How to Evaluate Whether an MCP Server Is Still Actively Maintained

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Choosing a reliable MCP server requires more than picking the most popular option from a directory. Key maintenance signals include recent commits, issue response rates, release activity, and whether the repository has been archived. Developer tools like MCP Radar now categorize servers by lifecycle status, helping users identify active, at-risk, or abandoned projects before committing to one. As of August 1, 2026, MCP Radar's public catalog listed 1,080 active servers, 95 at risk, and 9 abandoned. Experts recommend verifying installation steps in a disposable environment and confirming client compatibility before using any server in a production workflow.

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