Overview

MCP servers enable LLMs to interact with external services through well-designed tools. The quality of an MCP server is measured by how effectively it helps LLMs accomplish real-world tasks. This guide outlines a four-phase process from research and planning to implementation, testing, and evaluations.

How This Skill Works

Develop MCP servers by following four phases: Deep Research and Planning, Implementation with TypeScript or Python SDKs, Review and Test using the MCP Inspector, and Create Evaluations with rigorous frameworks. Tools are exposed as structured interfaces that the LLM can call, enabling controlled access to external services.

When to Use It

• When you want an LLM to safely invoke external APIs via well-defined tools
• When building a reusable catalog of external services for LLMs
• When you need rigorous evaluation frameworks to validate tool usage
• When implementing MCP servers with either TypeScript or Python SDKs
• When ensuring safety, auditing, and compliance using MCP Inspector

Quick Start

1. Step 1: Define tool interfaces and intents for the MCP (what operations are allowed).
2. Step 2: Implement the MCP server using TypeScript or Python SDKs and expose tools.
3. Step 3: Test with the MCP Inspector and iterate on evaluations before production.

Best Practices

• Define clear tool schemas and allowed operations
• Begin with Deep Research and Planning before implementation
• Use the MCP Inspector for iterative testing and validation
• Document tool interfaces, intents, and usage examples clearly
• Implement robust error handling, retries, and security controls

Example Use Cases

• Weather data fetch tool accessed by an LLM to answer climate questions
• Payment gateway tool for e-commerce transactions initiated by chats
• Calendar scheduling tool to book meetings via natural language prompts
• Email sending tool to dispatch alerts and summaries
• Stock price lookup tool to support financial assistant workflows

Frequently Asked Questions