{
  "title": "MCP Apps vs OpenAI Apps SDK and Current Plugins Surface",
  "schemaVersion": "1.0",
  "researchFreeze": "2026-08-26",
  "protocolRevision": "MCP Apps 2026-01-26 / ext-apps SDK v1.7.5 / MCP core 2026-07-28",
  "sourcePackage": "research/9",
  "integrityNote": "The 93 ordinary archive entries verify. Two self-referential bookkeeping entries have disclosed stale final rows; public corrections do not modify the raw archive.",
  "checkedAt": "2026-08-26",
  "terminologyNote": "The former Apps SDK URL redirects to Plugins. Current OpenAI UI guidance uses MCP Apps as the baseline, keeps window.openai optional, and routes discovery through the Plugins Directory; Apps SDK preview terminology remains in OpenAI Help.",
  "count": 11,
  "records": [
    {
      "Dimension": "Scope",
      "OpenAI Apps SDK": "Historical/product terminology within OpenAI’s current Plugins platform; new ChatGPT UI builds use the MCP Apps standard plus optional ChatGPT extensions.",
      "MCP Apps": "Cross-host MCP extension",
      "id": "R9-OPENAI001",
      "packageSourceIds": [
        "S004",
        "S035",
        "S038"
      ],
      "sourceIds": [
        "S390",
        "S415",
        "S417"
      ],
      "packageSnapshot": "OpenAI product SDK and ChatGPT app platform",
      "editorialCorrection": "Qualified the current standards-first OpenAI Plugins guidance while retaining historical Apps SDK terminology."
    },
    {
      "Dimension": "Public launch",
      "OpenAI Apps SDK": "October 6, 2025",
      "MCP Apps": "Proposal November 21, 2025; stable January 26, 2026",
      "id": "R9-OPENAI002",
      "packageSourceIds": [
        "S004",
        "S035",
        "S038"
      ],
      "sourceIds": [
        "S390",
        "S415",
        "S417"
      ]
    },
    {
      "Dimension": "Core UI API",
      "OpenAI Apps SDK": "MCP Apps ui/* JSON-RPC is the baseline for new ChatGPT UI; window.openai is an optional ChatGPT-specific extension.",
      "MCP Apps": "JSON-RPC over postMessage through App/AppBridge",
      "id": "R9-OPENAI003",
      "packageSourceIds": [
        "S004",
        "S035",
        "S038"
      ],
      "sourceIds": [
        "S390",
        "S415",
        "S417"
      ],
      "packageSnapshot": "window.openai and Apps SDK conventions",
      "editorialCorrection": "Replaced the stale window.openai-as-core framing with OpenAI’s current MCP Apps-first guidance."
    },
    {
      "Dimension": "Tool backend",
      "OpenAI Apps SDK": "MCP-based app server",
      "MCP Apps": "MCP server with tool and ui:// resource",
      "id": "R9-OPENAI004",
      "packageSourceIds": [
        "S004",
        "S035",
        "S038"
      ],
      "sourceIds": [
        "S390",
        "S415",
        "S417"
      ]
    },
    {
      "Dimension": "Host portability",
      "OpenAI Apps SDK": "OpenAI states apps can run where the standard is adopted, but adapters may be needed",
      "MCP Apps": "Designed for compliant MCP Apps hosts",
      "id": "R9-OPENAI005",
      "packageSourceIds": [
        "S004",
        "S035",
        "S038"
      ],
      "sourceIds": [
        "S390",
        "S415",
        "S417"
      ]
    },
    {
      "Dimension": "Tool metadata",
      "OpenAI Apps SDK": "_meta.ui.resourceUri and standard MCP Apps metadata, with optional ChatGPT-specific extension fields where needed.",
      "MCP Apps": "_meta.ui.resourceUri and visibility",
      "id": "R9-OPENAI006",
      "packageSourceIds": [
        "S004",
        "S035",
        "S038"
      ],
      "sourceIds": [
        "S390",
        "S415",
        "S417"
      ],
      "packageSnapshot": "OpenAI-specific compatibility fields and Apps SDK metadata",
      "editorialCorrection": "Aligned the metadata row with the current OpenAI UI guide."
    },
    {
      "Dimension": "State",
      "OpenAI Apps SDK": "ChatGPT widget state and product APIs",
      "MCP Apps": "View-local state, host context and ui/update-model-context",
      "id": "R9-OPENAI007",
      "packageSourceIds": [
        "S004",
        "S035",
        "S038"
      ],
      "sourceIds": [
        "S390",
        "S415",
        "S417"
      ]
    },
    {
      "Dimension": "Testing",
      "OpenAI Apps SDK": "ChatGPT Developer Mode and OpenAI tooling",
      "MCP Apps": "basic-host, Postman, MCPJam and real host testing",
      "id": "R9-OPENAI008",
      "packageSourceIds": [
        "S004",
        "S035",
        "S038"
      ],
      "sourceIds": [
        "S390",
        "S415",
        "S417"
      ]
    },
    {
      "Dimension": "Distribution",
      "OpenAI Apps SDK": "Plugins Directory and plugin submission workflow; since July 9, 2026, apps remain underlying integrations and new app submissions are packaged in plugins.",
      "MCP Apps": "Host-specific directories or server installation; general discovery remains open",
      "id": "R9-OPENAI009",
      "packageSourceIds": [
        "S004",
        "S035",
        "S038"
      ],
      "sourceIds": [
        "S390",
        "S415",
        "S417",
        "S459"
      ],
      "packageSnapshot": "ChatGPT app review and directory",
      "editorialCorrection": "Updated the historical app-directory row to OpenAI’s current Plugins Directory model."
    },
    {
      "Dimension": "Permissions",
      "OpenAI Apps SDK": "ChatGPT product controls and workspace governance",
      "MCP Apps": "Extension defines requests; each host determines policy",
      "id": "R9-OPENAI010",
      "packageSourceIds": [
        "S004",
        "S035",
        "S038"
      ],
      "sourceIds": [
        "S390",
        "S415",
        "S417"
      ]
    },
    {
      "Dimension": "Automatic equivalence",
      "OpenAI Apps SDK": "No",
      "MCP Apps": "No; translation and compatibility testing are required",
      "id": "R9-OPENAI011",
      "packageSourceIds": [
        "S004",
        "S035",
        "S038"
      ],
      "sourceIds": [
        "S390",
        "S415",
        "S417"
      ]
    }
  ]
}