# Tangent (remote · tangent.directory)

Hand-picked design references, UI patterns and the people behind them, each with why it fits.

- Trust score: 83/100 (high trust)
- Change this week: +3
- Registry status: active
- Liveness: live
- Owner verified: no
- Last scored: 2026-10-23

## Components

- remote · `tangent.directory`: 83/100 (this document), [markdown](https://verifymcp.io/servers/directory-tangent-tangent/api-mcp.md), [page](https://verifymcp.io/servers/directory-tangent-tangent/api-mcp)

## Channel facts

- Endpoint: `https://tangent.directory/api/mcp`
- Transports: `streamable-http`
- Auth: `none`
- Version: `0.2.0`

## Trust breakdown

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. Scores are 0–100 per category. Scoring method: https://verifymcp.io/docs/scoring (what has changed: https://verifymcp.io/docs/scoring/changelog)

Scored 2026-10-23.

- **Endpoint Security**: 80/100
  - The endpoint's TLS certificate is valid, in date, and uses a strong key.
  - No authorisation is required to call this server. Every tool declares its destructiveHint and none is destructive, so open access doesn't expose one.
  - HTTPS is enforced; there's no plaintext access path.
  - The HSTS (Strict-Transport-Security) header is present.
  - DNSSEC check failed: this domain isn't protected by DNSSEC.
- **Transport & Reachability**: 100/100
  - Verified streamable-http transport via a live MCP handshake.
- **Schema Quality & AI Usability**: 83/100
  - 100% of prompts and resources have a non-trivial description (not blank, and not just the item's name).
  - AI-judged instruction clarity (excellent).
  - Context-footprint check failed: tool/resource definitions use about 1792 tokens (~179/item across 10 items; 10 tools + 0 resources), over budget; trim descriptions and params.
  - Usage-examples check failed: none of the tools include examples.
- **Stability & Change Management**: 57/100
  - Stability observed for 17 of 30 days with no destabilising changes; credit accrues until the full window elapses.
- **Tool Coverage**: 100/100
  - 100% of tools have a non-trivial description (not blank, and not just the tool's name).
  - 100% of tool parameters carry a description.
  - Structured output schemas are declared (100% of tools); any adoption earns full credit.
- **Tool Safety**: 100/100
  - No prompt-injection markers were found in the server instructions, tool names or descriptions we captured.
  - We read all 10 captured tool definition(s), and no name or description among them implies an irreversible operation.
  - An AI judge read all 11 captured unit(s) of tool text and found none that tries to manipulate the model reading it.
- **Capabilities**: 100/100
  - Implements a current MCP spec version (2026-07-28).

## Install

### How do I install the Tangent MCP server?

Tangent is a hosted endpoint at https://tangent.directory/api/mcp, so there is nothing to install locally. Ready-made configuration for Claude, Cursor, VS Code, Codex and 5 more is on this page, copied from each client's own documentation.

### Claude

```bash
claude mcp add --transport http directory-tangent-tangent 'https://tangent.directory/api/mcp'
```

### Cursor

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "directory-tangent-tangent": {
      "url": "https://tangent.directory/api/mcp"
    }
  }
}
```

### VS Code

```json
{
  "servers": {
    "directory-tangent-tangent": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://tangent.directory/api/mcp"
    }
  }
}
```

### Codex

```toml
[mcp_servers.directory-tangent-tangent]
url = "https://tangent.directory/api/mcp"
```

### opencode

```json
{
  "$schema": "https://opencode.ai/config.json",
  "mcp": {
    "directory-tangent-tangent": {
      "type": "remote",
      "url": "https://tangent.directory/api/mcp",
      "enabled": true
    }
  }
}
```

### OpenClaw

```bash
openclaw mcp add directory-tangent-tangent --url 'https://tangent.directory/api/mcp' --transport streamable-http
```

### Hermes

```yaml
mcp_servers:
  directory-tangent-tangent:
    url: "https://tangent.directory/api/mcp"
```

### Netclaw

```json
{
  "McpServers": {
    "directory-tangent-tangent": {
      "Transport": "http",
      "Url": "https://tangent.directory/api/mcp"
    }
  }
}
```

### Vellum

```bash
assistant mcp add directory-tangent-tangent -t streamable-http -u 'https://tangent.directory/api/mcp'
```

### Other

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "directory-tangent-tangent": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://tangent.directory/api/mcp"
    }
  }
}
```

The mcpServers block is a cross-client convention. Remote transports vary, so check your client's docs.

## Changelog

Every change recorded for this component, newest first. Days that predate change tracking, or that we cannot explain, say so: "we were watching and nothing happened" and "we were not watching" are different claims.

### 2026-10-23 (score 83, +1)

No change was recorded against any check on this day. Stability & Change Management went from 53 to 57. That category is still filling its 30-day observation window: 16 days of observed history at the previous scan, 17 at this one. The score rises as the window fills, whether or not the server changes.

### 2026-10-20 (score 82, +1)

No change was recorded against any check on this day. Stability & Change Management went from 43 to 47. That category is still filling its 30-day observation window: 13 days of observed history at the previous scan, 14 at this one. The score rises as the window fills, whether or not the server changes.

### 2026-10-18 (score 81, +1)

No change was recorded against any check on this day. Stability & Change Management went from 37 to 40. That category is still filling its 30-day observation window: 11 days of observed history at the previous scan, 12 at this one. The score rises as the window fills, whether or not the server changes.

### 2026-10-16 (score 80, +1)

No change was recorded against any check on this day. Stability & Change Management went from 30 to 33. That category is still filling its 30-day observation window: 9 days of observed history at the previous scan, 10 at this one. The score rises as the window fills, whether or not the server changes.

### 2026-10-14 (score 79, +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.

### 2026-10-12 (score 78, +1)

No change was recorded against any check on this day. Stability & Change Management went from 13 to 20. That category is still filling its 30-day observation window: 4 days of observed history at the previous scan, 6 at this one. The score rises as the window fills, whether or not the server changes.

### 2026-10-10 (score 77, +1)

No change was recorded against any check on this day. Stability & Change Management went from 10 to 13. That category is still filling its 30-day observation window: 3 days of observed history at the previous scan, 4 at this one. The score rises as the window fills, whether or not the server changes.

### 2026-10-09 (score 76, +1)

No change was recorded against any check on this day. Stability & Change Management went from 3 to 10. That category is still filling its 30-day observation window: 1 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.

## MCP tools (10)

### `find_inspiration` (~208 tokens)

Find inspiration for a brief

Turns a design brief into a short list of references (default 8, at most 10), each with `why` it fits: the pattern, style, category, technology or platform it shares with the brief, or how search matched it (e.g. "similar meaning"). It reads the brief against Tangent's taxonomy and synonyms and combines that with search; no AI calls. Use it when someone describes a screen or product they are about to design. `interpreted_as` shows how the brief was read. Example: {"brief": "onboarding for a fintech app, playful but clean", "platform": "mobile"}

Input parameters:

- `brief` (string, required): What you are designing, in plain words, e.g. "onboarding for a fintech app, playful but clean".
- `limit` (integer): How many picks (1 to 10, default 8).
- `platform` (string): Prefer resources for this platform: "web", "mobile" or "desktop".

Output parameters:

- `brief` (string)
- `interpreted_as` (array): Taxonomy terms read from the brief.
- `results` (array)

### `search_resources` (~310 tokens)

Search Tangent

Ranked search over Tangent's catalogue of design and design-engineering resources (sites, products, component libraries, tools, articles). Use it when you know roughly what you want; narrow with vertical, category, technology, type, pricing or open_source, and page with cursor. For a whole brief, use find_inspiration. Example: {"query": "command menu", "technology": "react", "limit": 5}

Input parameters:

- `category` (string): Category slug or name, e.g. "finance", "component-libraries", "typography".
- `cursor` (string): next_cursor from the previous call, with the same query and filters. Omit for the first page.
- `limit` (integer): Results per page (1 to 50, default 10).
- `open_source` (boolean): true: only open-source resources; false: only ones known not to be.
- `pricing` (string): Pricing model.
- `query` (string, required): What to look for, e.g. "command menu" or "dark dashboard".
- `technology` (string): Technology slug or name, e.g. "react", "tailwind-css", "three-js".
- `type` (string): Resource type, e.g. "website", "product", "library", "tool", "gallery", "article".
- `vertical` (string): Section: "inspiration", "components", "motion", "build", "visuals", "tools" or "learn".

Output parameters:

- `ignored_filters` (array): Filters this server could not apply yet; results are not narrowed by them.
- `next_cursor` (string|null)
- `query` (string)
- `related_terms` (array)
- `results` (array)

### `browse_vertical` (~260 tokens)

Browse a section

The newest resources in one section: inspiration, components, motion, build, visuals, tools or learn. Use it to browse without a query, with the same filters as search_resources and cursor paging. Example: {"vertical": "components", "technology": "react", "limit": 20}

Input parameters:

- `category` (string): Category slug or name, e.g. "finance", "component-libraries", "typography".
- `cursor` (string): next_cursor from the previous call, with the same query and filters. Omit for the first page.
- `limit` (integer): Results per page (1 to 50, default 20).
- `open_source` (boolean): true: only open-source resources; false: only ones known not to be.
- `pricing` (string): Pricing model.
- `technology` (string): Technology slug or name, e.g. "react", "tailwind-css", "three-js".
- `type` (string): Resource type, e.g. "website", "product", "library", "tool", "gallery", "article".
- `vertical` (string, required): Section: "inspiration", "components", "motion", "build", "visuals", "tools" or "learn".

Output parameters:

- `ignored_filters` (array): Filters this server could not apply yet; results are not narrowed by them.
- `next_cursor` (string|null)
- `results` (array)
- `vertical` (string)

### `get_resource` (~115 tokens)

Get a resource

Everything Tangent knows about one resource: descriptions, taxonomy, editorial notes, the people behind it, and its related resources (tangents) with reasons. Use it to go deeper on a search pick. Set include_image to also get a small screenshot. Example: {"slug": "linear"}

Input parameters:

- `include_image` (boolean): Also attach a small WebP thumbnail (under ~100 KB) as an image block. Off by default to save tokens.
- `slug` (string, required): Resource slug, e.g. "linear".

Output parameters:

- `categories` (array)
- `category` (string|null)
- `collections` (array)
- `description` (string|null)
- `domain` (string)
- `image_url` (string|null): Full-size preview (screenshot, else the site's OG image): the stored image file, served directly.
- `implementation`
- `last_checked_at` (string|null)
- `license` (string|null): SPDX licence id, e.g. "MIT".
- `long_description` (string|null)
- `match_reasons` (array)
- `name` (string)
- `notable_for` (string|null)
- `notes` (array)
- `open_source` (boolean|null): true: OSI-licensed; false: source-available or closed; null when unknown.
- `patterns` (array)
- `people` (array)
- `platforms` (array)
- `pricing` (string|null): free, freemium, paid or open_source; null when unknown.
- `sections` (array)
- `site_url` (string): The site's own address, untagged. Use it to compare, dedupe or cite.
- `slug` (string)
- `studios` (array)
- `styles` (array)
- `tags` (array)
- `tangent_url` (string): This resource's page on Tangent.
- `tangents` (array)
- `technologies` (array)
- `thumbnail_url` (string|null): A smaller stored copy of image_url (a screenshot's 720px-wide WebP) when one exists; otherwise the same URL as image_url.
- `type` (string)
- `url` (string): Visit link for the site (tagged utm_source=tangent-mcp). Use this one when linking people to the site.

### `related_resources` (~66 tokens)

Related resources

Resources related to one resource, each with the reason (e.g. "shares Command Menu", "same maker"). Use it to follow tangents from a site you like. Example: {"slug": "stripe"}

Input parameters:

- `slug` (string, required): Resource slug, e.g. "stripe".

Output parameters:

- `results` (array)
- `slug` (string)

### `list_patterns` (~46 tokens)

List UI patterns

Every UI and interaction pattern resources are filed under (Command Menu, Onboarding, Empty State and more), with example counts. Use it to pick a slug for get_pattern. Example: {}

Output parameters:

- `results` (array)

### `get_pattern` (~92 tokens)

Get a UI pattern

One UI pattern: its definition, its best examples, related patterns and the technologies the examples use. Use it before designing that pattern. Example: {"slug": "empty-state", "limit": 8}

Input parameters:

- `limit` (integer): How many examples to return (1 to 60, default 12).
- `slug` (string, required): Pattern slug, e.g. "command-menu" or "empty-state".

Output parameters:

- `definition` (string|null)
- `examples` (array)
- `name` (string)
- `related_patterns` (array)
- `slug` (string)
- `summary` (string|null)
- `tangent_url` (string)
- `technologies` (array)

### `search_people` (~170 tokens)

Search people

Find designers and design engineers by name, role, focus or stack, ranked, with optional technology and role filters. Example: {"query": "motion", "role": "design engineer"}

Input parameters:

- `cursor` (string): next_cursor from the previous call, with the same query and filters. Omit for the first page.
- `limit` (integer): Results per page (1 to 50, default 10).
- `query` (string, required): Name, role, focus or stack, e.g. "motion" or "Rauno".
- `role` (string): Words in their role, e.g. "design engineer" or "product designer".
- `technology` (string): Only people whose site is built with this technology, e.g. "nextjs", "astro", "framer".

Output parameters:

- `next_cursor` (string|null)
- `query` (string)
- `results` (array)

### `list_people` (~165 tokens)

List people

Designers and design engineers in the catalogue, featured first, then by name, with optional technology and role filters and cursor paging. Use search_people to find someone by name or focus. Example: {"role": "design engineer", "technology": "nextjs", "limit": 20}

Input parameters:

- `cursor` (string): next_cursor from the previous call, with the same query and filters. Omit for the first page.
- `limit` (integer): Results per page (1 to 50, default 20).
- `role` (string): Words in their role, e.g. "design engineer" or "product designer".
- `technology` (string): Only people whose site is built with this technology, e.g. "nextjs", "astro", "framer".

Output parameters:

- `next_cursor` (string|null)
- `results` (array)

### `get_person` (~117 tokens)

Get a person

One person's profile: role, bio, website, social links, studios, what their site is built with (confirmed technologies) and their work on Tangent. Set include_image to also get a small preview of their site. Example: {"slug": "emil-kowalski"}

Input parameters:

- `include_image` (boolean): Also attach a small WebP thumbnail (under ~100 KB) as an image block. Off by default to save tokens.
- `slug` (string, required): Person slug, e.g. "rauno-freiberg".

Output parameters:

- `added_at` (string|null)
- `avatar_url` (string|null)
- `bio` (string|null)
- `built_with` (array): Confirmed technologies their site is built with.
- `image_url` (string|null): Their site's OG image, else their avatar: the stored image file, served directly.
- `links` (array)
- `name` (string)
- `resource_count` (integer)
- `role` (string|null)
- `site_url` (string|null): Their site's own address, untagged.
- `slug` (string)
- `studios` (array)
- `tangent_url` (string): Their profile on Tangent.
- `thumbnail_url` (string|null): The same URL as image_url (people's images have no smaller stored copy).
- `website` (string|null): Visit link for their site (tagged utm_source=tangent-mcp).
- `work` (array): Their published work on Tangent, newest first.

## Diagnostics

Captured diagnostic sections: TLS, DNSSEC, Authorisation, Transports. The full working is on the page: https://verifymcp.io/servers/directory-tangent-tangent/api-mcp#diagnostics

## Score history

- 2026-10-23: 83
- 2026-10-22: 82
- 2026-10-21: 82
- 2026-10-20: 82
- 2026-10-19: 81
- 2026-10-18: 81
- 2026-10-17: 80
- 2026-10-16: 80
- 2026-10-15: 79
- 2026-10-14: 79
- 2026-10-13: 78
- 2026-10-12: 78
- 2026-10-10: 77
- 2026-10-09: 76
- 2026-10-07: 75

## Common questions

### What is the Tangent MCP server?

Tangent is an MCP server listed in the public MCP registry as directory.tangent/tangent. Hand-picked design references, UI patterns and the people behind them, each with why it fits. This page covers its hosted endpoint (https://tangent.directory/api/mcp).

### Is the Tangent MCP server safe to use?

Tangent scores 83 out of 100 on VerifyMCP. That is a record of what we were able to check automatically, not an endorsement. The category breakdown on this page shows every signal behind the number, including the ones we could not confirm.

### What tools does the Tangent MCP server expose?

Tangent exposes 10 tools: find_inspiration, search_resources, browse_vertical, get_resource, related_resources, and 5 more. Their descriptions and schemas cost roughly 1,549 tokens of context every time the server is loaded.

### Does the Tangent MCP server require authentication?

No. We connected to Tangent without credentials and it answered, so anything it exposes is reachable by anyone who knows the address.

### Is the Tangent MCP server still maintained?

Tangent is still listed as active in the MCP registry. We last reached this channel on 23 October 2026. Those dates come from our own scans of the registry and the channel itself, not from anything the publisher announced.

## Links

- Remote endpoint: https://tangent.directory/api/mcp
- Website: https://tangent.directory/mcp
- Changelog RSS feed: https://verifymcp.io/servers/directory-tangent-tangent/api-mcp.xml
- Changelog JSON feed: https://verifymcp.io/servers/directory-tangent-tangent/api-mcp.json
- HTML version of this page: https://verifymcp.io/servers/directory-tangent-tangent/api-mcp