Get to grips with the Model Context Protocol (MCP) and learn how to build scalable, intelligent web applications with AI-ready architecture in Python and TypeScript
Key Features
The only resource you'll need to build, test and deploy MCP servers and clients Take a modern approach towards building, testing and securing distributed agentic AI apps Clear, professional guidance on developing for both LLM and non-LLM clients Purchase of the print or Kindle book includes a free PDF eBook
Book DescriptionModel Context Protocol for Beginners introduces developers, architects, and AI practitioners to the transformative capabilities of MCP, an emerging protocol designed to standardize, distribute, and scale AI-driven applications. Through the lens of a practical project, the book tackles the modern challenges of resource management, client-server interaction, and deployment at scale. Drawing from Chris' expertise as a published author and tutor at the University of Oxford, youll start by mastering the components of MCP and how they streamline server and client development. Youll then progress from building robust backends and integrating LLMs into intelligent clients, to interacting with servers via tools such as Claude Desktop and Visual Studio Code Agents. You'll understand how to describe the capabilities of hosts, clients, and servers, facilitating better interoperability, easier integration, and clearer communication between different components. The book goes also covers security best practices and building for the cloud, ensuring that you're ready to deploy your MCP-based apps. Each chapter builds hands-on skills for building and operating MCP-based agentic apps. The Python primer at the end rounds out the practical toolkit, making this book essential for any team building AI-native applications today.What you will learn
Understand the MCP protocol and its core components Build MCP servers that expose tools and resources to a variety of clients Test and debug servers using the interactive inspector tools Develop for both LLM and non-LLM clients Consume servers using Claude Desktop and Visual Studio Code Agents Secure MCP apps, manage and mitigate common threats Build and deploy MCP apps using cloud-based strategies
Who this book is forThis book is ideal for web developers, software architects, AI practitioners, and tech leads looking to build scalable AI-integrated applications using MCP. Product managers overseeing AI initiatives will also find this book valuable. A basic understanding of web development and AI concepts is needed to make the most of this book.
