Getting Started Blog Posts
26 posts covering fundamentals, setup guides, and learning resources for mcp development
MCP Server vs API: What's the Real Difference?
MCP servers provide bidirectional tool calling with context management, while traditional APIs are unidirectional request-response patterns.
Model Context Protocol Beginner's Guide: Zero to First Server
A complete, hands-on walkthrough: build a real two-tool MCP server in Python and TypeScript, test it with the MCP Inspector, and connect it to Claude Desktop.
How MCP Servers Work: The Complete Technical Breakdown
MCP's lifecycle has three real, distinct phases — initialization/capability negotiation, normal operation, and shutdown — and understanding the handshake specifically explains a lot of otherwise-confusing client behavior.
MCP Transport Methods: stdio vs Streamable HTTP (Not WebSocket)
The MCP spec defines two real transports — stdio and Streamable HTTP (which replaced the older separate HTTP+SSE combination). WebSocket isn't a standard MCP transport, despite showing up in some comparisons.
JSON-RPC in MCP: Message Format Deep Dive
MCP doesn't invent its own wire protocol — it's built directly on JSON-RPC 2.0. Here's exactly which JSON-RPC message types MCP uses, the real method names, and where MCP's own semantics layer on top.
How to Install and Configure Your First MCP Server
Complete walkthrough for setting up MCP server infrastructure from scratch.
MCP Server Configuration Files: Complete Reference
Reference guide for MCP server configuration files including JSON schema and common options.
Connecting Claude to an MCP Server: Every Real Method
Claude Desktop, Claude Code, and the Claude API each connect to MCP servers differently. Here's the real configuration for each, plus local-stdio versus remote-HTTP considerations.
OpenAI GPT with MCP: Integration Guide
How to integrate OpenAI GPT models with MCP servers for enhanced tool calling capabilities.
Google Gemini MCP Support: What You Need to Know
Overview of Gemini's MCP compatibility and integration options.
Best MCP Server Tutorials for Beginners (Community Curated)
Community-voted list of the best MCP server tutorials for beginners.
MCP Certification: Is It Worth It? Complete Review
Comprehensive review of MCP certification programs and their value for developers.
MCP Video Courses: Free and Paid Options Ranked
Ranked list of MCP video courses with pricing and skill level requirements.
MCP Documentation: Official vs Community Resources
Comparison of official MCP documentation with community-contributed resources.
MCP Books and eBooks: Essential Reading List
Essential books and eBooks for mastering Model Context Protocol development.
MCP GitHub Repositories: Best Projects to Fork
Curated list of the best open-source MCP server projects on GitHub.
MCP Community Forums: Where to Get Help
Comprehensive guide to MCP community forums and discussion platforms.
MCP Support Channels: Official and Unofficial
List of official and unofficial support channels for MCP developers.
MCP on Reddit: Best Subreddits and Discussions
Guide to the best Reddit communities discussing Model Context Protocol.
Contributing to MCP: How to Join the Open Source Movement
Guide to contributing to MCP open source projects and the broader ecosystem.
MCP Python SDK: Complete Getting Started Guide
Complete tutorial for building MCP servers with Python using the official SDK.
MCP JavaScript/TypeScript SDK Tutorial
Tutorial for building MCP servers with JavaScript/TypeScript.
MCP Node.js Implementation: Server Setup Guide
Guide to implementing MCP servers with Node.js including package setup and configuration.
MCP CLI Tools: Command Line Power User Guide
Power user guide to MCP command line tools for development and deployment.
MCP Client Libraries: Comparing Options
Comparison of available MCP client libraries for different programming languages.
MCP Tutorial – Build Your First MCP Server
Step-by-step tutorial for building your first MCP server from scratch, with code examples in TypeScript and Python.