Survey MCP Server

Transform LLMs into intelligent interviewers. MCP server for conducting dynamic, conversational surveys with structured data collection. Features

Local serverstdio

What is the Survey MCP server?

Connect Survey to Claude, Cursor or any other MCP client and it stops being a tab you switch to. Transform LLMs into intelligent interviewers. MCP server for conducting dynamic, conversational surveys with structured data collection. Features skip logic, session resume, multi-tenancy, and pluggable storage backends. The survey mcp server is what makes that connection.

Available tools

The toolset is worth reading before you wire it up, because it tells you what the integration is really for:

  • survey_list_available — Discover available surveys in the definitions directory
  • survey_start_session — Initialize a new session with complete survey context, all questions, and initial suggested questions
  • survey_get_question — Refresh a specific question's eligibility status after state changes (useful for conditional logic)
  • survey_submit_response — Record participant answers with validation, scoring, returning updated progress and next suggested questions
  • survey_get_progress — Check completion status, current score, remaining required/optional questions, and completion eligibility
  • survey_complete_session — Finalize a completed session with final score summary (requires all required questions answered)
  • survey_export_results — Export session data in CSV or JSON format with optional filtering by status, date range, etc
  • survey_resume_session — Resume an incomplete session, restoring full context including answered questions and progress
  • Prerequisites — The Prerequisites tool exposed by this server
  • Installation — 4. Explore example surveys: The survey-definitions/ directory contains example JSON files demonstrating various question types and features. Use

Installation

Setup follows the usual MCP pattern — install or clone the server, register it in your client's configuration file, restart the client. The configuration blocks on this page cover the common clients.

Credentials and setup notes

Configuration is passed through the environment: MCP_LOG_LEVEL, SURVEY_DEFINITIONS_PATH, SURVEY_RESPONSES_PATH, MCP_AUTH_SECRET_KEY, OAUTH_ISSUER_URL. Treat anything key-shaped as a real credential — scope it to the minimum the server needs, and rotate it if it ever lands in a shared config.

Where it fits

Among the file and storage access options, the useful question is rarely "what can it do" but "what does it cost you to run" — permissions, credentials, and how much of your context its toolset consumes. Survey's toolset — survey_list_available, survey_start_session, survey_get_question and 7 more — is a fair guide to whether it matches your workflow. It is maintained by cyanheads; worth a glance at recent repository activity before you build anything load-bearing on it.

SyncDev reviews every entry in this directory against the project's own documentation before publishing, and revisits them as servers change.

Worth knowing first

  • It runs with your machine's permissions. That is convenient and also the reason to think about what you point it at before you approve a tool call.
  • With 10 tools registered it takes up a noticeable share of the context window; turn it off in projects that never touch Survey.
  • Missing credentials fail quietly in some clients — if no tools show up, check the environment block first.
  • Keep per-call confirmation enabled while you learn its behaviour; it is the cheapest safeguard you have.

Available tools

ToolWhat it does
survey_list_availableDiscover available surveys in the definitions directory.
survey_start_sessionInitialize a new session with complete survey context, all questions, and initial suggested questions.
survey_get_questionRefresh a specific question's eligibility status after state changes (useful for conditional logic).
survey_submit_responseRecord participant answers with validation, scoring, returning updated progress and next suggested questions.
survey_get_progressCheck completion status, current score, remaining required/optional questions, and completion eligibility.
survey_complete_sessionFinalize a completed session with final score summary (requires all required questions answered).
survey_export_resultsExport session data in CSV or JSON format with optional filtering by status, date range, etc.
survey_resume_sessionResume an incomplete session, restoring full context including answered questions and progress.
PrerequisitesThe Prerequisites tool exposed by this server.
Installation4. **Explore example surveys:** The survey-definitions/ directory contains example JSON files demonstrating various question types and features. Use these as a starting point for creating your own surveys.

How to install the Survey MCP server

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "survey-mcp-server": {
      "command": "bunx",
      "args": ["@cyanheads/survey-mcp-server@latest"],
      "env": {
        "MCP_LOG_LEVEL": "info",
        "SURVEY_DEFINITIONS_PATH": "./survey-definitions",
        "SURVEY_RESPONSES_PATH": "./survey-responses"
      }
    }
  }
}

Configuration as documented by the project. Restart the client after saving.

Configuration

VariableDescriptionRequired
MCP_LOG_LEVELConfiguration value read at startup.Optional
SURVEY_DEFINITIONS_PATHFilesystem location the server is allowed to use.Optional
SURVEY_RESPONSES_PATHFilesystem location the server is allowed to use.Optional
MCP_AUTH_SECRET_KEYCredential the server authenticates with.Yes
OAUTH_ISSUER_URLEndpoint or connection string the server talks to.Yes

Example prompts to try

  • Use Survey to survey list available.
  • Use Survey to survey start session.
  • Use Survey to survey get question.

Frequently asked questions

It connects Survey to MCP-compatible AI assistants such as Claude and Cursor, exposing 10 tools (survey_list_available, survey_start_session, survey_get_question, and more) that the assistant can call on your behalf. Instead of copying data back and forth by hand, the assistant works with Survey directly.