MCP Server Patterns

MCP Server Patterns

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) lets AI assistants call tools, read resources, and use prompts from your server. Use this skill when building or maintaining MCP servers. The SDK API evolves; check Context7 (query-docs for "MCP") or the official MCP documentation for current method names and signatures.

For the broader routing decision of when a capability should be a rule, a skill, MCP, or a plain CLI/API workflow, see docs/capability-surface-selection.md.

When to Use

Use when: implementing a new MCP server, adding tools or resources, choosing stdio vs HTTP, upgrading the SDK, or debugging MCP registration and transport issues.

How It Works

Core concepts

• Tools: Actions the model can invoke (e.g. search, run a command). Register with registerTool() or tool() depending on SDK version.
• Resources: Read-only data the model can fetch (e.g. file contents, API responses). Register with registerResource() or resource(). Handlers typically receive a uri argument.
• Prompts: Reusable, parameterised prompt templates the client can surface (e.g. in Codex Desktop). Register with registerPrompt() or equivalent.
• Transport: stdio for local clients (e.g. Codex Desktop); Streamable HTTP is preferred for remote (Cursor, cloud). Legacy HTTP/SSE is for backward compatibility.

The Node/TypeScript SDK may expose tool() / resource() or registerTool() / registerResource(); the official SDK has changed over time. Always verify against the current MCP docs or Context7.

Connecting with stdio

For local clients, create a stdio transport and pass it to your server’s connect method. The exact API varies by SDK version (e.g. constructor vs factory). See the official MCP documentation or query Context7 for "MCP stdio server" for the current pattern.

Keep server logic (tools + resources) independent of transport so you can plug in stdio or HTTP in the entrypoint.

Remote (Streamable HTTP)

For Cursor, cloud, or other remote clients, use Streamable HTTP (single MCP HTTP endpoint per current spec). Support legacy HTTP/SSE only when backward compatibility is required.

Examples

Install and server setup

npm install @modelcontextprotocol/sdk zod

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

const server = new McpServer({ name: "my-server", version: "1.0.0" });

Register tools and resources using the API your SDK version provides: some versions use server.tool(name, description, schema, handler) (positional args), others use server.tool({ name, description, inputSchema }, handler) or registerTool(). Same for resources — include a uri in the handler when the API provides it. Check the official MCP docs or Context7 for the current @modelcontextprotocol/sdk signatures to avoid copy-paste errors.

Use Zod (or the SDK’s preferred schema format) for input validation.

Best Practices

• Schema first: Define input schemas for every tool; document parameters and return shape.
• Errors: Return structured errors or messages the model can interpret; avoid raw stack traces.
• Idempotency: Prefer idempotent tools where possible so retries are safe.
• Rate and cost: For tools that call external APIs, consider rate limits and cost; document in the tool description.
• Versioning: Pin SDK version in package.json; check release notes when upgrading.

Official SDKs and Docs

• JavaScript/TypeScript: @modelcontextprotocol/sdk (npm). Use Context7 with library name "MCP" for current registration and transport patterns.
• Go: Official Go SDK on GitHub (modelcontextprotocol/go-sdk).
• C#: Official C# SDK for .NET.