mcp

This MCP server exposes the Payload CMS-based website template as a configurable service. It allows you to manage content for posts, pages, and media through a unified admin interface, while leveraging Payload's built-in access control, layout builder blocks, draft and live previews, and on-demand revalidation. Use the provided admin routes to authenticate, manage collections, and configure globals like header and footer data. The server powers the front-end website by serving API endpoints for content delivery, draft previews, and revalidation hooks, enabling a smooth content workflow from creation to deployment.

Prerequisites:

• Node.js (14+ or recommended LTS) installed on your system
• npm or pnpm/yarn for package management

Steps:

1. Clone the repository locally or navigate to your MCP server directory.
2. Install dependencies:
   • npm: npm install
   • or pnpm: pnpm install
   • or yarn: yarn install
3. Copy environment variables from a template if provided, e.g., cp .env.example .env and customize values such as database and auth settings.
4. Start the MCP server:
   • npm run dev (for development) or npm start (for production) depending on your setup
5. Open http://localhost:3000 (or the port you configured) to access the admin dashboard and the website frontend.

Note: Ensure any required database (e.g., MongoDB, PostgreSQL) services are running and accessible with the credentials configured in your environment file.

Tips and common considerations:

• Update environment variables to point to your database and any external services Payload requires.
• If you enable draft or live previews, ensure your front-end build and revalidation hooks are correctly wired to your hosting environment (Next.js or similar).
• Check logs for any authentication or access-control issues when deploying to production.
• For local development, use PORT 3000 unless you have a conflicting service running.
• The Payload CMS template supports hot-reload during development; changes to content schemas or collections may require a server restart in some setups.