What languages can I use to build an MCP server?

The official MCP SDKs cover TypeScript/Node.js and Python. TypeScript has the most examples. The Python SDK (pip install mcp) is a complete implementation with a FastMCP class.

Can I build an MCP server without knowing TypeScript?

Yes. The patterns require only basic async/await familiarity. If you prefer Python, the FastMCP helper reduces a tool to a single decorated function.

How is an MCP server different from a REST API?

MCP servers use stdio rather than HTTP. There is no network port, no auth layer to configure, and no hosting required for a local server — the AI editor starts the process directly.

How do I publish an MCP server so others can use it?

Publish to npm and users add it to their editor config with npx. Include a ready-to-paste config block in your README so anyone can connect in under two minutes.

How to Build an MCP Server

Building an MCP server takes about 30 minutes with Node.js and TypeScript. Install the @modelcontextprotocol/sdk package, create a file that defines your tools with Zod input schemas, and connect a StdioServerTransport. Any AI editor that supports MCP — Cursor, VS Code, Claude Code, Claude Desktop — can then use your server's tools without further setup.

An MCP server is a small process that gives AI editors new tools. Here is the exact setup — SDK installation, tool definitions, MCP Inspector testing, and editor config — to build one in about 30 minutes.