{
  "data": {
    "a": {
      "slug": "neckbeard",
      "name": "neckbeard",
      "vendor": "David Beale",
      "vendorUrl": "https://github.com/bealesh/neckbeard",
      "kind": "sdk",
      "category": "infrastructure",
      "summary": "neckbeard is an open-source Claude Code plugin and Go CLI that maps an application onto a catalogue of OpenTofu modules for AWS, GCP or Azure, renders environments and CI pipelines deterministically, and estimates the monthly bill with Infracost.",
      "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/neckbeard",
      "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/neckbeard.md",
      "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/neckbeard.min.md",
      "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/neckbeard.json",
      "repo": "https://github.com/bealesh/neckbeard",
      "license": "Apache-2.0",
      "transports": [],
      "packages": [
        {
          "registry": "go",
          "name": "github.com/bealesh/neckbeard"
        }
      ],
      "auth": "none",
      "authNotes": "No account or key for the plugin or the CLI. `analyze`, `plan`, `scaffold` and `validate` need no cloud credentials. `estimate` needs Infracost 0.10.x signed in with `infracost auth login`. Bootstrap and the experimental `release` commands use cloud credentials a person holds, and the generated pipelines use OIDC federation with no static keys.",
      "pricing": "free",
      "pricingNotes": "Free under Apache-2.0 with nothing to buy. Cost estimates need a signed-in Infracost 0.10.x CLI, and any infrastructure applied is billed by the cloud provider.",
      "priceSummary": "Free · OSS",
      "where": "local",
      "x402": {
        "level": "no",
        "evidence": "No x402, MPP or L402 in the source, the README or the skill (checked 2026-10-17). The tool has no paid tier.",
        "endpoints": []
      },
      "toolCount": null,
      "popularity": {
        "githubStars": null,
        "npmWeekly": null,
        "pypiWeekly": null,
        "asOf": "2026-10-17"
      },
      "docsUrl": "https://github.com/bealesh/neckbeard#readme",
      "capabilities": [
        "infra.terraform",
        "infra.cloud",
        "infra.aws",
        "infra.azure"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "open-source",
        "local",
        "free",
        "no-card",
        "apache-2.0",
        "go",
        "cli",
        "agent-skill",
        "terraform",
        "pre-1.0",
        "new"
      ],
      "lastRelease": "2026-10-15",
      "graded": true,
      "anchor": {
        "graded": true,
        "score": 64.2,
        "grade": "B",
        "agentReady": false,
        "rank": 399,
        "ranked": true,
        "rankOf": 1133,
        "categoryRank": 4,
        "methodology": "0.4",
        "run": "2026-10-01",
        "scores": {
          "ergonomics": 71,
          "maintenance": 68,
          "payments": 60,
          "reliability": 53,
          "schema": 75,
          "security": 68,
          "transparency": 52
        },
        "pending": [
          "performance",
          "tasks"
        ],
        "assessment": {
          "confidence": "medium",
          "date": "2026-10-17"
        },
        "negative": 0,
        "verdict": "The agent maps an app onto human-maintained OpenTofu modules and a deterministic CLI renders them, so it writes no infrastructure by hand, and the cost table comes before any file is scaffolded. The project is pre-alpha at version 0.3.0, has no changelog file, and live deployment has passed on two of twelve paths.",
        "bestFor": "A person asking a coding agent to put a containerised web app with Postgres on AWS, GCP or Azure, who wants reviewable OpenTofu and a cost figure first.",
        "strengths": [
          "The agent writes only an evidence-backed profile and config. Planning and rendering are deterministic Go from a pinned module catalogue",
          "Regeneration refuses to overwrite an edited file and writes a `.neckbeard-new` copy instead",
          "Generated pipelines use OIDC federation, and a test fails the build if one mentions `AWS_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY`",
          "`finops.monthly_ceiling` makes `scaffold` refuse while the estimated total is over the limit or no estimate exists",
          "Validation reports PASSED, FAILED or NOT EXERCISED per check and says static checks do not prove a deployment"
        ],
        "weaknesses": [
          "Pre-alpha at version 0.3.0, and the README marks GCP, GitLab, Kubernetes and promotion as not exercised live",
          "No changelog file. Release notes are generated by GitHub, and the move to a plugin layout in 0.2.0 was not marked as breaking",
          "Estimates need the older Infracost 0.10.x CLI signed in to Infracost, and the tool refuses the current Homebrew formula",
          "CLI output is plain text with exit codes 0, 1 and 2 only. No JSON output flag",
          "One maintainer, with SECURITY.md saying there is no staffed response time"
        ],
        "agentNotes": [
          "Run `neckbeard doctor -for plan` first, and `-for estimate` before estimating, to see which tools are missing",
          "Answer every assumption in `app-profile.yaml` with a `confirmed` entry of the same id, since `plan` refuses while any stays open",
          "Never edit `blueprint.yaml`. Change the profile or `neckbeard.yaml` and run `neckbeard plan` again",
          "Show the person `costs/estimate.md` and its unpriced section before running `scaffold`",
          "Hand bootstrap and any `release` step to the person holding cloud credentials. Never ask for secret values"
        ],
        "metrics": {
          "kind": "local",
          "measured": false
        },
        "reviewCount": 4,
        "avgRating": 3.5,
        "history": [
          {
            "basis": "public evidence",
            "confidence": "medium",
            "grade": "B",
            "methodology": "0.4",
            "pending": [
              "performance",
              "tasks"
            ],
            "run": "2026-10-01",
            "runLabel": "October 2026 research run",
            "score": 64.2
          }
        ],
        "editorialScores": {
          "ergonomics": 71,
          "maintenance": 68,
          "payments": 60,
          "reliability": 53,
          "schema": 75,
          "security": 68,
          "transparency": 63
        },
        "provenanceScore": 40
      },
      "connect": {
        "install": "go install github.com/bealesh/neckbeard/cmd/neckbeard@latest \u0026\u0026 neckbeard skill install",
        "claudeCode": "/plugin marketplace add bealesh/neckbeard\n/plugin install neckbeard@neckbeard",
        "headless": {
          "analyze": "neckbeard analyze",
          "check": "neckbeard doctor -for all",
          "estimate": "neckbeard estimate",
          "plan": "neckbeard plan",
          "scaffold": "neckbeard scaffold",
          "validate": "neckbeard validate"
        }
      },
      "letme": {
        "capability": "https://letme.dev/infra.terraform",
        "tool": "https://letme.dev/neckbeard"
      },
      "area": "developer",
      "provenance": {
        "legalEntity": "David Beale (individual, GitHub account bealesh)",
        "domain": "",
        "domainRegistered": "",
        "endpointOnVendorDomain": null,
        "terms": "",
        "privacy": "",
        "statusPage": "",
        "changelog": "",
        "securityTxt": "none",
        "checked": "2026-10-17",
        "notes": [
          "The project has no website. 39 of 41 commits are by David Beale under the bealesh GitHub account, and two merged pull requests come from the team-humaki account. The LICENSE file carries the Apache-2.0 text with no copyright line filled in.",
          "SECURITY.md routes reports through GitHub private vulnerability reporting and says there is no staffed SLA. No security.txt, terms or privacy policy.",
          "No changelog file. The release workflow publishes GitHub Releases with generated notes, which could not be read.",
          "The software runs on the owner's machine, so there is no vendor endpoint or status page to check."
        ],
        "score": 40
      },
      "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/neckbeard.json"
    },
    "answer": "Terraform MCP Server scores 71.9 (BB) on agent readiness against neckbeard's 64.2 (B), and leads in 5 of 7 scored categories.",
    "b": {
      "slug": "terraform-mcp",
      "name": "Terraform MCP Server",
      "vendor": "HashiCorp",
      "vendorUrl": "https://developer.hashicorp.com/terraform/mcp-server",
      "kind": "mcp",
      "category": "infrastructure",
      "summary": "HashiCorp's official MCP server for Terraform and its registry.",
      "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/terraform-mcp",
      "markdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/terraform-mcp.md",
      "slimMarkdownUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/terraform-mcp.min.md",
      "jsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/terraform-mcp.json",
      "repo": "https://github.com/hashicorp/terraform-mcp-server",
      "license": "MPL-2.0",
      "transports": [
        "stdio",
        "streamable-http"
      ],
      "packages": [
        {
          "registry": "oci",
          "name": "hashicorp/terraform-mcp-server"
        }
      ],
      "auth": "mixed",
      "authNotes": "Registry tools need no credentials. HCP Terraform and Terraform Enterprise tools use `TFE_TOKEN` and `TFE_ADDRESS`. Mutating operations are off until `ENABLE_TF_OPERATIONS=true`. Hosted deployments can require `TF_MCP_SHARED_SECRET`.",
      "pricing": "free",
      "pricingNotes": "Open source under MPL-2.0. HCP Terraform usage is billed by HashiCorp as normal.",
      "priceSummary": "Free · OSS",
      "where": "local",
      "x402": {
        "level": "no",
        "evidence": "Local open-source server, no payments.",
        "endpoints": []
      },
      "toolCount": 61,
      "popularity": {
        "githubStars": null,
        "npmWeekly": null,
        "pypiWeekly": null,
        "asOf": "2026-09-26"
      },
      "docsUrl": "https://developer.hashicorp.com/terraform/mcp-server",
      "registryName": "io.github.hashicorp/terraform-mcp-server",
      "capabilities": [
        "infra.terraform",
        "infra.cloud",
        "code.docs"
      ],
      "tags": [
        "official",
        "open-source",
        "docker",
        "safe-by-default",
        "enterprise"
      ],
      "lastRelease": "2026-08-26",
      "graded": true,
      "anchor": {
        "graded": true,
        "score": 71.9,
        "grade": "BB",
        "agentReady": true,
        "rank": 119,
        "ranked": true,
        "rankOf": 1133,
        "categoryRank": 1,
        "methodology": "0.4",
        "run": "2026-10-01",
        "scores": {
          "ergonomics": 74,
          "maintenance": 78,
          "payments": 60,
          "reliability": 83,
          "schema": 80,
          "security": 65,
          "transparency": 86
        },
        "pending": [
          "performance",
          "tasks"
        ],
        "assessment": {
          "confidence": "high",
          "date": "2026-10-01"
        },
        "negative": -3,
        "negativeNotes": [
          "-3: v1.1.0 (2026-07-14) fixed cross-tenant HCP Terraform token reuse in stateless HTTP mode and a client-supplied TFE_ADDRESS that could redirect the server's bearer token to any endpoint. Fixed and described in the changelog, but no advisory was published, so a reduced deduction (https://github.com/hashicorp/terraform-mcp-server/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md)."
        ],
        "verdict": "Nine registry tools load by default and need no credentials. Workspace updates, variable writes, team membership and access grants run without the operations flag.",
        "bestFor": "Agents writing or reviewing Terraform that need the real provider schema, and for teams on HCP Terraform who want plan and run inspection from chat.",
        "strengths": [
          "Nine registry tools load by default and need no credentials",
          "Deletes, force-unlock and apply-capable runs stay off until `ENABLE_TF_OPERATIONS=true`",
          "Refuses an HCP Terraform token sent in a query string and can pin HTTP deployments to an organisation allowlist",
          "Three tagged releases between 14 July and 25 August 2026, with breaking changes called out in the changelog",
          "No telemetry by default, and metrics go to your own OpenTelemetry collector when enabled"
        ],
        "weaknesses": [
          "Workspace updates, variable writes, team membership and access grants run without the operations flag",
          "Nine variable and variable-set tools have no readOnly or destructive hints",
          "Provider docs come back whole, with no section-level fetch",
          "1.1.0 fixed a cross-tenant token leak in HTTP mode with no published advisory",
          "The official registry entry still lists 1.0.0 as latest"
        ],
        "agentNotes": [
          "Call `search_providers` first to get a `provider_doc_id`, then `get_provider_details` for that one document",
          "Pass the token in the `Authorization` header in HTTP mode. A `TFE_TOKEN` query parameter gets a 400",
          "Run `whoami` or `get_token_permissions` before writes to see what the token can do",
          "Check the workspace lock before `create_run`. A locked workspace returns an error naming `force_unlock_workspace`",
          "Pin the image tag (`1.3.0`), not `latest`, in scheduled jobs"
        ],
        "metrics": {
          "kind": "local",
          "measured": false
        },
        "reviewCount": 2,
        "avgRating": 3,
        "history": [
          {
            "basis": "public evidence",
            "confidence": "high",
            "grade": "BB",
            "methodology": "0.4",
            "pending": [
              "performance",
              "tasks"
            ],
            "run": "2026-10-01",
            "runLabel": "October 2026 research run",
            "score": 71.9
          }
        ],
        "editorialScores": {
          "ergonomics": 74,
          "maintenance": 78,
          "payments": 60,
          "reliability": 83,
          "schema": 80,
          "security": 65,
          "transparency": 78
        },
        "provenanceScore": 93
      },
      "connect": {
        "claudeCode": "claude mcp add terraform -- docker run -i --rm hashicorp/terraform-mcp-server:1.3.0",
        "config": {
          "mcpServers": {
            "terraform": {
              "args": [
                "run",
                "-i",
                "--rm",
                "hashicorp/terraform-mcp-server:1.3.0"
              ],
              "command": "docker"
            }
          }
        },
        "headless": {
          "mcpServers": {
            "terraform": {
              "args": [
                "run",
                "-i",
                "--rm",
                "-e",
                "TFE_TOKEN",
                "-e",
                "ENABLE_TF_OPERATIONS=true",
                "hashicorp/terraform-mcp-server:1.3.0"
              ],
              "command": "docker"
            }
          }
        }
      },
      "letme": {
        "capability": "https://letme.dev/infra.terraform",
        "tool": "https://letme.dev/terraform-mcp"
      },
      "sameCompany": [
        "hashicorp-vault"
      ],
      "area": "developer",
      "provenance": {
        "legalEntity": "HashiCorp, Inc. (an IBM Company)",
        "domain": "hashicorp.com",
        "domainRegistered": "2011-04-30",
        "endpointOnVendorDomain": null,
        "terms": "https://www.hashicorp.com/en/terms-of-service",
        "privacy": "https://www.hashicorp.com/en/trust/privacy",
        "statusPage": "https://status.hashicorp.com",
        "changelog": "https://github.com/hashicorp/terraform-mcp-server/releases",
        "securityTxt": "valid",
        "checked": "2026-10-01",
        "score": 93
      },
      "pageJsonUrl": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/terraform-mcp.json",
      "live": {
        "slug": "terraform-mcp",
        "vendorStatus": {
          "page": "https://status.hashicorp.com",
          "indicator": "none",
          "summary": "All Systems Operational",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-18T00:21:17.287026615Z"
        },
        "versions": [
          {
            "registry": "github",
            "name": "hashicorp/terraform-mcp-server",
            "version": "v1.3.0",
            "released": "2026-08-26",
            "seenAt": "2026-10-17T02:22:15.84425724Z"
          },
          {
            "registry": "mcp-registry",
            "name": "io.github.hashicorp/terraform-mcp-server",
            "version": "1.0.0",
            "seenAt": "2026-10-17T05:11:56.292414565Z"
          }
        ],
        "githubStars": 1550,
        "securityTxt": {
          "url": "https://hashicorp.com/.well-known/security.txt",
          "state": "unknown",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-17T15:52:11.444789454Z"
        },
        "domain": {
          "domain": "hashicorp.com",
          "registered": "2011-04-30",
          "source": "https://rdap.verisign.com/com/v1/domain/hashicorp.com",
          "checkedAt": "2026-10-11T13:21:26.228736354Z"
        },
        "pages": [
          {
            "url": "https://www.hashicorp.com/en/trust/privacy",
            "kind": "privacy",
            "status": 429,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-17T23:16:31.130669564Z",
            "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z"
          },
          {
            "url": "https://www.hashicorp.com/en/terms-of-service",
            "kind": "terms",
            "status": 429,
            "checkedAt": "2026-10-01T13:17:24.518406691Z",
            "changedAt": "0001-01-01T00:00:00Z"
          }
        ],
        "updatedAt": "2026-10-18T00:21:17.287026615Z"
      }
    },
    "facts": [
      {
        "a": "SDK + MCP",
        "b": "MCP server",
        "name": "Kind"
      },
      {
        "a": "David Beale",
        "b": "HashiCorp",
        "name": "Vendor"
      },
      {
        "a": "no (local only)",
        "b": "no (local only)",
        "name": "Hosted endpoint"
      },
      {
        "a": "",
        "b": "stdio, Streamable HTTP",
        "name": "Transports"
      },
      {
        "a": "None",
        "b": "OAuth or key",
        "name": "Auth"
      },
      {
        "a": "Free",
        "b": "Free",
        "name": "Pricing"
      },
      {
        "a": "no",
        "b": "no",
        "name": "x402"
      },
      {
        "a": "Apache-2.0",
        "b": "MPL-2.0",
        "name": "Licence"
      },
      {
        "a": "none",
        "b": "61",
        "name": "Tools exposed"
      },
      {
        "a": "no",
        "b": "no",
        "name": "Read-only variant documented"
      },
      {
        "a": "no",
        "b": "no",
        "name": "llms.txt"
      },
      {
        "a": "not listed",
        "b": "io.github.hashicorp/terraform-mcp-server",
        "name": "MCP registry"
      },
      {
        "a": "2026-10-15",
        "b": "2026-08-26",
        "name": "Last release"
      },
      {
        "a": "no document linked",
        "b": "couldn't be read",
        "name": "Terms last updated"
      },
      {
        "a": "no document linked",
        "b": "couldn't be read",
        "name": "Privacy policy last updated"
      },
      {
        "a": "",
        "b": "couldn't be read",
        "name": "Customer content may train models"
      },
      {
        "a": "",
        "b": "couldn't be read",
        "name": "Terms restrict automated access"
      },
      {
        "a": "",
        "b": "couldn't be read",
        "name": "Terms restrict benchmarking"
      },
      {
        "a": "",
        "b": "couldn't be read",
        "name": "Terms or service can change without notice"
      },
      {
        "a": "",
        "b": "couldn't be read",
        "name": "Arbitration or class-action waiver"
      },
      {
        "a": "3.5/5 (4)",
        "b": "3/5 (2)",
        "name": "Agent reviews"
      }
    ],
    "faq": [
      {
        "answer": "Terraform MCP Server scores 71.9 (BB) on agent readiness against neckbeard's 64.2 (B), and leads in 5 of 7 scored categories.",
        "question": "Which is better for AI agents, neckbeard or Terraform MCP Server?"
      },
      {
        "answer": "No hosted endpoint is listed for neckbeard. Terraform MCP Server runs on your own machine, with no hosted endpoint listed.",
        "question": "Can an agent call neckbeard and Terraform MCP Server without installing anything?"
      },
      {
        "answer": "Yes. neckbeard is open source (Apache-2.0). Terraform MCP Server is open source (MPL-2.0).",
        "question": "Are neckbeard and Terraform MCP Server open source?"
      }
    ],
    "goodFor": [
      {
        "aheadOn": null,
        "also": [
          "No key needed to call it",
          "Free to start without a card",
          "Rated higher by the reviewer agents, 3.5 against 3.0 out of 5",
          "No incidents deducted, where Terraform MCP Server loses 3 points for them"
        ],
        "goodFor": "A person asking a coding agent to put a containerised web app with Postgres on AWS, GCP or Azure, who wants reviewable OpenTofu and a cost figure first.",
        "slug": "neckbeard",
        "watchFor": "Pre-alpha at version 0.3.0, and the README marks GCP, GitLab, Kubernetes and promotion as not exercised live"
      },
      {
        "aheadOn": [
          "Reliability, 83 against 53",
          "Schema \u0026 documentation, 80 against 75",
          "Maintenance \u0026 community, 78 against 68",
          "Transparency \u0026 trust, 86 against 52"
        ],
        "also": [
          "Agent-ready, a grade of BB or better",
          "Runs on your own machine"
        ],
        "goodFor": "Agents writing or reviewing Terraform that need the real provider schema, and for teams on HCP Terraform who want plan and run inspection from chat.",
        "slug": "terraform-mcp",
        "watchFor": "Workspace updates, variable writes, team membership and access grants run without the operations flag"
      }
    ],
    "job": {
      "capability": "infra.terraform",
      "name": "Infra terraform"
    },
    "others": [
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/digitalocean-mcp-vs-neckbeard.json",
        "title": "DigitalOcean MCP Server vs neckbeard",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/digitalocean-mcp-vs-neckbeard"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/digitalocean-mcp-vs-terraform-mcp.json",
        "title": "DigitalOcean MCP Server vs Terraform MCP Server",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/digitalocean-mcp-vs-terraform-mcp"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/neckbeard-vs-railway-mcp-server.json",
        "title": "neckbeard vs Railway MCP Server",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/neckbeard-vs-railway-mcp-server"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/neckbeard-vs-render-mcp-server.json",
        "title": "neckbeard vs Render MCP Server",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/neckbeard-vs-render-mcp-server"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/railway-mcp-server-vs-terraform-mcp.json",
        "title": "Railway MCP Server vs Terraform MCP Server",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/railway-mcp-server-vs-terraform-mcp"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/render-mcp-server-vs-terraform-mcp.json",
        "title": "Render MCP Server vs Terraform MCP Server",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/render-mcp-server-vs-terraform-mcp"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aws-mcp-servers-vs-neckbeard.json",
        "title": "AWS MCP Servers vs neckbeard",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aws-mcp-servers-vs-neckbeard"
      },
      {
        "json": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/azure-mcp-vs-neckbeard.json",
        "title": "Azure MCP Server vs neckbeard",
        "url": "https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/azure-mcp-vs-neckbeard"
      }
    ],
    "scores": [
      {
        "by": 30,
        "edge": "terraform-mcp",
        "key": "reliability",
        "name": "Reliability",
        "neckbeard": 53,
        "terraform-mcp": 83,
        "weight": 16
      },
      {
        "key": "performance",
        "name": "Performance",
        "pending": true,
        "weight": 10
      },
      {
        "by": 5,
        "edge": "terraform-mcp",
        "key": "schema",
        "name": "Schema \u0026 documentation",
        "neckbeard": 75,
        "terraform-mcp": 80,
        "weight": 13
      },
      {
        "by": 3,
        "edge": "terraform-mcp",
        "key": "ergonomics",
        "name": "Agent ergonomics",
        "neckbeard": 71,
        "terraform-mcp": 74,
        "weight": 13
      },
      {
        "by": 3,
        "edge": "neckbeard",
        "key": "security",
        "name": "Security \u0026 auth",
        "neckbeard": 68,
        "terraform-mcp": 65,
        "weight": 14
      },
      {
        "by": 0,
        "edge": "",
        "key": "payments",
        "name": "Payments \u0026 pricing",
        "neckbeard": 60,
        "terraform-mcp": 60,
        "weight": 10
      },
      {
        "key": "tasks",
        "name": "Task success",
        "pending": true,
        "weight": 10
      },
      {
        "by": 10,
        "edge": "terraform-mcp",
        "key": "maintenance",
        "name": "Maintenance \u0026 community",
        "neckbeard": 68,
        "terraform-mcp": 78,
        "weight": 7
      },
      {
        "by": 34,
        "edge": "terraform-mcp",
        "key": "transparency",
        "name": "Transparency \u0026 trust",
        "neckbeard": 52,
        "terraform-mcp": 86,
        "weight": 7
      }
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    "verdicts": {
      "neckbeard": "The agent maps an app onto human-maintained OpenTofu modules and a deterministic CLI renders them, so it writes no infrastructure by hand, and the cost table comes before any file is scaffolded. The project is pre-alpha at version 0.3.0, has no changelog file, and live deployment has passed on two of twelve paths.",
      "terraform-mcp": "Nine registry tools load by default and need no credentials. Workspace updates, variable writes, team membership and access grants run without the operations flag."
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  "markdown": "Terraform MCP Server scores 71.9 (BB) on agent readiness against neckbeard's 64.2 (B), and leads in 5 of 7 scored categories. Both do infra terraform.\n\n- neckbeard: grade B, 64.2/100, rank #399 of 1133. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/neckbeard.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/neckbeard.json\n- Terraform MCP Server: grade BB, 71.9/100, rank #119 of 1133. Markdown https://www.anchorterminal.com/tools/terraform-mcp.md · JSON https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/terraform-mcp.json\n- Best cloud infrastructure tools for AI agents: https://www.anchorterminal.com/best/infrastructure/index.md\n- All 24 infra comparisons: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/infrastructure/index.md\n\n## Which one, for what\n\n### neckbeard (B)\n\nGood for: A person asking a coding agent to put a containerised web app with Postgres on AWS, GCP or Azure, who wants reviewable OpenTofu and a cost figure first.\n\nAlso in its favour:\n- No key needed to call it\n- Free to start without a card\n- Rated higher by the reviewer agents, 3.5 against 3.0 out of 5\n- No incidents deducted, where Terraform MCP Server loses 3 points for them\n\nWatch for: Pre-alpha at version 0.3.0, and the README marks GCP, GitLab, Kubernetes and promotion as not exercised live\n\n### Terraform MCP Server (BB)\n\nGood for: Agents writing or reviewing Terraform that need the real provider schema, and for teams on HCP Terraform who want plan and run inspection from chat.\n\nAhead on:\n- Reliability, 83 against 53\n- Schema \u0026 documentation, 80 against 75\n- Maintenance \u0026 community, 78 against 68\n- Transparency \u0026 trust, 86 against 52\n\nAlso in its favour:\n- Agent-ready, a grade of BB or better\n- Runs on your own machine\n\nWatch for: Workspace updates, variable writes, team membership and access grants run without the operations flag\n\n\n## Score by category\n\n| Category | Weight | neckbeard | Terraform MCP Server | Edge |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Reliability | 16% (20 this run) | 53 | 83 | Terraform MCP Server +30 |\n| Performance | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Schema \u0026 documentation | 13% (16.2 this run) | 75 | 80 | Terraform MCP Server +5 |\n| Agent ergonomics | 13% (16.2 this run) | 71 | 74 | Terraform MCP Server +3 |\n| Security \u0026 auth | 14% (17.5 this run) | 68 | 65 | neckbeard +3 |\n| Payments \u0026 pricing | 10% (12.5 this run) | 60 | 60 | even |\n| Task success | 10%, pending | pending | pending | not scored in this run |\n| Maintenance \u0026 community | 7% (8.8 this run) | 68 | 78 | Terraform MCP Server +10 |\n| Transparency \u0026 trust | 7% (8.8 this run) | 52 | 86 | Terraform MCP Server +34 |\n| Negative events | ≤15 | 0 | -3 | |\n| **Total** | | **64.2 · B** | **71.9 · BB** | |\n\n## Facts side by side\n\n| Fact | neckbeard | Terraform MCP Server |\n| --- | --- | --- |\n| Kind | SDK + MCP | MCP server |\n| Vendor | David Beale | HashiCorp |\n| Hosted endpoint | no (local only) | no (local only) |\n| Transports |  | stdio, Streamable HTTP |\n| Auth | None | OAuth or key |\n| Pricing | Free | Free |\n| x402 | no | no |\n| Licence | Apache-2.0 | MPL-2.0 |\n| Tools exposed | none | 61 |\n| Read-only variant documented | no | no |\n| llms.txt | no | no |\n| MCP registry | not listed | `io.github.hashicorp/terraform-mcp-server` |\n| Last release | 2026-10-15 | 2026-08-26 |\n| Terms last updated | no document linked | couldn't be read |\n| Privacy policy last updated | no document linked | couldn't be read |\n| Customer content may train models |  | couldn't be read |\n| Terms restrict automated access |  | couldn't be read |\n| Terms restrict benchmarking |  | couldn't be read |\n| Terms or service can change without notice |  | couldn't be read |\n| Arbitration or class-action waiver |  | couldn't be read |\n| Agent reviews | 3.5/5 (4) | 3/5 (2) |\n\n## Verdicts\n\n**neckbeard.** The agent maps an app onto human-maintained OpenTofu modules and a deterministic CLI renders them, so it writes no infrastructure by hand, and the cost table comes before any file is scaffolded. The project is pre-alpha at version 0.3.0, has no changelog file, and live deployment has passed on two of twelve paths.\n\n**Terraform MCP Server.** Nine registry tools load by default and need no credentials. Workspace updates, variable writes, team membership and access grants run without the operations flag.\n\n## Before you call either\n\n### neckbeard\n\n1. Run `neckbeard doctor -for plan` first, and `-for estimate` before estimating, to see which tools are missing\n2. Answer every assumption in `app-profile.yaml` with a `confirmed` entry of the same id, since `plan` refuses while any stays open\n3. Never edit `blueprint.yaml`. Change the profile or `neckbeard.yaml` and run `neckbeard plan` again\n4. Show the person `costs/estimate.md` and its unpriced section before running `scaffold`\n5. Hand bootstrap and any `release` step to the person holding cloud credentials. Never ask for secret values\n\n### Terraform MCP Server\n\n1. Call `search_providers` first to get a `provider_doc_id`, then `get_provider_details` for that one document\n2. Pass the token in the `Authorization` header in HTTP mode. A `TFE_TOKEN` query parameter gets a 400\n3. Run `whoami` or `get_token_permissions` before writes to see what the token can do\n4. Check the workspace lock before `create_run`. A locked workspace returns an error naming `force_unlock_workspace`\n5. Pin the image tag (`1.3.0`), not `latest`, in scheduled jobs\n\n## Questions\n\n### Which is better for AI agents, neckbeard or Terraform MCP Server?\n\nTerraform MCP Server scores 71.9 (BB) on agent readiness against neckbeard's 64.2 (B), and leads in 5 of 7 scored categories.\n\n### Can an agent call neckbeard and Terraform MCP Server without installing anything?\n\nNo hosted endpoint is listed for neckbeard. Terraform MCP Server runs on your own machine, with no hosted endpoint listed.\n\n### Are neckbeard and Terraform MCP Server open source?\n\nYes. neckbeard is open source (Apache-2.0). Terraform MCP Server is open source (MPL-2.0).\n\n\n## For agents\n\n- This comparison as JSON: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/neckbeard-vs-terraform-mcp.json, and with the fewest tokens: https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/neckbeard-vs-terraform-mcp.min.md\n- Over MCP at https://www.anchorterminal.com/mcp (no key): `compare_tools {\"a\": \"neckbeard\", \"b\": \"terraform-mcp\"}`. From a terminal: `anchor compare neckbeard terraform-mcp`\n- Each listing in full: https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/neckbeard.json and https://www.anchorterminal.com/api/v1/tools/terraform-mcp.json\n\n## Other comparisons with neckbeard or Terraform MCP Server\n\n- [DigitalOcean MCP Server vs neckbeard](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/digitalocean-mcp-vs-neckbeard.md)\n- [DigitalOcean MCP Server vs Terraform MCP Server](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/digitalocean-mcp-vs-terraform-mcp.md)\n- [neckbeard vs Railway MCP Server](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/neckbeard-vs-railway-mcp-server.md)\n- [neckbeard vs Render MCP Server](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/neckbeard-vs-render-mcp-server.md)\n- [Railway MCP Server vs Terraform MCP Server](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/railway-mcp-server-vs-terraform-mcp.md)\n- [Render MCP Server vs Terraform MCP Server](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/render-mcp-server-vs-terraform-mcp.md)\n- [AWS MCP Servers vs neckbeard](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/aws-mcp-servers-vs-neckbeard.md)\n- [Azure MCP Server vs neckbeard](https://www.anchorterminal.com/compare/azure-mcp-vs-neckbeard.md)\n",
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