mcp-builder
Guide for building high-quality Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers that allow LLMs to interact with external services. Use when creating new MCP integrations, tools, or servers for Codex or other AI systems.
Best use case
mcp-builder is best used when you need a repeatable AI agent workflow instead of a one-off prompt.
Guide for building high-quality Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers that allow LLMs to interact with external services. Use when creating new MCP integrations, tools, or servers for Codex or other AI systems.
Teams using mcp-builder should expect a more consistent output, faster repeated execution, less prompt rewriting.
When to use this skill
- You want a reusable workflow that can be run more than once with consistent structure.
When not to use this skill
- You only need a quick one-off answer and do not need a reusable workflow.
- You cannot install or maintain the underlying files, dependencies, or repository context.
Installation
Claude Code / Cursor / Codex
Manual Installation
- Download SKILL.md from GitHub
- Place it in
.claude/skills/mcp-builder/SKILL.mdinside your project - Restart your AI agent — it will auto-discover the skill
How mcp-builder Compares
| Feature / Agent | mcp-builder | Standard Approach |
|---|---|---|
| Platform Support | Not specified | Limited / Varies |
| Context Awareness | High | Baseline |
| Installation Complexity | Unknown | N/A |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does this skill do?
Guide for building high-quality Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers that allow LLMs to interact with external services. Use when creating new MCP integrations, tools, or servers for Codex or other AI systems.
Where can I find the source code?
You can find the source code on GitHub using the link provided at the top of the page.
SKILL.md Source
# Mcp Builder
## Overview
This skill teaches how to build high-quality MCP servers that allow large language models to interact with external services through well-designed tools.
## Quick Start
```bash
# Create and setup MCP server project
mkdir my-mcp-server && cd my-mcp-server
npm init -y
npm install @modelcontextprotocol/sdk zod
npm install -D typescript @types/node
# Create source directory
mkdir src
```
```typescript
// src/index.ts - Minimal MCP Server
import { Server } from "@modelcontextprotocol/sdk/server/index.js";
import { StdioServerTransport } from "@modelcontextprotocol/sdk/server/stdio.js";
import { CallToolRequestSchema, ListToolsRequestSchema } from "@modelcontextprotocol/sdk/types.js";
const server = new Server(
{ name: "my-server", version: "1.0.0" },
{ capabilities: { tools: {} } }
);
server.setRequestHandler(ListToolsRequestSchema, async () => ({
tools: [{
name: "hello_world",
*See sub-skills for full details.*
## When to Use
- Creating integrations for Codex with external APIs
- Building custom tooling for AI-assisted workflows
- Extending Codex's capabilities with domain-specific tools
- Automating interactions with third-party services
- Building reusable MCP servers for team sharing
## Resources
- MCP Documentation: https://modelcontextprotocol.io
- MCP TypeScript SDK: https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/typescript-sdk
- MCP Inspector: https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/inspector
- Top MCP Servers: https://mcpcat.io/guides/best-mcp-servers-for-Codex/
## Related Skills
- [yaml-workflow-executor](../yaml-workflow-executor/SKILL.md) - Workflow automation
- [webapp-testing](../webapp-testing/SKILL.md) - Testing web integrations
- [git-worktree-workflow](../git-worktree-workflow/SKILL.md) - Parallel development
---
## Version History
- **1.2.0** (2026-01-02): Upgraded to SKILL_TEMPLATE_v2 format with Quick Start, Error Handling, Metrics, Execution Checklist
- **1.1.0** (2025-12-30): Added .mcp.json project config, permission wildcards, MCP_TIMEOUT, security best practices
- **1.0.0** (2025-10-15): Initial release with four-phase development process
## Sub-Skills
- [Example 1: Database Query Tool (+1)](example-1-database-query-tool/SKILL.md)
- [Do (+1)](do/SKILL.md)
## Sub-Skills
- [Error Handling](error-handling/SKILL.md)
- [Execution Checklist](execution-checklist/SKILL.md)
- [Metrics](metrics/SKILL.md)
## Sub-Skills
- [Phase 1: Deep Research and Planning (+3)](phase-1-deep-research-and-planning/SKILL.md)
- [Language Choice (+4)](language-choice/SKILL.md)
- [Pagination (+2)](pagination/SKILL.md)
- [Integration with Codex](integration-with-Codex/SKILL.md)
- [.mcp.json for Team Sharing (+2)](mcpjson-for-team-sharing/SKILL.md)
- [Security Best Practices](security-best-practices/SKILL.md)Related Skills
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