MCP Server Dev

Design and build MCP servers for Claude. Learn deployment (HTTP, MCPB, local), tools, auth, and interactive apps.

Play video

A comprehensive guide for designing and building MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers that work seamlessly with Claude. This plugin provides three composable skills that walk you through the entire process — from choosing the right deployment model and tool design patterns to scaffolding code, adding authentication, and packaging for distribution. It covers remote streamable-HTTP servers, interactive MCP apps with embedded UI widgets, and MCPB bundles for local machine access.

The core build-mcp-server skill follows a structured five-phase workflow: it interrogates your use case, recommends a deployment model (remote HTTP, elicitation, MCP app, MCPB, or local stdio), selects a tool-design pattern (one-tool-per-action vs. search+execute for large APIs), picks a framework (TypeScript SDK or FastMCP for Python), and scaffolds your project. The build-mcp-app skill adds interactive UI capabilities — form widgets, searchable pickers, confirmation dialogs, charts, and live-updating status displays — rendered directly in chat via sandboxed iframes. The build-mcpb skill handles packaging local stdio servers with their runtime into installable bundles that require no Node.js or Python on the user's machine.

How to use: Invoke the entry skill with /mcp-server-dev:build-mcp-server or simply ask "help me build an MCP server" to start the guided workflow. Use /mcp-server-dev:build-mcp-app when you need to add interactive widgets like contact pickers or confirmation dialogs to your server. Use /mcp-server-dev:build-mcpb to package a local server into a distributable MCPB bundle. Each skill includes reference files covering auth flows, widget templates, iframe sandbox constraints, manifest schemas, and security hardening guidelines.