mcp-builder
MCP (Model Context Protocol) server building principles. Tool design, resource patterns, best practices.
Installation
Details
Usage
After installing, this skill will be available to your AI coding assistant.
Verify installation:
skills listSkill Instructions
name: mcp-builder description: MCP (Model Context Protocol) server building principles. Tool design, resource patterns, best practices. allowed-tools: Read, Write, Edit, Glob, Grep
MCP Builder
Principles for building MCP servers.
1. MCP Overview
What is MCP?
Model Context Protocol - standard for connecting AI systems with external tools and data sources.
Core Concepts
| Concept | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Tools | Functions AI can call |
| Resources | Data AI can read |
| Prompts | Pre-defined prompt templates |
2. Server Architecture
Project Structure
my-mcp-server/
├── src/
│ └── index.ts # Main entry
├── package.json
└── tsconfig.json
Transport Types
| Type | Use |
|---|---|
| Stdio | Local, CLI-based |
| SSE | Web-based, streaming |
| WebSocket | Real-time, bidirectional |
3. Tool Design Principles
Good Tool Design
| Principle | Description |
|---|---|
| Clear name | Action-oriented (get_weather, create_user) |
| Single purpose | One thing well |
| Validated input | Schema with types and descriptions |
| Structured output | Predictable response format |
Input Schema Design
| Field | Required? |
|---|---|
| Type | Yes - object |
| Properties | Define each param |
| Required | List mandatory params |
| Description | Human-readable |
4. Resource Patterns
Resource Types
| Type | Use |
|---|---|
| Static | Fixed data (config, docs) |
| Dynamic | Generated on request |
| Template | URI with parameters |
URI Patterns
| Pattern | Example |
|---|---|
| Fixed | docs://readme |
| Parameterized | users://{userId} |
| Collection | files://project/* |
5. Error Handling
Error Types
| Situation | Response |
|---|---|
| Invalid params | Validation error message |
| Not found | Clear "not found" |
| Server error | Generic error, log details |
Best Practices
- Return structured errors
- Don't expose internal details
- Log for debugging
- Provide actionable messages
6. Multimodal Handling
Supported Types
| Type | Encoding |
|---|---|
| Text | Plain text |
| Images | Base64 + MIME type |
| Files | Base64 + MIME type |
7. Security Principles
Input Validation
- Validate all tool inputs
- Sanitize user-provided data
- Limit resource access
API Keys
- Use environment variables
- Don't log secrets
- Validate permissions
8. Configuration
Claude Desktop Config
| Field | Purpose |
|---|---|
| command | Executable to run |
| args | Command arguments |
| env | Environment variables |
9. Testing
Test Categories
| Type | Focus |
|---|---|
| Unit | Tool logic |
| Integration | Full server |
| Contract | Schema validation |
10. Best Practices Checklist
- Clear, action-oriented tool names
- Complete input schemas with descriptions
- Structured JSON output
- Error handling for all cases
- Input validation
- Environment-based configuration
- Logging for debugging
Remember: MCP tools should be simple, focused, and well-documented. The AI relies on descriptions to use them correctly.
More by vudovn
View allPython development principles and decision-making. Framework selection, async patterns, type hints, project structure. Teaches thinking, not copying.
Game audio principles. Sound design, music integration, adaptive audio systems.
PowerShell Windows patterns. Critical pitfalls, operator syntax, error handling.
Internationalization and localization patterns. Detecting hardcoded strings, managing translations, locale files, RTL support.