{"data":{"slug":"toolhive","name":"ToolHive","tagline":"Apache-2.0 MCP server runner + gateway — each server in its own container","category":"agents","categoryName":"AI Agents","url":"https://docs.stacklok.com/toolhive/","github":"https://github.com/stacklok/toolhive","pricing":"open-source","hook":"ToolHive runs MCP servers the boring, safe way: each server in its own container with least-privilege defaults, discovered from a registry and wired into your clients — from a desktop app, a CLI, or a Kubernetes operator.","whatsGood":"Apache-2.0 (stacklok/toolhive), v0.51.4. Desktop app, `thv` CLI, and Kubernetes operator share one model: a curated registry, per-server containers, secret handling, and client auto-config. The operator adds declarative policy, IdP integration, and OpenTelemetry traces. Self-hostable registry and gateway for teams that cannot send MCP traffic through a SaaS. ★~2.3k.","theCatch":"Every MCP server runs in its own container, so you need Docker or Podman even on a laptop. Identity and access policies only apply once you connect an OIDC/OAuth provider — out of the box it is isolation, not authorization. Stacklok sells an enterprise tier on top. Vs metamcp (aggregator/proxy that merges servers into one endpoint) and contextforge (gateway/federation): ToolHive’s lane is per-server container isolation plus a registry.","verdict":"Apache-2.0 container-isolated MCP runner when you want every server sandboxed and auditable — bring Docker/Podman and an IdP for real policy.","addedAt":"2026-10-09","featured":false,"domain":"AI Agents","subSpecialty":"MCP","subcategory":"MCP","tags":["mcp","cli","desktop-app","self-host","permissive","kubernetes","containers","active"],"capabilities":["mcp","containers","registry"],"surfaces":["MCP","CLI","Self-host","Hosted"],"ecosystem":["Go","Multi-platform"],"licenseModel":"Apache-2.0","githubStars":2295,"starsPerWeek":27,"access":"free","archived":false,"repo":{"createdAt":"2025-03-12","pushedAt":"2026-10-19","license":"Apache-2.0","archived":false,"checkedAt":"2026-10-19"}},"related":[{"slug":"claude-code","name":"Claude Code","tagline":"Terminal-first coding agent with deep repository context"},{"slug":"cursor","name":"Cursor","tagline":"The AI-first code editor that understands your codebase"},{"slug":"devin","name":"Devin","tagline":"Autonomous AI engineer for defined engineering tasks"},{"slug":"stagehand","name":"Stagehand","tagline":"AI-native browser automation that mixes code and natural language"},{"slug":"browser-use","name":"Browser Use","tagline":"Open-source framework for LLM-driven browser agents"}],"links":{"self":"/api/gems/toolhive","html":"/gems/toolhive","markdown":"/gems/toolhive.md","category":"/api/gems?category=agents","categoryPage":"/stacks/agents"}}