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MCP surfaces

Compact comparison of gateway-console, registry-mcp-server (Registry MCP), and hosted-gateway-mcp. These surfaces slot into the Infrastructure and Protocol layers of the canonical five-layer model — see Core Concepts — Layered ecosystem. For the broader four-layer product map, see Platform architecture.
This page is the canonical reference for MCP-related surfaces. Tool-by-tool listings live under MCP Tool Reference.

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At a glance

gateway-consoleregistry-mcp-serverhosted-gateway-mcp
RoleBrowser operator UI for a self-hosted gatewayHTTP MCP server for registry discovery (@betterdata/registry-mcp)Node MCP-style HTTP for hosted commerce tools (multi-tenant intent)
Primary userOperator configuring their own gatewayRemote MCP clients (e.g. Grok) resolving merchants via registryHosted tenants / internal stack (gated tools)
StackNext.js (port 3012)Next.js (port 3015), POST /mcpPlain Node http server (default 8081, PORT env)
Core packagecommerce-gateway, commerce-gateway-mcp, registry-mcp (for UI/config)registry-mcp + MCP SDKcommerce-gateway (/mcp tool defs + capabilities)
@repo/databaseNoYes (Bearer MCP key → org lookup when configured)No (stub; wire Prisma later)
OSS vs proprietaryOSS-style surface (repo README: proprietary license note where applicable)App is monorepo-only; uses OSS registry-mcpProprietary skeleton

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One line each

  • gateway-console — A dashboard: providers, connectors, keys, status, registry link, telemetry preview; writes local gateway.config.json. It is not an MCP endpoint.
  • registry-mcp-server — The deployed Registry MCP (e.g. mcp.commercegateway.io): JSON-RPC over streamable HTTP for discovery tools (registry protocol). Deploy notes: apps/registry-mcp-server/DEPLOY.md in the monorepo.
  • hosted-gateway-mcp — A hosted, multi-tenant-shaped service exposing commerce gateway MCP tools (tool list gated by capability set); still a skeleton (demo-key, stub org resolution) in apps/hosted-gateway-mcp/src/index.ts.

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Relationship to packages

  • @betterdata/registry-mcp — Library used by registry-mcp-server (and by gateway-console for registry-related UI).
  • @betterdata/commerce-gateway (including /mcp exports) — What hosted-gateway-mcp uses for commerce execution tools, not registry discovery.

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Where these surfaces appear

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Product

  • Better Data SCM (/welcome and workspace modules): operators use Gateway and Commerce Registry in-product; Remote MCP URLs and protocol docs are after workspace setup, not a separate external product signup.
  • Gateway Console (self-host story) is documented as a developer/operator path alongside hosted gateway flows — same module narrative, not a competing control plane.

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OSS

  • @betterdata/registry-mcp — npm package; discovery tools for @shop resolution. See the package README in the repo.
  • @betterdata/commerce-gateway — MCP tool execution surface for commerce backends.
  • Monorepo apps gateway-console, registry-mcp-server, hosted-gateway-mcp map to the three columns in At a glance.

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Web

  • Marketing and product pages on betterdata.co link here as the system reference for “which MCP surface is which.”
  • Developer Accelerators (Gateway Demo / Commerce Demo) are reference experiences only — not MCP endpoints; see Commerce Gateway integration and introduction.

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Messaging alignment

  • Commerce Registry is native to the platform. Do not frame it as a separate external “registration product” that users must sign up for outside Better Data. Protocol docs and Remote MCP URLs are after in-product setup and configuration.
  • Demos — reference experiences and developer accelerators. They are not control planes, not operator surfaces, and not standalone products.

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Commerce Agent pattern (canonical)

Commerce Agent is not a module or product — it is the composition pattern that ties MCP surfaces together: discover (Registry MCP) → execute (Commerce Gateway) → govern (Loop Engine) → recorded outcome / state; reference Gateway Demo / Commerce Demo illustrate the stack for humans only. Full definition, diagram, and rules: Commerce Agent pattern (C9).