Model Context Protocol (MCP) Tutorial

What is MCP?

Model Context Protocol (MCP) is a standardized protocol that enables seamless communication between development environments (like Cursor) and AI models. It provides a structured way to share context and integrate AI capabilities into various tools and platforms.

Quick Start Guide

Prerequisites

Setting up MCP with Smithery

1. Install Smithery

npm install -g @cursor-ai/smithery

2. Create & Initialize MCP Server

mkdir my-mcp-server

cd my-mcp-server

smithery init

3. Configure Server
Edit smithery.config.js:

module.exports = {

  name: "my-mcp-server",

  version: "1.0.0",

  tools: [

    // Your tools configuration

  ]

};

4. Start Server

smithery start

Connecting to Cursor

1. Open Cursor IDE
2. Access Settings
3. Find "MCP Servers" section
4. Add new server:
- Name: Your server name
- URL: http://localhost:3000
- Add any required authentication

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

1. Red Server Status
- Verify server is running
- Check URL and port
- Validate authentication

2. No Tools Available
- Review tool configuration
- Restart MCP server
- Update Cursor

3. Connection Issues
- Check network connectivity
- Verify firewall settings
- Confirm port availability

Resources

- Cursor Documentation
- Smithery GitHub
- MCP Specification

Contributing

Contributions welcome! Feel free to:
- Report issues
- Submit pull requests
- Share your experiences

License

MIT License

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Last updated: April 2024