Building MCP Servers: Part 1 — Getting Started with Resources

What is Building MCP Servers: Part 1 — Getting Started with Resources?

This tutorial guides developers in setting up a basic MCP (Model Context Protocol) server using Node.js/TypeScript to expose read-only resources to Large Language Models (LLMs) like Claude. It explains the protocol, the resource concept, and provides hands‑on setup steps.

How to use Building MCP Servers: Part 1 — Getting Started with Resources?

Create a new Node.js TypeScript project, install the @modelcontextprotocol/sdk and TypeScript dev dependencies, configure tsconfig.json with target: ES2022 and module: Node16, and implement a resource server using the ResourceServer class (e.g., the greeting server example in the README).

Key features of Building MCP Servers: Part 1 — Getting Started with Resources?

• Read‑only resource endpoints via unique URIs
• Supports text and binary content types
• Metadata like display name and MIME type
• Explicit user permission ensures security
• Example servers: documentation, logs, customers
• Uses Node.js/TypeScript with @modelcontextprotocol/sdk

Use cases of Building MCP Servers: Part 1 — Getting Started with Resources?

• Expose API documentation to LLMs for reference
• Serve recent system logs to assist debugging
• Provide customer profile summaries for AI analysis
• Deliver static guides to LLMs during conversations

FAQ from Building MCP Servers: Part 1 — Getting Started with Resources?

What is Model Context Protocol (MCP)?

MCP is a standardized interface that allows LLMs to safely interact with external data and services, such as files, databases, and APIs.

What are MCP Resources?

Resources are read‑only endpoints that expose content (text or binary) via a unique URI, with metadata like a display name and MIME type.

What prerequisites are needed to follow this tutorial?

Node.js (>= 16), npm (>= 8), and TypeScript are required. Install the SDK with npm install @modelcontextprotocol/sdk.

How do I set up the project?

Run mkdir hello-mcp, cd hello-mcp, npm init -y, then install @modelcontextprotocol/sdk and TypeScript dev dependencies. Configure tsconfig.json as shown in the README.

What is the difference between MCP Tools and Prompts?

MCP Tools execute custom code and actions with controlled, auditable security, while Prompts are limited to static natural language with no external effects.