MCP Boilerplate
A modern, lightning-fast starter template for building Model Context Protocol applications with Bun, enabling developers to create MCP servers with TypeScript support, validation, and environment configuration.
What is MCP Boilerplate?
MCP Boilerplate is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to modern, lightning-fast starter template for building model context protocol applications with bun, enabling developers to create mcp servers with typescript support, validation, and environment config...
A modern, lightning-fast starter template for building Model Context Protocol applications with Bun, enabling developers to create MCP servers with TypeScript support, validation, and environment configuration.
This server falls under the Developer Tools category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- A modern, lightning-fast starter template for building Model
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
Manual Installation
npx mcp-boilerplateConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use MCP Boilerplate
MCP Boilerplate is a minimal, production-ready starter template for building Model Context Protocol servers with Node.js and TypeScript. It provides a working project scaffold with input validation using Zod, environment configuration, and a compiled output ready to wire into Claude Desktop or any other MCP client. Developers use it as a starting point to build custom MCP tools without spending time on boilerplate — clone, add your tools, and ship.
Prerequisites
- Node.js 18.x or later
- npm or yarn package manager
- TypeScript knowledge (the template is TypeScript-first)
- An MCP client such as Claude Desktop to test the server
Clone the boilerplate repository
Clone the MCP Boilerplate repository to your local machine and navigate into it.
git clone https://github.com/jakreymyers/mcp-boilerplate.git
cd mcp-boilerplateInstall dependencies
Install all Node.js dependencies using npm.
npm installReview and extend the example tool
The boilerplate ships with a working calculator_add tool that demonstrates the MCP tool definition pattern with Zod validation. Open src/index.ts to study the pattern, then add your own tools following the same structure.
# The included example tool:
# calculator_add(a: number, b: number) -> string
# Open src/index.ts to add your custom toolsBuild the server
Compile the TypeScript source to JavaScript in the dist/ directory. Use watch mode during active development.
npm run build
# Or for development with auto-rebuild:
npm run watchConfigure your MCP client
Add the compiled server to your MCP client configuration. Use the absolute path to dist/index.js and set NODE_ENV to production.
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp-boilerplate": {
"command": "node",
"args": ["/absolute/path/to/mcp-boilerplate/dist/index.js"],
"env": {
"NODE_ENV": "production"
}
}
}
}Test your server
Restart the MCP client and ask it to use one of your custom tools. For the included example, ask it to add two numbers. Use 'npm run inspector' to debug tool calls interactively in the browser.
npm run inspectorMCP Boilerplate Examples
Client configuration
Claude Desktop configuration for the MCP Boilerplate server after building.
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp-boilerplate": {
"command": "node",
"args": ["/home/user/mcp-boilerplate/dist/index.js"],
"env": {
"NODE_ENV": "production"
}
}
}
}Prompts to try
Example prompts to test the included calculator tool and your custom extensions.
- "Add 42 and 58 using the calculator tool."
- "What tools are available in the mcp-boilerplate server?"
- "Add -17 and 34."
- "Calculate 1.5 + 2.7 and tell me the result."Troubleshooting MCP Boilerplate
Server does not appear in the MCP client after configuration
Verify that dist/index.js exists (run 'npm run build' if not). Ensure the path in the 'args' array is absolute, not relative. Fully restart the MCP client — for Claude Desktop, quit the app from the menu bar and relaunch it.
TypeScript compilation errors when adding new tools
Ensure your tool handler return type matches the MCP SDK expectation (CallToolResult). Run 'npx tsc --noEmit' to see type errors before building. Check that Zod schema types align with your implementation.
Tool validation errors at runtime
The boilerplate uses Zod for input validation. If arguments fail validation, the tool returns a descriptive error message. Check that the argument names and types in your tool call match exactly what the Zod schema declares.
Frequently Asked Questions about MCP Boilerplate
What is MCP Boilerplate?
MCP Boilerplate is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that modern, lightning-fast starter template for building model context protocol applications with bun, enabling developers to create mcp servers with typescript support, validation, and environment configuration. It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install MCP Boilerplate?
Follow the installation instructions on the MCP Boilerplate GitHub repository. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and add the server config to your AI client.
Which AI clients work with MCP Boilerplate?
MCP Boilerplate works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is MCP Boilerplate free to use?
Yes, MCP Boilerplate is open source and available under the MIT License license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
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Browse More Developer Tools MCP Servers
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Set Up MCP Boilerplate in Your Editor
Choose your AI client for step-by-step setup instructions.
Quick Config Preview
Add this to your claude_desktop_config.json or .cursor/mcp.json
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