MCP Server Starter
An agent-ready TypeScript template for building Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers with standardized discovery flows and permission-aware tools. It provides pre-configured core and operable profiles to help developers quickly implement, test, and d
What is MCP Server Starter?
MCP Server Starter is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to agent-ready typescript template for building model context protocol (mcp) servers with standardized discovery flows and permission-aware tools. it provides pre-configured core and operable profiles to...
An agent-ready TypeScript template for building Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers with standardized discovery flows and permission-aware tools. It provides pre-configured core and operable profiles to help developers quickly implement, test, and d
This server falls under the Developer Tools category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- hello_tool
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
NPM
npx -y mcp-starterManual Installation
npx -y mcp-starterConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use MCP Server Starter
MCP Starter is an agent-ready TypeScript template for building Model Context Protocol servers that come pre-configured with standardized discovery flows, permission-aware tools, and support for both stdio and HTTP transports out of the box. It provides a clean scaffold with a hello_tool example, core and operable tool profiles, and CLI flags for switching transport modes without code changes. Developers who want to build and publish their own MCP servers can use this template to skip boilerplate and focus on implementing domain-specific tools.
Prerequisites
- Node.js 18 or later
- pnpm package manager (npm install -g pnpm)
- An MCP-compatible client such as Claude Desktop or Cursor for testing
- Basic TypeScript knowledge to extend the template with custom tools
Use the template or install via npx
Clone or fork the template repository to start a new MCP server project, or run it directly with npx for a quick test.
npx -y mcp-starterClone and install dependencies
For development, clone the repository and install dependencies with pnpm.
git clone https://github.com/instructa/mcp-starter.git my-mcp-server
cd my-mcp-server
pnpm installBuild the project
Compile the TypeScript source to the dist/bin directory.
pnpm buildRun the server in stdio mode
Start the MCP server using stdio transport, which is the default mode expected by Claude Desktop and Cursor.
node ./bin/cli.mjs --stdioConfigure your MCP client
Add the server to your Claude Desktop configuration to test the template tools including the built-in hello_tool.
Add your own tools
Edit the source files in the src/ directory to add your domain-specific MCP tools following the patterns established by the hello_tool example.
MCP Server Starter Examples
Client configuration
Add this to claude_desktop_config.json to connect Claude Desktop to a locally built mcp-starter server.
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp-starter": {
"command": "node",
"args": ["/path/to/my-mcp-server/bin/cli.mjs", "--stdio"]
}
}
}Prompts to try
After connecting the starter server, try these prompts to verify the template tools are working.
- "What tools are available from the MCP server?"
- "Call the hello_tool and show me the result"
- "List all available tool profiles in this MCP server"
- "What is the server's discovery flow?"Troubleshooting MCP Server Starter
npx mcp-starter hangs or does not respond
The server expects to be driven by an MCP client over stdio. Running it directly in a terminal will appear to hang because it is waiting for MCP protocol messages. Configure it in your MCP client config instead of running it standalone.
Claude Desktop does not see the server tools
Ensure the path in args points to the built bin/cli.mjs file (after running pnpm build). If using a cloned repo, the build step must complete before the binary exists.
HTTP transport returns 404 or connection refused
When using --http mode, ensure you also pass --port with a valid port number (e.g., --port 4200) and that the port is not in use. The default port is 3000 for HTTP mode.
Frequently Asked Questions about MCP Server Starter
What is MCP Server Starter?
MCP Server Starter is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that agent-ready typescript template for building model context protocol (mcp) servers with standardized discovery flows and permission-aware tools. it provides pre-configured core and operable profiles to help developers quickly implement, test, and d It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install MCP Server Starter?
Install via npm with the command: npx -y mcp-starter. 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 MCP Server Starter?
MCP Server Starter works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is MCP Server Starter free to use?
Yes, MCP Server Starter 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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