Conduit

What it does

Conduit (formerly Toolport) is a free, open-source, local-first gateway that sits between AI tools (like Claude, Cursor, Codex) and MCP servers. Instead of loading every tool definition into context on every request, Conduit exposes only three meta-tools that the agent searches on demand. This reduces token usage by 74–91% while maintaining task success, as measured on a frontier model. The gateway also provides tool-integrity checks (fingerprinting to detect rug pulls and tool poisoning), per-tool governance (toggle any tool on/off), secrets management via the OS keychain, and live observability (per-server latency, error rates, audit trail).

Who it is for

Conduit is for developers and teams who use multiple AI coding assistants (Claude, Cursor, VS Code, Windsurf, Codex, Antigravity, and others) and want to share MCP server configurations across all clients without duplicating setup or exposing API keys. It is also for anyone who wants to reduce token consumption and costs when using MCP servers, especially those with many tools. The free tier is for individuals; a paid Teams plan (free for up to 5 people) adds shared governance.

Why it matters

MCP servers give AI tools real capabilities (e.g., GitHub, Slack, database access), but each server's tool definitions are loaded into context on every request, consuming tokens before the user even types a prompt. This "tool tax" slows down agents, eats into plan limits, and increases costs. Conduit solves this by collapsing hundreds of tool definitions into three meta-tools, cutting token usage by up to 91% with no loss in task success. It also centralizes server management, improves security (keys never leave the machine, tool integrity checks), and provides observability—all without requiring a cloud account.

Launch signal

Conduit is currently in public beta as an open-source project (MIT license) hosted on GitHub. The website offers a download for Windows, macOS, and Linux, along with a demo video and a calculator to estimate token savings. There is an active community on Discord. The project appears to be early-stage, with a single founder (Tyler) and no disclosed funding or revenue. The source evidence is limited to the website content; no third-party reviews or adoption metrics are available.

Brand and naming

The name "Conduit" suggests a channel or pipe that directs flow, fitting the product's role as a gateway between AI clients and MCP servers. It is short, memorable, and implies seamless connectivity. The original name "Toolport" (still used in the website URL and some copy) is more descriptive but less distinctive. The shift to "Conduit" may reflect a broader vision beyond just tool management. The brand positions itself as developer-friendly (open source, local-first, no account required) and performance-focused (token savings, integrity checks).