Conformance
Conformance Tests for MCP
What is Conformance?
Conformance is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to conformance tests for mcp
Conformance Tests for MCP
This server falls under the Developer Tools category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- Conformance Tests for MCP
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
NPM
npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/conformanceManual Installation
npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/conformanceConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use Conformance
The MCP Conformance server is the official test framework published by the Model Context Protocol organization for validating that MCP client and server implementations correctly follow the MCP specification. It provides a command-line runner that executes scenario-based conformance checks covering protocol handshake, version negotiation, tool invocation, resource and prompt management, OAuth Dynamic Client Registration, and error handling — producing structured JSON pass/fail results for each check. MCP server authors and client developers use it to certify their implementations before publishing and to catch regressions during development.
Prerequisites
- Node.js 20+ installed on your system
- An MCP client or MCP server implementation you want to test
- For server testing: the server must be running and accessible at a URL endpoint
- For client testing: the MCP client command must be executable from the terminal
- Basic familiarity with the MCP specification (modelcontextprotocol.io)
List available test scenarios
Run the conformance tool with the list subcommand to see all available test scenarios before choosing which ones to run.
npx @modelcontextprotocol/conformance listRun conformance tests against an MCP client
Test your MCP client implementation by providing the command used to start it and the scenario to test. The framework acts as a server and drives the client through the scenario.
npx @modelcontextprotocol/conformance client --command "your-mcp-client-command" --scenario initializationRun conformance tests against an MCP server
Test your MCP server implementation by providing its URL. The framework acts as a client and validates server responses.
npx @modelcontextprotocol/conformance server --url http://localhost:3000Run with a specific protocol version
Pass the --spec-version flag to test against a particular MCP protocol version. The framework sets the MCP_CONFORMANCE_PROTOCOL_VERSION environment variable accordingly.
npx @modelcontextprotocol/conformance client --command "your-client" --scenario tool-invocation --spec-version 2025-03-26Integrate into CI/CD
Add conformance testing to your GitHub Actions workflow. The framework outputs JSON results suitable for automated pass/fail gating.
{
"mcpServers": {
"conformance": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/conformance"]
}
}
}Conformance Examples
Client configuration
Claude Desktop config for using the MCP conformance server as a testing utility.
{
"mcpServers": {
"conformance": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/conformance"]
}
}
}Prompts to try
Command-line invocations for common conformance testing scenarios.
- npx @modelcontextprotocol/conformance list
- npx @modelcontextprotocol/conformance client --command "node my-client.js" --scenario initialization
- npx @modelcontextprotocol/conformance server --url http://localhost:8080
- npx @modelcontextprotocol/conformance client --command "node my-client.js" --scenario tool-invocation --spec-version 2025-03-26
- npx @modelcontextprotocol/conformance server --url http://localhost:8080 --scenario oauthTroubleshooting Conformance
Client test scenario fails at the initialization step
Ensure your client implementation sends a valid 'initialize' request with a proper clientInfo structure and handles the server's capability response. The conformance test validates both the request format and that the client correctly processes the server's protocolVersion and capabilities fields.
Server test returns connection refused or timeout errors
Verify your MCP server is running and listening on the URL you provided before running the conformance tests. For HTTP servers, confirm the endpoint path is correct and no authentication middleware is blocking the conformance client's requests.
OAuth scenario tests fail with registration errors
The OAuth scenario tests Dynamic Client Registration per the MCP OAuth spec. Ensure your implementation supports the POST /register endpoint and correctly returns client_id and client_secret. Consult the MCP OAuth spec at modelcontextprotocol.io for the exact required fields.
Frequently Asked Questions about Conformance
What is Conformance?
Conformance is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that conformance tests for mcp It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install Conformance?
Install via npm with the command: npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/conformance. Then add the server configuration to your AI client's JSON config file (e.g., claude_desktop_config.json or .cursor/mcp.json).
Which AI clients work with Conformance?
Conformance works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is Conformance free to use?
Yes, Conformance is open source and available under the NOASSERTION license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
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Set Up Conformance in Your Editor
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Quick Config Preview
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