Directus
Backend and Studio over any SQL database with a built-in MCP server; source-available, free under revenue caps.
Directus wraps a SQL database with REST and GraphQL APIs, a visual Studio for non-technical editors, flows for automation, and policy-based access control. Since v11.12 it includes a native MCP server switched on in Settings > AI, so an agent can manage items, collections, fields, relations, files, and flows under the same permissions as a human user. Configured entirely by env vars. Licensed MSCL 1.0, free for organizations under $5M revenue and 50 staff.
- I have a database already and want an admin UI and API on top that my agent can also write to
- I want editors in a Studio and an agent creating collections and content under the same permission rules
- MSCL 1.0 is source-available, not OSI open source; organizations over $5M revenue or 50 employees need a commercial license
- Free Core tier caps at 3 seats, 25 collections, and 5 flows unless you apply for the Open Innovation Grant
- Remote MCP requires v11.12+; older versions fall back to a Node.js MCP server
- Create a dedicated MCP user and token rather than using an admin token
- 398 open issues; large surface, expect upgrade notes between releases
Last activity Sep 2, 2026. Fit: adaptable 2, operable 3.
Editions
Core (self-hosted) · Free closed source
Open Innovation Grant (self-hosted) · Free closed source
- HostedOpen the hosted app
Team · $499 per month closed source
- HostedOpen the hosted app
Enterprise · Free closed source
No distribution recorded.
Directus Cloud hosting add-on · $99 per month closed source
- HostedOpen the hosted app
Adaptable: what is yours to change
Make it yours
Config only18 things to editadmin-ui surface
The env surface (.env or CONFIG_PATH: KEY, SECRET, DB_*, PUBLIC_URL, ADMIN_*, storage, LICENSE_*) is deployment configuration; business adaptation lives in the Studio admin UI: Settings > Data Model, Flows, Access Policies and Roles, and Project Settings for branding. Custom email templates need EMAIL_TEMPLATES_PATH plus Liquid files, and anything beyond that is code in extensions/.
- Env vars
KEYSECRETDB_CLIENTDB_CONNECTION_STRINGHOSTPORTPUBLIC_URLSERVE_APPADMIN_EMAILADMIN_PASSWORDADMIN_TOKENCONFIG_PATHLICENSE_KEYLICENSE_TOKENEMAIL_TEMPLATES_PATH- Config files
.envdocker-compose.ymlextensions/- Prompt files
- none
- Accounts you need
- Directus (license key for Open Innovation Grant or commercial tiers)OpenAI, Anthropic, or Gemini (optional AI Assistant)
Source
- github.com/directus/directus
- MSCL-1.0 (source-available; GitHub NOASSERTION) license
- Last commit Sep 2, 2026
- 37,684 stars
Operable: what an agent can drive
Interface
OfficialMCP serverpublished by the builderremote or local
How an agent can drive an Operable Listing, in five levels: native (built for the agent as the primary interface), official (the Builder ships an agent interface), wrapped (a third party wraps the software's API), config (an agent can only drive it by editing files), gui (screen control only). An interface is official only when it is published by the same organization that ships the software. GUI-level Listings are allowed and sorted last.
Reach
Partial coverage. 6 of 10 jobs reachable through the stated interface.
| Job | Through the interface | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Create, read, update, and delete items | Reachable | MCP docs: items create, edit, manage |
| Build collections | Reachable | MCP docs: build and configure collections |
| Define fields and validation | Reachable | MCP docs: field types and validation rules |
| Model relations | Reachable | MCP docs: M2O, O2M, M2M, M2A relationships |
| Manage file metadata and folders | Reachable | MCP docs: alt text, descriptions, tags, folder organization |
| Create automation flows | Reachable | MCP docs: generate flows triggered by database events |
| Upload binary files | Undetermined | metadata management documented; binary upload over MCP not stated |
| Manage users, roles, and policies | Undetermined | MCP respects permissions; managing them is not listed |
| Translate content | Undetermined | AI Assistant runs translations in Studio; MCP tool not listed |
| Build Studio dashboards and insights | Not reachable | Studio UI feature; no MCP tool |
Code stack
- Languages
- TypeScript
- Frameworks
- Node.jsVue
- Package manager
- pnpm
- Database
- PostgreSQLMySQLMariaDBMS SQLSQLiteOracleDBCockroachDB
- Hosting target
- DockerRailway one-clickDirectus Cloud
- Built
- Human-written (recorded, never ranked)
Model stack
- Providers
- OpenAIAnthropicGoogle Gemini (AI Assistant, optional)
- Models
- none
- Keys you need
- none
- Prompts live in
- none
Evidence and confidence
| Field | Where it was seen | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| formFactor | README: API layer plus visual Studio, self-host or cloud | 95% |
| executionModel | core is deterministic; README: embedded AI Assistant creates, translates, and takes actions with OpenAI, Anthropic, or Gemini | 70% |
| operability | README and directus.com/docs/guides/ai/mcp: native MCP server enabled in Settings > AI with a token, published by Directus | 90% |
| effort | directus.com/docs/configuration/general: env vars in .env through CONFIG_PATH; triage confirmed extensive documented env surface | 85% |
| editions | directus.com/pricing: Core free with caps, OIG free under thresholds, Team $499 per month annual, Enterprise custom, Cloud $99 per month add-on | 80% |
| active | pushedAt 2026-09-02 | – |
| provenance | Monospace-built since 2004 lineage; no vibe-coded claim | 90% |
| reach | 75% |
Open questions
- Full MCP tool names (docs page describes capabilities without listing tool names)
- Does the Core tier's 25-collection cap apply to collections created over MCP?
- Confirm DB_CLIENT and DB_CONNECTION_STRING names on the database configuration page (general page fetched only)
Sources
- github.com/directus/directus sourcing:content-publishing:vendor
- directus.com/docs/guides/ai/mcp analysis:content-publishing
- directus.com/docs/configuration/general analysis:content-publishing
- directus.com/pricing analysis:content-publishing