Alibaba Cloud DataWorks MCP Server

What is Alibaba Cloud DataWorks MCP Server about?

Alibaba Cloud DataWorks MCP Server offers a set of tools that allow AI agents to interact with the DataWorks Open API, enabling seamless cloud resource operations such as project listing, workflow management, and data analysis.

How to use Alibaba Cloud DataWorks MCP Server?

1. Install – preferred method is via npm:

   npm install -g alibabacloud-dataworks-mcp-server
   

2. Configure – set environment variables for region, access key ID, secret, and optional tool filters:

   export REGION=<your_region_id>
   export ALIBABA_CLOUD_ACCESS_KEY_ID=<your_access_key_id>
   export ALIBABA_CLOUD_ACCESS_KEY_SECRET=<your_access_key_secret>
   export TOOL_CATEGORIES=<optional_categories>
   export TOOL_NAMES=<optional_names>
   

3. Run – start the MCP server with npx:

   npx alibabacloud-dataworks-mcp-server
   

   The server will listen on the default port and be ready for AI agents to invoke the provided tools.

Key features of Alibaba Cloud DataWorks MCP Server

• Implements the Model Context Protocol for uniform tool invocation.
• Direct integration with DataWorks Open API (region‑aware, key‑based authentication).
• Supports selective exposure of tools via TOOL_CATEGORIES and TOOL_NAMES.
• Simple npm‑based installation and optional source‑build workflow.
• Built‑in security guidance: keep credentials in environment variables, audit agent activity.

Use cases of Alibaba Cloud DataWorks MCP Server

• Automated data pipeline management – AI agents can create, start, or monitor DataWorks workflows.
• Resource inventory – List projects, tables, or jobs programmatically for audit or reporting.
• AI‑assisted data analysis – Agents query datasets, run SQL scripts, and retrieve results without manual API calls.
• DevOps assistance – Chat‑based AI can provision or modify DataWorks resources on demand.

FAQ from the Alibaba Cloud DataWorks MCP Server

Q: Which Node.js version is required? A: v16 or higher.

Q: Do I need to build from source? A: Not required for typical use; npm installation is sufficient. Build from source only if you need to modify the code.

Q: How do I limit the tools exposed to an AI agent? A: Set TOOL_CATEGORIES and/or TOOL_NAMES environment variables to filter the exported tool list.

Q: Is the server compatible with other MCP implementations? A: Yes, it follows the Model Context Protocol specification, so any MCP‑compatible client can interact with it.

Q: Where can I find the list of available DataWorks tools? A: Visit the official DataWorks MCP tools page: https://dataworks.data.aliyun.com/dw-pop-mcptools

DataWorks MCP Server

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides tools for AI, allowing it to interact with the DataWorks Open API through a standardized interface. This implementation is based on the Aliyun Open API and enables AI agents to perform cloud resources operations seamlessly.

Overview

This MCP server:

• Interact with DataWorks Open API
• Manage DataWorks resources

The server implements the Model Context Protocol specification to standardize cloud resource interactions for AI agents.

Prerequisites

• Node.js (v16 or higher)
• pnpm (recommended), npm, or yarn
• DataWorks Open API with access key and secret key

Installation

Option 1: Install from npm (recommend for clients like Cursor/Cline)

# Install globally
npm install -g alibabacloud-dataworks-mcp-server

# Or install locally in your project
npm install alibabacloud-dataworks-mcp-server

Option 2: Build from Source (for developers)

1. Clone this repository:

git clone https://github.com/aliyun/alibabacloud-dataworks-mcp-server
cd alibabacloud-dataworks-mcp-server

2. Install dependencies (pnpm is recommended, npm is supported):

pnpm install

3. Build the project:

pnpm run build

4. Development the project (by @modelcontextprotocol/inspector):

pnpm run dev

open http://localhost:5173

Configuration

MCP Server Configuration

If you installed via npm (Option 1):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "alibabacloud-dataworks-mcp-server": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["alibabacloud-dataworks-mcp-server"],
      "env": {
        "REGION": "your_dataworks_open_api_region_id_here",
        "ALIBABA_CLOUD_ACCESS_KEY_ID": "your_alibaba_cloud_access_key_id",
        "ALIBABA_CLOUD_ACCESS_KEY_SECRET": "your_alibaba_cloud_access_key_secret",
        "TOOL_CATEGORIES": "optional_your_tool_categories_here_ex_UTILS",
        "TOOL_NAMES": "optional_your_tool_names_here_ex_ListProjects"
      },
      "disabled": false,
      "autoApprove": []
    }
  }
}

If you built from source (Option 2):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "alibabacloud-dataworks-mcp-server": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/alibabacloud-dataworks-mcp-server/build/index.js"],
      "env": {
        "REGION": "your_dataworks_open_api_region_id_here",
        "ALIBABA_CLOUD_ACCESS_KEY_ID": "your_alibaba_cloud_access_key_id",
        "ALIBABA_CLOUD_ACCESS_KEY_SECRET": "your_alibaba_cloud_access_key_secret",
        "TOOL_CATEGORIES": "optional_your_tool_categories_here_ex_SERVER_IDE_DEFAULT",
        "TOOL_NAMES": "optional_your_tool_names_here_ex_ListProjects"
      },
      "disabled": false,
      "autoApprove": []
    }
  }
}

Environment Setup

init variables in your environment:

# DataWorks Configuration
REGION=your_dataworks_open_api_region_id_here
ALIBABA_CLOUD_ACCESS_KEY_ID=your_alibaba_cloud_access_key_id
ALIBABA_CLOUD_ACCESS_KEY_SECRET=your_alibaba_cloud_access_key_secret
TOOL_CATEGORIES=optional_your_tool_categories_here_ex_SERVER_IDE_DEFAULT
TOOL_NAMES=optional_your_tool_names_here_ex_ListProjects

Configuration Description

• Use Guide Description Link

Project Structure

alibabacloud-dataworks-mcp-server/
├── src/
│   ├── index.ts          # Main entry point
├── package.json
└── tsconfig.json

Available Tools

The MCP server provides the following DataWorks tools:

See this link

Security Considerations

• Keep your private key secure and never share it
• Use environment variables for sensitive information
• Regularly monitor and audit AI agent activities

Troubleshooting

If you encounter issues:

1. Verify your Aliyun Open API access key and secret key are correct
2. Check your region id is correct
3. Ensure you're on the intended network (mainnet, testnet, or devnet)
4. Verify the build was successful

Dependencies

Key dependencies include:

• @alicloud/dataworks-public20240518
• @alicloud/openapi-client

Contributing

Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request.

1. Fork the repository
2. Create your feature branch (git checkout -b feature/amazing-feature)
3. Commit your changes (git commit -m 'Add some amazing feature')
4. Push to the branch (git push origin feature/amazing-feature)
5. Open a Pull Request

License

This project is licensed under the Apache 2.0 License.