MCP Reference
This is the reference implementation for the mcp server
What is MCP Reference?
MCP Reference is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to this is the reference implementation for the mcp server
This is the reference implementation for the mcp server
This server falls under the Developer Tools category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- This is the reference implementation for the mcp server
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
Manual Installation
npx mcp-referenceConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use MCP Reference
The Commerce Operations Foundation (COF) MCP Reference Server implements the Order Network eXchange Standard (onX) as a standardized interface between AI agents and e-commerce fulfillment systems. It exposes 12 tools covering the full order lifecycle — creating, updating, cancelling, and fulfilling orders, managing returns, and querying customers, products, inventory, and fulfillments. A built-in mock adapter lets developers test AI commerce automation immediately without connecting a real fulfillment backend.
Prerequisites
- Node.js 18 or later and npm installed
- Git for cloning the repository
- An MCP client such as Claude Desktop
- A fulfillment backend adapter (the built-in mock adapter works for testing without any external system)
Clone the repository
Clone the COF MCP reference server repository. The server code lives in the server/ subdirectory.
git clone https://github.com/commerce-operations-foundation/mcp-reference-server.git && cd mcp-reference-server/serverInstall dependencies
Install the Node.js dependencies for the server.
npm installConfigure environment variables
Copy the example environment file and set your adapter type. Leave ADAPTER_NAME=mock to use the built-in mock adapter for development and testing.
cp .env.example .env
# ADAPTER_TYPE=built-in
# ADAPTER_NAME=mockBuild and start the server
Compile the TypeScript source and start the server. The server communicates over stdio.
npm run build && node dist/index.jsAdd to Claude Desktop configuration
Edit ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json to register the server. Use the absolute path to the compiled dist/index.js.
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp-reference": {
"command": "node",
"args": ["/absolute/path/to/mcp-reference-server/server/dist/index.js"],
"env": {
"ADAPTER_TYPE": "built-in",
"ADAPTER_NAME": "mock"
}
}
}
}Run the test suite
Verify the installation by running the unit and integration tests before connecting to a live fulfillment backend.
npm testMCP Reference Examples
Client configuration
Claude Desktop configuration using the mock adapter. Replace ADAPTER_NAME with your fulfillment vendor's adapter name when connecting to a real backend.
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp-reference": {
"command": "node",
"args": ["/Users/you/mcp-reference-server/server/dist/index.js"],
"env": {
"ADAPTER_TYPE": "built-in",
"ADAPTER_NAME": "mock"
}
}
}
}Prompts to try
Interact with the COF commerce tools to manage orders, inventory, and fulfillments through natural language.
- "Create a new sales order for customer C001 with 2 units of product SKU-42"
- "Get all open orders and show me which ones are overdue for fulfillment"
- "Cancel order ORD-789 with reason: customer request"
- "Check the current inventory level for product variant VAR-100"
- "Create a return for order ORD-500 — the customer received the wrong item"Troubleshooting MCP Reference
Server exits immediately after launch with no output
Ensure the .env file exists in the server/ directory and contains valid values. Run 'node dist/index.js' directly from your terminal to see startup errors that Claude Desktop may suppress. Check that the dist/ directory exists — run 'npm run build' if it is missing.
Tools return errors when using a custom fulfillment adapter
Set ADAPTER_TYPE to the correct type (built-in or package), ADAPTER_NAME or ADAPTER_PACKAGE to your adapter's identifier, and ADAPTER_PATH to its location. Consult the adapter-template directory in the repository to ensure your adapter implements all required interface methods.
Integration tests fail against a real backend
Run 'npm run test:unit' first to isolate whether the issue is in the server code or the adapter integration. Check that your fulfillment backend is reachable from the server's host and that any required credentials are set in the environment.
Frequently Asked Questions about MCP Reference
What is MCP Reference?
MCP Reference is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that this is the reference implementation for the mcp server It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install MCP Reference?
Follow the installation instructions on the MCP Reference GitHub repository. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and add the server config to your AI client.
Which AI clients work with MCP Reference?
MCP Reference works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is MCP Reference free to use?
Yes, MCP Reference is open source and available under the MIT license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
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