge pull request #32879 from RapierCraftStudios/fix/refund-retry-cancel-32843
9197593 fix(billing): preserve refund cancellation propagation (#32843)

Detected by: ecosystem-sync.yml workflow

What to Update in MCP Server

Review the diff below and update the relevant tool schemas, client code, and types.

Likely f

Read the thread · 2026-08-09 · open · 0 comments

Sync: Scrape API modification

Ecosystem Sync

Source: RapierCraftStudios/AlterLab @ staging PR: N/A Commits:

a1bed65 fix(ci): resolve staging deploy check failures

Detected by: ecosystem-sync.yml workflow

What to Update in MCP Server

Review the diff below and update the relevant tool schemas, client code, and types.

Likely files

  • src/tools/ — Tool schemas
  • src/client.ts — API client
  • src/types.ts — Type definitions

Read the thread · 2026-08-08 · open · 0 comments

Sync: New scrape parameter — template, template

Ecosystem Sync

Source: RapierCraftStudios/AlterLab @ staging PR: N/A Commits:

f386b5c fix(ci): restore staging deployment checks

Detected by: ecosystem-sync.yml workflow

What to Update in MCP Server

  1. Tool schema — Add parameter to the Zod schema in src/tools/scrape.ts
  2. Client — Pass parameter through in src/client.ts
  3. Types — Update src/types.ts if new enum values
  4. Format — U

Read the thread · 2026-08-08 · open · 0 comments

Sync: New scrape parameter — api_key_id, spend_user_id, spend_amount (from #32775)

Ecosystem Sync

Source: RapierCraftStudios/AlterLab @ staging PR: #32775 Commits:

d152254 Merge pull request #32775 from RapierCraftStudios/fix/billing-replay-32774-current-staging
0c01656 fix(billing): harden replay cancellation recovery

Detected by: ecosystem-sync.yml workflow

What to Update in MCP Server

  1. Tool schema — Add parameter to the Zod schema in src/tools/scrape.ts
  2. Client — Pass p

Read the thread · 2026-08-08 · open · 0 comments

The remaining reports are on the project's issue tracker.