What Is MCP?
MCP is a standard protocol that lets agents connect to tools, data, and prompts through servers.
What Is MCP?
MCP means Model Context Protocol.
It gives agents a standard way to connect with tools and data.
Problem MCP solves
Without MCP, every app needs custom integration for every agent.
That becomes messy:
- one GitHub integration for Claude
- another for Cursor
- another for Hermes
- another for internal agents
MCP changes that model.
Build one MCP server. Many clients can use it.
MCP parts
Client
Client is agent app.
Examples:
- Claude Desktop
- Claude Code
- Hermes Agent
- IDE agent
Server
Server exposes capabilities.
Examples:
- filesystem server
- GitHub server
- Postgres server
- Slack server
- browser server
Tools
Tools are actions.
Example: create_issue, query_database, read_file.
Resources
Resources are readable context.
Example: file content, docs, database schema.
Prompts
Prompts are reusable instruction templates exposed by server.
Why builders care
MCP makes tools portable.
Instead of locking every integration to one app, you expose capability through a standard interface.
Security rule
MCP server can be powerful. Treat it like API access.
Use:
- least privilege
- read-only first
- separate dev/prod credentials
- audit logs
- human approval for writes
Best first MCP server
Start with read-only docs or filesystem server.
Then add narrow write actions only after you know exact workflow.