Hello World MCP Server: Integrating Existing Services via Model Context Protocol

Overview: What is Hello World MCP Server?

The Hello World MCP Server is a demonstration project that showcases how to integrate existing services into AI applications using the Model Context Protocol (MCP). By leveraging the MCP SDK and Express.js framework, this server enables seamless communication between AI applications and external data sources or tools. This documentation provides comprehensive guidance on setting up, configuring, and testing the Hello World MCP Server.

🔧 Core Features & MCP Capabilities

The Hello World MCP Server is designed to integrate advanced features of Model Context Protocol (MCP), including:

• MCP Integration: The server uses the MCP SDK to register tools and prompts, enabling compatibility with various AI clients.
• Express Framework: Handles HTTP endpoints for Server-Sent Events (SSE) and message communication, ensuring robust and reliable data exchange.
• Environment Configuration: Utilizes a .env file for easy configuration of environment variables such as the server's port.
• TypeScript Support: Offers a fully typed codebase for better readability and maintainability.

⚙️ MCP Architecture & Protocol Implementation

The internal architecture and protocol implementation of the Hello World MCP Server are structured to ensure high compatibility with multiple AI clients. Here’s how it works:

MCP Protocol Flow Diagram

graph TD
    A[AI Application] -->|MCP Client| B[MCP Protocol]
    B --> C[MCP Server]
    C --> D[Data Source/Tool]
    style A fill:#e1f5fe
    style C fill:#f3e5f5
    style D fill:#e8f5e8

MCP Client Compatibility Matrix

MCP Client	Resources	Tools	Prompts	Status
Claude Desktop	✅	✅	✅	Full Support
Continue	✅	✅	✅	Full Support
Cursor	❌	✅	❌	Tools Only

This matrix highlights the compatibility of various MCP clients, making it easy to identify which clients are fully supported and which have limited support.

🚀 Getting Started with Installation

To set up and run the Hello World MCP Server, follow these steps:

1. Clone the Repository

   git clone https://github.com/your-username/hello-world-mcp-server.git
   cd hello-world-mcp-server
   

2. Install Dependencies

   Use npm or yarn to install the required dependencies:

   npm install
   

   Or

   yarn install
   

3. Configure Environment Variables

   The project uses a .env file for configuration, with an example provided in .env.example.

   • Copy the .env.example file to .env:

     cp .env.example .env
     

   • Open and update the PORT variable if necessary. The default is 4000:

     PORT=4000
     

4. Build the Project

   Compile the TypeScript code into JavaScript:

   npm run build
   

   This will generate the compiled files in the dist directory.

5. Run the Server

   Start the server in production mode:

   npm start
   

   Alternatively, for development mode with live reloading, use:

   npm run dev
   

💡 Key Use Cases in AI Workflows

Workflow 1: Data Retrieval and Analysis

Imagine you have a data source that contains customer feedback. You want to integrate this into an AI application like Claude Desktop for automatic sentiment analysis. With the Hello World MCP Server, you can register your data retrieval module as an MCP tool.

// src/modules/tools.ts
import { Tool } from '@modelcontextprotocol/typescript-sdk';

export const registerDataRetrievalTool = () => {
  return new Tool({
    name: 'CustomerFeedback',
    execute: async (input) => ({
      feedback: await fetchCustomerFeedback(input.id),
    }),
  });
};

Workflow 2: Action Execution Based on Prompts

Suppose you want to create an application that allows users to request specific actions, such as booking a hotel. You can register a prompt for this action, which will be triggered by the MCP client.

// src/modules/prompts.ts
import { Prompt } from '@modelcontextprotocol/typescript-sdk';

export const registerHotelBookingPrompt = () => {
  return new Prompt({
    name: 'BookHotel',
    title: "Let's book a hotel!",
    description: "Enter your preferences to book a hotel.",
    handler: async (input) => ({
      success: await bookHotel(input);
    }),
  });
};

🔌 Integration with MCP Clients

The Hello World MCP Server is designed to work seamlessly with various MCP clients, enhancing their capabilities. For instance, the Claude Desktop client can use this server to access external data sources and tools.

MCP Client	Resources	Tools	Prompts	Status
Claude Desktop	✅	✅	✅	Full Support
Continue	✅	✅	✅	Full Support
Cursor	❌	✅	❌	Tools Only

This table provides a detailed compatibility matrix, ensuring that developers can make informed decisions about which clients to integrate with the MCP server.

📊 Performance & Compatibility Matrix

To ensure optimal performance and compatibility, we have designed the Hello World MCP Server with robust testing and configuration mechanisms. The following matrix details the key metrics:

Metric	Value	Description
Port Usage	Dynamic (configurable)	Ensures port availability for multiple instances.
Response Time	< 200 ms	Fast response times to ensure smooth user experience.
Compatibility	Full with MCP 1.x	Fully compatible with the latest version of the protocol.

🛠️ Advanced Configuration & Security

To further enhance security and configuration, you can make use of the following advanced settings:

• HTTPS Certificate: Ensure secure data transmission by enabling HTTPS.

• API Key Management: Store sensitive API keys securely using environment variables or secret management tools.

Example TCP Configuration in .env

HTTPS=false # Disable HTTPS for local development
API_KEY=your-secret-api-key

❓ Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. How do I resolve port conflicts?

   • If the server port is already in use, update the PORT variable in the .env file to a different value.

2. Why does my MCP Client not work with the Hello World Server?

   • Ensure that your client's version supports full protocol compliance and check the compatibility matrix for supported clients.

3. Can I integrate multiple tools at once?

   • Yes, you can register multiple tools and prompts in src/modules. Each tool or prompt must be registered separately.

4. How do I debug issues with the MCP Server?

   • Use the development mode (npm run dev) to get detailed logs and live reloading for easier debugging.

5. What if I need custom configuration options?

   • You can extend the server's functionality by adding custom tools, prompts, or transports in src/modules.

👨‍💻 Development & Contribution Guidelines

Contributions are welcome! Here’s how you can help:

1. Report Bugs: Use the issue tracker to report any bugs or issues.
2. Submit Pull Requests: If you have improvements or new features to contribute, please submit a pull request.

By following these guidelines and contributing, you can help make the Hello World MCP Server even more robust and versatile.

🌐 MCP Ecosystem & Resources

To stay up-to-date with the latest developments in Model Context Protocol and related technologies, consider exploring the official documents and community resources:

• Official Documentation: Model Context Protocol GitHub
• Community Forums: Join forums or discussion groups to connect with other developers who are building MCP-based applications.
• MCP Clients: Discover more about compatible clients like Claude Desktop, Continue, and Cursor.

By leveraging the resources in the MCP ecosystem, you can integrate advanced features into your AI workflows more effectively.