B4 Index
REMOTE · B4-INDEX.VERCEL.APP · SCANNED AUG 3
Independent build-vs-buy index: score software categories BUILD/BUY/BRIDGE/BEWARE.
Available components
How this component scores in each security and reliability category. Every signal is checked automatically against the live server, and we only credit what we can confirm. How we score →
Endpoint Security63
- The endpoint's TLS certificate is valid, in date, and uses a strong key. View diagnostics → Pass
- Authorisation not fully verified: no authorisation is required to call this server, and 5 tool(s) never declared a destructiveHint. The MCP spec treats an absent hint as destructive by default, so we cannot call this surface safe. See how to fix → View diagnostics → Unverified
- HTTPS is enforced; there's no plaintext access path. View diagnostics → Pass
- The HSTS (Strict-Transport-Security) header is present. View diagnostics → Pass
- DNSSEC check failed: this domain isn't protected by DNSSEC. See how to fix → View diagnostics → Fail
Transport & Reachability100
- Verified streamable-http transport via a live MCP handshake. View diagnostics → Pass
Schema Quality & AI Usability69
- AI-judged instruction clarity (good).Pass
- Context-footprint check failed: tool/resource definitions use about 663 tokens (~132/item across 5 items; 5 tools + 0 resources), over budget; trim descriptions and params. See how to fix → Fail
- Usage-examples check failed: none of the tools include examples. See how to fix → Fail
Stability & Change Management27
- Stability observed for 8 of 30 days with no destabilising changes; credit accrues until the full window elapses.Partial
Tool Coverage100
- 100% of tools have a non-trivial description (not blank, and not just the tool's name).Pass
- 100% of tool parameters carry a description.Pass
Capabilities100
- Implements a supported MCP spec version (2025-11-25); the latest is 2026-07-28.Pass
Add this component to your MCP client. Where a client-specific snippet is available, pick your client below and copy it straight into your config; otherwise use the connection detail shown.
remote · b4-index.vercel.app
claude mcp add --transport http ai-benroberts-b4-index https://b4-index.vercel.app/mcp
[mcp_servers.ai-benroberts-b4-index] url = "https://b4-index.vercel.app/mcp"
{
"$schema": "https://opencode.ai/config.json",
"mcp": {
"ai-benroberts-b4-index": {
"type": "remote",
"url": "https://b4-index.vercel.app/mcp",
"enabled": true
}
}
} openclaw mcp add ai-benroberts-b4-index --url https://b4-index.vercel.app/mcp --transport streamable-http
mcp_servers:
ai-benroberts-b4-index:
url: "https://b4-index.vercel.app/mcp" {
"mcpServers": {
"ai-benroberts-b4-index": {
"type": "http",
"url": "https://b4-index.vercel.app/mcp"
}
}
} The mcpServers block is a cross-client convention. Remote transports vary, so check your client's docs.
Every change we have recorded for this component, newest first. Security-relevant changes are always shown. ▲ marks a change for the better, ▼ a change for the worse; unmarked changes are neutral.
- 3 Aug 26 +1
No change was recorded against any check on this day. Stability & Change Management went from 23 to 27. That category is still filling its 30-day observation window: 7 days of observed history at the previous scan, 8 at this one. The score rises as the window fills, whether or not the server changes.
- 31 Jul 26 +1
- We updated how we score, so this day's move reflects our rubric, not a change to the server See what changed → functional
- 30 Jul 26 +1
- We updated how we score, so this day's move reflects our rubric, not a change to the server See what changed → functional
- 29 Jul 26 +1
No change was recorded against any check on this day. Stability & Change Management went from 7 to 10. That category is still filling its 30-day observation window: 2 days of observed history at the previous scan, 3 at this one. The score rises as the window fills, whether or not the server changes.
- 27 Jul 26 +1
- We updated how we score, so this day's move reflects our rubric, not a change to the server See what changed → functional
- 26 Jul 26 63
First indexed and scored.
Diagnostic detail from the automated scan of this channel: what the scanner observed at each step, so you can see exactly where a check passed or failed. It is informational only and never changes the trust score.
Captured 3 Aug 2026 · Probed https://b4-index.vercel.app/mcp
TLS valid
Negotiated TLS 1.3 with TLS_AES_128_GCM_SHA256 .
| Subject | Issuer | Valid from | Valid until | Key | Signature | Serial |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CN=*.vercel.app | CN=WR1,O=Google Trust Services,C=US | 28 Jun 2026 | 26 Sept 2026 | RSA 2048 | SHA256-RSA | b1c2b607df94f28513779ae26fecf92f |
| SANs: *.vercel.app | ||||||
| CN=WR1,O=Google Trust Services,C=US (CA) | CN=GTS Root R1,O=Google Trust Services LLC,C=US | 13 Dec 2023 | 20 Feb 2029 | RSA 2048 | SHA256-RSA | 7fd9e2c2d2048a0474b627a26d0868a7 |
| CN=GTS Root R1,O=Google Trust Services LLC,C=US (CA) | CN=GlobalSign Root CA,OU=Root CA,O=GlobalSign nv-sa,C=BE | 19 Jun 2020 | 28 Jan 2028 | RSA 4096 | SHA256-RSA | 77bd0d6cdb36f91aea210fc4f058d30d |
DNSSEC insecure
Validation of b4-index.vercel.app. — Not signed
| Zone | DS | Keys | Algorithms | Outcome |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| . | trust_anchor | 20326, 38696 | 8, 8 | Verified |
| app. | present | 23684 | 8 | Verified |
| vercel.app. | absent | Unsigned (proven) parent-signed NSEC/NSEC3 proves an unsigned delegation |
Authentication No authorisation required
The endpoint answered without asking for a token. Anyone who knows the URL can reach it.
| Result | No authorisation required |
|---|---|
| HTTP status | 200 |
| Header | Value |
|---|---|
| strict-transport-security | max-age=63072000; includeSubDomains; preload |
Transports 2 probes
| Transport | URL | Outcome | Status | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| streamable-http | https://b4-index.vercel.app/mcp | Verified | 200 | |
| http (plaintext) | http://b4-index.vercel.app/mcp | HTTPS enforced | 308 | https://b4-index.vercel.app/mcp |
The tools this component advertises to a client, with an estimated token cost for each. Expand a tool to see its parameters and schema. The per-tool counts are indicative and are not scored directly; the schema's total context footprint is one signal in Schema Quality & AI Usability.
b4_audit Audit a stack ~103
Analyze a software stack against the B4 Index. Provide a list of tool/category names, and get per-tool scoring plus a portfolio summary with quadrant distribution, BEWARE spend, and priority actions. [B4 Pro — the free tier includes b4_browse and b4_score.]
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| tools | array | yes | List of software tool or category names to audit (e.g., ['Salesforce', 'Slack', 'Expense Management']). Max 100 per call. |
No output schema declared.
No examples provided.
b4_browse Browse the B4 Index ~210
Search and filter the B4 Index's 1,600+ independently scored software categories. Browse by keyword, domain, quadrant, or industry. When filtering by industry, returns all vertical categories for that industry PLUS all horizontal categories (which apply to every industry).
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| domain | string | — | Filter by domain (e.g., 'Marketing Technology', 'CRM & Sales') |
| industry | string | — | Filter by industry group. Returns matching vertical categories + all horizontal categories. Options: Healthcare, Financial Services, Construction & Real Estate, Education, Energy & Utilities, Governm… |
| limit | integer | — | Max results to return (default 20, max 100) |
| quadrant | string | — | Filter by quadrant |
| query | string | — | Search term to match against category names, vendors, domains, and rationales |
No output schema declared.
No examples provided.
b4_compare Compare alternatives ~86
Compare build vs buy for a specific software category. Returns side-by-side analysis with the category's scores, vendor options, AI replacement approach, and action steps for each path. [B4 Pro — the free tier includes b4_browse and b4_score.]
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| category | string | yes | Name of the software category to compare (e.g., 'Email Marketing', 'CRM') |
No output schema declared.
No examples provided.
b4_recommend Build-vs-buy recommendation ~100
Get B4 Index recommendations from a natural language description of a software need or business context. Matches the description to relevant categories and returns top matches with scores, quadrants, and actionable recommendations. [B4 Pro — the free tier includes b4_browse and b4_score.]
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| description | string | yes | Describe the software need, business problem, or tool you're evaluating (e.g., 'We need to automate our expense reports and receipt scanning') |
No output schema declared.
No examples provided.
b4_score Score a software category ~164
Score a software category using the B4 Index. Provide a known category name to get pre-computed scores, or provide raw dimension scores (1-5 each) for a custom evaluation. Returns quadrant placement, axes, urgency level, and a concise breakdown. The default result is intentionally lean — set includeEvidence: true to also get the full research trail and source URLs behind each score.
| Name | Type | Req | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| category | string | — | Name of a known B4 category (e.g., 'Expense Management', 'CRM') |
| includeEvidence | boolean | — | Include the full evidence trail and source URLs behind each dimension score. Off by default so the initial result stays concise; set true for deep verification. |
| scores | object | — | Custom dimension scores for a tool not in the database |
No output schema declared.
No examples provided.