MCP Documentation Server

/** * Quick start guide for MCP development */ export async function quickStartGuide(): Promise<string> { return `# 🚀 MCP Quick Start Guide ## 🎯 From Zero to Working MCP Server in 15 Minutes Welcome to Model Context Protocol! Let's get you building your first MCP server quickly. ## What is MCP? MCP is like **USB-C for AI applications** - a standardized way to connect AI apps to external systems, data, and tools. ### What can you build? - **🔧 Tools**: Functions AI can execute (database queries, API calls, calculations) - **📄 Resources**: Data sources AI can read (files, databases, APIs) - **💬 Prompts**: Templates to guide AI interactions ## Step 1: Choose Your Language ### Python (Recommended for beginners) ` + "```bash" + ` # Install uv (fast Python package manager) curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh # Create new project uv init my-mcp-server cd my-mcp-server # Install MCP SDK uv add "mcp[cli]" # Create server file touch server.py ` + "```" + ` ### TypeScript/Node.js ` + "```bash" + ` # Create new project mkdir my-mcp-server cd my-mcp-server npm init -y # Install MCP SDK npm install @modelcontextprotocol/sdk # Create server file touch server.ts ` + "```" + ` ## Step 2: Write Your First Tool ### Simple Python Server ` + "```python" + ` #!/usr/bin/env python3 from mcp.server.fastmcp import FastMCP from datetime import datetime # Initialize server mcp = FastMCP("my-first-server") @mcp.tool() async def get_current_time() -> str: """Get the current time.""" return f"Current time: {datetime.now().strftime('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S')}" @mcp.tool() async def echo_message(message: str, uppercase: bool = False) -> str: """Echo a message back. Args: message: The message to echo uppercase: Whether to convert to uppercase """ if not message: return "Error: Message cannot be empty" result = message.upper() if uppercase else message return f"Echo: {result}" if __name__ == "__main__": mcp.run(transport="stdio") ` + "```" + ` ## Step 3: Test Your Server ### With MCP Inspector ` + "```bash" + ` # Test your server interactively npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector python server.py ` + "```" + ` This opens a web interface where you can: - ✅ See your tools listed - ✅ Test tool calls with parameters - ✅ View responses and debug issues ### With Claude Desktop 1. **Add to Claude configuration**: ` + "```json" + ` { "mcpServers": { "my-server": { "command": "python", "args": ["/absolute/path/to/server.py"] } } } ` + "```" + ` 2. **Restart Claude Desktop completely** 3. **Test your tools**: - "What time is it?" → Uses get_current_time tool - "Echo 'Hello World' in uppercase" → Uses echo_message tool ## Step 4: Add Resources and Prompts ### Add a Resource ` + "```python" + ` @mcp.resource("info://server") async def server_info(): """Server information resource.""" return f""" # My MCP Server This server provides: - Time utilities - Echo functionality - Server information Started at: {datetime.now().isoformat()} """ ` + "```" + ` ### Add a Prompt ` + "```python" + ` @mcp.prompt() async def coding_helper(language: str = "python") -> str: """Get a coding assistant prompt.""" return f"""You are an expert {language} developer. Help the user with: - Writing clean, efficient code - Debugging issues - Following best practices Focus on practical, working solutions and explain your reasoning clearly. """ ` + "```" + ` ## Step 5: Complete Example Here's everything combined: ` + "```python" + ` #!/usr/bin/env python3 from mcp.server.fastmcp import FastMCP from datetime import datetime import sys # Initialize server mcp = FastMCP("complete-example-server") @mcp.tool() async def get_current_time() -> str: """Get the current time.""" return f"Current time: {datetime.now().strftime('%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S')}" @mcp.tool() async def calculate(expression: str) -> str: """Calculate a math expression safely.""" try: # Basic validation allowed_chars = set('0123456789+-*/()., ') if not all(c in allowed_chars for c in expression): return "Error: Only basic math allowed" result = eval(expression) return f"{expression} = {result}" except Exception as e: return f"Error: {e}" @mcp.resource("server://info") async def server_info(): """Server information.""" return f"""# MCP Server Info Server: complete-example-server Status: Running Time: {datetime.now().isoformat()} """ @mcp.prompt() async def math_helper() -> str: """Get a math helper prompt.""" return "You are a helpful math assistant. Help solve calculations and explain mathematical concepts clearly." if __name__ == "__main__": print("🚀 Starting Complete Example MCP Server...", file=sys.stderr) mcp.run(transport="stdio") ` + "```" + ` ## 🏁 What's Next? ### Immediate Next Steps: 1. **Test your server** with MCP Inspector 2. **Connect to Claude Desktop** and try the tools 3. **Experiment** with different tool implementations ### Learning Path: - **Advanced Development**: Use server_development_workflow() - **Client Integration**: Try client_integration_guide() - **Production Deployment**: Check deployment_guide() - **Troubleshooting**: Reference troubleshooting_workflow() ## 💡 Pro Tips 1. **Start Simple**: One tool, then expand 2. **Test Early**: Use MCP Inspector constantly 3. **Good Descriptions**: Help AI understand your tools 4. **Error Handling**: Make tools robust 5. **Documentation**: Document your tools well ## 🆘 Getting Help - **Search docs**: Use search_docs("your question") - **Browse topics**: Use get_docs_by_category() - **Troubleshooting**: Use troubleshooting_workflow() - **Community**: Check MCP community resources Happy building! 🚀`; }