---

name: mcp-ops description: "Model Context Protocol server development, tool design, resource handling, and transport configuration. Use for: mcp, model context protocol, mcp server, mcp tool, mcp resource, fastmcp, mcp transport, stdio, sse, streamable http, mcp inspector, tool handler, mcp prompt." license: MIT allowed-tools: "Read Write Bash" metadata: author: claude-mods related-skills: claude-code-hooks, claude-code-debug, typescript-ops, python-fastapi-ops

MCP Operations

Comprehensive patterns for building, testing, and deploying Model Context Protocol servers in Python and TypeScript.

MCP Architecture Quick Reference

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│                     MCP Host                            │
│  (Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Custom App)              │
│                                                         │
│  ┌───────────┐   ┌───────────┐   ┌───────────┐        │
│  │  Client A  │   │  Client B  │   │  Client C  │       │
│  └─────┬─────┘   └─────┬─────┘   └─────┬─────┘        │
└────────┼───────────────┼───────────────┼────────────────┘
         │               │               │
    ┌────┴────┐     ┌────┴────┐     ┌────┴────┐
    │Transport│     │Transport│     │Transport│
    │ (stdio) │     │  (SSE)  │     │ (HTTP)  │
    └────┬────┘     └────┬────┘     └────┬────┘
         │               │               │
┌────────┴──┐     ┌──────┴────┐   ┌──────┴────┐
│  Server A  │     │  Server B  │   │  Server C  │
│            │     │            │   │            │
│ ┌────────┐ │     │ ┌────────┐ │   │ ┌────────┐ │
│ │ Tools  │ │     │ │Resources│ │   │ │Prompts │ │
│ └────────┘ │     │ └────────┘ │   │ └────────┘ │
│ ┌────────┐ │     │ ┌────────┐ │   │ ┌────────┐ │
│ │Resources│ │     │ │Prompts │ │   │ │ Tools  │ │
│ └────────┘ │     │ └────────┘ │   │ └────────┘ │
└────────────┘     └────────────┘   └────────────┘

Protocol: JSON-RPC 2.0 over chosen transport
Flow:     Client → request → Server → response → Client

Server Type Decision Tree

What transport does your MCP server need?
│
├─ Local CLI tool / single-user desktop integration?
│  └─ stdio
│     - Simplest setup, no networking
│     - Claude Desktop, Claude Code native support
│     - Process lifecycle managed by host
│
├─ Web dashboard / browser-based client?
│  └─ SSE (Server-Sent Events)
│     - HTTP-based, works through firewalls
│     - Persistent connection for server→client events
│     - Good for development and internal tools
│
└─ Production API / multi-tenant / cloud deployment?
   └─ Streamable HTTP
      - HTTP POST for requests, SSE for streaming responses
      - Supports stateless and stateful modes
      - Full auth support, load balancer friendly
      - Recommended for production deployments

Tool vs Resource vs Prompt Decision Tree

What does the LLM need to do?
│
├─ Perform an action or computation?
│  └─ TOOL
│     - Has side effects (API calls, file writes, DB mutations)
│     - Accepts structured input, returns results
│     - Examples: run_query, create_issue, send_email
│
├─ Read data or context?
│  └─ RESOURCE
│     - Read-only data retrieval
│     - Identified by URI (file://, db://, api://)
│     - Examples: config://app, schema://users, file://readme.md
│
└─ Guide the LLM's behavior or workflow?
   └─ PROMPT
      - Templated instructions with arguments
      - Suggests conversation starters or workflows
      - Examples: code_review(language, file), summarize(topic)

Python SDK Quick Start

from mcp.server.fastmcp import FastMCP

mcp = FastMCP("my-server")

@mcp.tool()
def search_docs(query: str) -> str:
    """Search documentation by keyword."""
    results = perform_search(query)
    return "\n".join(f"- {r.title}: {r.snippet}" for r in results)

@mcp.tool()
def create_ticket(title: str, body: str, priority: str = "medium") -> str:
    """Create a support ticket."""
    ticket = api.create(title=title, body=body, priority=priority)
    return f"Created ticket #{ticket.id}: {ticket.url}"

@mcp.resource("config://app")
def get_config() -> str:
    """Return current application configuration."""
    return json.dumps(load_config(), indent=2)

@mcp.resource("schema://db/{table}")
def get_table_schema(table: str) -> str:
    """Return the schema for a database table."""
    return json.dumps(get_schema(table), indent=2)

@mcp.prompt()
def code_review(language: str, filepath: str) -> str:
    """Generate a code review prompt for the given file."""
    return f"Review this {language} code in {filepath} for bugs, style issues, and performance."

if __name__ == "__main__":
    mcp.run()  # Defaults to stdio transport

Install and run:

uv init my-mcp-server && cd my-mcp-server
uv add mcp[cli]
# Run with: uv run python server.py
# Or:       uv run mcp run server.py

TypeScript SDK Quick Start

import { McpServer } from "@modelcontextprotocol/sdk/server/mcp.js";
import { StdioServe