AI Tour 26
Minimal Python MCP server demo for AI Tour: tracks expenses in CSV, exposes them as a resource, and runs in VS Code with GitHub Copilot Chat; includes docs and presenter guides.
What is AI Tour 26?
AI Tour 26 is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to minimal python mcp server demo for ai tour: tracks expenses in csv, exposes them as a resource, and runs in vs code with github copilot chat; includes docs and presenter guides.
Minimal Python MCP server demo for AI Tour: tracks expenses in CSV, exposes them as a resource, and runs in VS Code with GitHub Copilot Chat; includes docs and presenter guides.
This server falls under the Developer Tools category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- Minimal Python MCP server demo for AI Tour: tracks expenses
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
Manual Installation
npx aitour26-ltg152-from-protocol-to-practice-build-and-use-your-firstConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use AI Tour 26
This Microsoft AI Tour demo repository provides a minimal, well-documented Python MCP server built with FastMCP that tracks personal expenses in a CSV ledger and exposes them as both a tool and a resource to AI clients. It serves as a hands-on learning project for developers attending or following along with the AI Tour LTG152 session, demonstrating how to build a functional MCP server from scratch, connect it to GitHub Copilot Chat in VS Code, and expose typed tools and resources to an AI agent. The repository includes presenter guides and session delivery resources making it equally useful for developers teaching others about MCP.
Prerequisites
- Python 3.12 or higher installed
- uv package manager installed (for dependency management)
- VS Code 1.99 or higher with GitHub Copilot extension and agent mode enabled
- Git for cloning the repository
Clone the repository
Clone the AI Tour MCP server demo repository from Microsoft's GitHub organization.
git clone https://github.com/microsoft/aitour26-LTG152-from-protocol-to-practice-build-and-use-your-first-mcp-server.git
cd aitour26-LTG152-from-protocol-to-practice-build-and-use-your-first-mcp-serverCreate a virtual environment with uv
Use uv to create a virtual environment and install the FastMCP dependency.
uv venv
source .venv/bin/activate # macOS/Linux
# .venv\Scripts\activate # Windows
uv pip install -r requirements.txtExplore the server structure
The server exposes two capabilities: an add_expense tool that writes to a CSV file, and a read_expenses resource that returns the CSV contents. Review main.py to understand the implementation.
Configure VS Code to use the MCP server
Create or update .vscode/mcp.json in your project to register the expense tracker MCP server for use with GitHub Copilot Chat.
{
"servers": {
"expense-tracker": {
"command": "python",
"args": ["main.py"],
"cwd": "${workspaceFolder}"
}
}
}Test with GitHub Copilot Chat
Open GitHub Copilot Chat in VS Code, switch to agent mode, and use the prompts below to interact with the expense tracker. The AI will invoke the tools and resources automatically.
AI Tour 26 Examples
Client configuration
Configure Claude Desktop to use the expense tracker MCP server locally via Python.
{
"mcpServers": {
"expense-tracker": {
"command": "python",
"args": ["main.py"],
"cwd": "/path/to/aitour26-LTG152-from-protocol-to-practice-build-and-use-your-first-mcp-server"
}
}
}Prompts to try
Use these prompts in GitHub Copilot Chat or Claude to interact with the expense tracker.
- "Add an expense of $45.00 for lunch at the conference"
- "Show me all my recorded expenses"
- "What is my total spending so far?"
- "Add a $120 hotel expense for tonight"
- "List all expenses from the CSV and calculate the total"Troubleshooting AI Tour 26
GitHub Copilot Chat does not show MCP tools or agent mode
Ensure VS Code 1.99+ is installed and the GitHub Copilot extension is updated. Enable agent mode in Copilot settings (set 'github.copilot.chat.agent.enabled': true). Open .vscode/mcp.json and verify the server config, then run 'MCP: List Servers' from the command palette.
FastMCP import error when starting the server
Activate the virtual environment ('source .venv/bin/activate') before running the server. Verify FastMCP is installed with 'uv pip list | grep fastmcp'. Re-run 'uv pip install -r requirements.txt' if it's missing.
Expenses CSV file not created or not found
The server creates the CSV file in its working directory. Ensure the cwd in your MCP config points to the correct project folder. Check that the Python process has write permissions to that directory.
Frequently Asked Questions about AI Tour 26
What is AI Tour 26?
AI Tour 26 is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that minimal python mcp server demo for ai tour: tracks expenses in csv, exposes them as a resource, and runs in vs code with github copilot chat; includes docs and presenter guides. It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install AI Tour 26?
Follow the installation instructions on the AI Tour 26 GitHub repository. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and add the server config to your AI client.
Which AI clients work with AI Tour 26?
AI Tour 26 works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is AI Tour 26 free to use?
Yes, AI Tour 26 is open source and available under the MIT license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
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Set Up AI Tour 26 in Your Editor
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Quick Config Preview
Add this to your claude_desktop_config.json or .cursor/mcp.json
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