Model Context Protocol

What is Model Context Protocol?

MCP is an open protocol that standardizes how applications provide context to LLMs. Think of MCP like a USB-C port for AI applications. Just as USB-C provides a standardized way to connect your devices to various peripherals and accessories, MCP provides a standardized way to connect AI models to different data sources and tools.

MCP helps you build agents and complex workflows on top of LLMs. LLMs frequently need to integrate with data and tools, and MCP provides:

• A growing list of pre-built integrations that your LLM can directly plug into
• The flexibility to switch between LLM providers and vendors
• Best practices for securing your data within your infrastructure

General Architecture

• MCP Hosts: Programs like Claude Desktop, IDEs, or AI tools that want to access data through MCP
• MCP Clients: Protocol clients that maintain 1:1 connections with servers
• MCP Servers: Lightweight programs that each expose specific capabilities through the standardized Model Context Protocol
• Local Data Sources: Your computer’s files, databases, and services that MCP servers can securely access
• Remote Services: External systems available over the internet (e.g., through APIs) that MCP servers can connect to

Server

Init Project

Install uv

$ curl -LsSf https://astral.sh/uv/install.sh | sh

Typing the following create-mcp-server command, it will guide you create your project via a wizard:

$ uvx create-mcp-server

Code Your Server

from typing import Any
import httpx
from mcp.server.fastmcp import FastMCP

# Initialize FastMCP server
mcp = FastMCP("weather")

# Constants
NWS_API_BASE = "https://api.weather.gov"
USER_AGENT = "weather-app/1.0"

Claude App Configuration

1. Open Claude App, Open Settings -> Developer, click on Edit Config
2. Update the following json configurations into claude_desktop_config.json

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "weather": {
            "command": "uv",
            "args": [
                "--directory",
                "/ABSOLUTE/PATH/TO/PARENT/FOLDER/weather",
                "run",
                "weather.py"
            ]
        }
    }
}

Client

MCP Inspector

$ npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector <command> <arg1> <arg2>

For instance, your MCP server project located in the root directory and named my-mcp-server:

$ npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector uv --directory /my-mcp-server run mymcp