MCP Integration
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is the "USB-C port" for AI. It lets Claude Code connect directly to your databases, APIs, GitHub repos, and external services — transforming it from a coding assistant into an integrated development partner.
Before You Start
Make sure you've completed Start Here first. Familiarity with the terminal and basic Claude Code usage is essential for MCP.
Why This Matters
Without MCP, Claude can only see what you paste into the conversation. With MCP, Claude can query your database, search the web, read Sentry errors, manage GitHub PRs, and take browser screenshots — all automatically from natural language.
What You'll Learn
MCP Fundamentals
How the protocol works, the three primitives, and configuration
Essential Servers
Top 10 MCP servers with install commands and real examples
Building Custom MCPs
Create your own servers in TypeScript or Python
Workflows & Troubleshooting
Real-world patterns, security, and debugging
Prerequisites
- Completed Start Here setup
- Node.js 18+ installed
- Comfortable running commands in Claude Code
Quick Start: Your First MCP Server
If you want to jump in immediately, install the Context7 server — it gives Claude access to up-to-date library documentation:
claude mcp add context7 -- npx -y @upstash/context7-mcp@latestThen ask Claude:
How do I set up server-side auth with Supabase in Next.js 15? use context7Claude fetches the latest docs and generates accurate, current code. No more hallucinated APIs.
Modules
- 1
MCP Fundamentals
Understand the protocol architecture, the three primitives (Tools, Resources, Prompts), and how to configure MCP in Claude Code.
You'll learn:
- Host-Client-Server architecture
- JSON-RPC protocol and transports
- Configuration scopes and formats
- Environment variable management
- 2
Essential MCP Servers
The top 10 MCP servers every developer should know — with exact install commands and real-world prompt examples.
You'll learn:
- GitHub, PostgreSQL, Playwright, Brave Search
- Sentry, Filesystem, Sequential Thinking
- Memory, Context7, Fetch, Slack
- Recommended starter stack
- 3
Building Custom MCP Servers
Create your own MCP servers in TypeScript or Python when existing servers don't cover your needs.
You'll learn:
- TypeScript SDK walkthrough
- Python FastMCP walkthrough
- Testing with MCP Inspector
- Advanced patterns (auth, caching, remote servers)
- 4
Workflows & Troubleshooting
Real-world MCP workflows, security best practices, and a comprehensive troubleshooting guide.
You'll learn:
- Database-driven development workflow
- Full-stack debugging with Sentry + GitHub
- Security checklist and threat landscape
- Common errors and fixes
MCP at a Glance
| MCP Server | What It Does | Quick Install |
|---|---|---|
| GitHub | PRs, issues, code search | claude mcp add --transport http github https://api.githubcopilot.com/mcp/ |
| PostgreSQL | Natural language DB queries | claude mcp add postgres -- npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-postgres |
| Playwright | Browser automation & screenshots | claude mcp add playwright -- npx @playwright/mcp@latest |
| Sentry | Error tracking & debugging | claude mcp add --transport http sentry https://mcp.sentry.dev/mcp |
| Context7 | Live library documentation | claude mcp add context7 -- npx -y @upstash/context7-mcp@latest |
Where to Start
Recommended Path
Start with MCP Fundamentals to understand how the protocol works. Then explore Essential Servers to find the right tools for your workflow. Move to Building Custom MCPs when existing servers don't cover your needs, and use Workflows & Troubleshooting as an ongoing reference.
Or jump to specific topics:
Build Intelligent Agents
MCP servers are the building blocks for powerful AI agents. Learn to build autonomous systems in the AI Agents track.
Modules
MCP Fundamentals
Understand the Model Context Protocol architecture, primitives, and configuration for Claude Code
Essential MCP Servers
The top 10 MCP servers for developers — with install commands, configurations, and real-world prompt examples
Building Custom MCP Servers
Create your own MCP servers in TypeScript or Python to connect Claude Code to any tool or data source
MCP Workflows & Troubleshooting
Real-world MCP workflows, security best practices, and a comprehensive troubleshooting guide