mcp_server_dummy

This MCP server is a C# example created from a NuGet package template that demonstrates how to build and publish an MCP server using the Model Context Protocol. It shows how to configure a local, stdio-based MCP server and how tooling can interact with it via the MCP protocol. You can test the server locally by running the project and then issuing MCP requests through Copilot Chat or an IDE integration that supports MCP.

To use the local server, start it using the provided configuration (MCP_Server_Local). The server runs as a stdio process, allowing the IDE or tooling to send inputs and receive outputs through the standard input/output streams. When you test, you can try example requests like asking for a random number and using the get_random_number tool on the MCP server. The example emphasizes how to wire up tool invocations and parse results within your integration.

Prerequisites:

• .NET SDK (recommended latest LTS)
• Git (optional, for cloning the repository)
• Familiarity with NuGet packaging if you plan to publish

Step-by-step:

1. Acquire the MCP server source or template (from NuGet or GitHub).
2. Open the project directory in your IDE or terminal.
3. Restore dependencies: dotnet restore
4. Build the project: dotnet build -c Release
5. (Optional) Pack the project as a NuGet package: dotnet pack -c Release
6. Test locally by running the project directly in an IDE or via the command line, using the provided configuration: dotnet run --project <PATH TO PROJECT DIRECTORY>
7. If validating via NuGet, publish to your NuGet feed and update your .mcp.json configuration accordingly.

Note: The README template demonstrates configuring a local MCP server for development before publishing the NuGet package.

Tips and common issues:

• Ensure the .NET project is configured correctly with the MCP server entry point and the .mcp/server.json configuration if you use a runtime config.
• When testing locally, the path in the run command should point to the actual project directory containing the MCP server, not just the solution file.
• If you encounter protocol version mismatches, verify that the MCP SDK package versions align between your server and the client tooling.
• For NuGet publishing, update the package metadata in the .csproj file (especially the PackageId) and ensure the .nupkg is created in the Release configuration.
• If you need to run the server in a container or a different environment, adapt the mcp_config to the appropriate execution method (e.g., docker, npx, or python bindings) as needed.