data-api-builder-mcp

name	data-api-builder-mcp
description	Enable and secure Data API Builder MCP endpoints so AI agents can query databases through DAB tools. Use when asked to set up /mcp, client config, or MCP tool restrictions.
license	MIT

Data API Builder MCP

This skill configures MCP access through DAB (v1.7+). MCP is part of DAB, not a separate server product.

Included script template

• write-vscode-mcp.ps1 — creates/updates .vscode/mcp.json with a DAB MCP server entry.

When to use

• Enable /mcp endpoint
• Configure MCP client access (for example .vscode/mcp.json)
• Restrict agent write/delete capabilities
• Deploy MCP-capable DAB locally

Fast setup

1. Install/upgrade DAB prerelease (1.7+)
2. Ensure runtime.mcp.enabled: true
3. Add entities + permissions
4. Validate and start
5. Connect MCP client to /mcp

dotnet tool update microsoft.dataapibuilder --prerelease
dab validate && dab start

Minimal MCP runtime block

"runtime": {
  "mcp": {
    "enabled": true,
    "path": "/mcp"
  }
}

Client config example (VS Code)

{
  "servers": {
    "my-database": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "http://localhost:5000/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Security model

MCP operations still use DAB RBAC and entity abstraction.

• Table/view operations: create, read, update, delete
• Stored procedure operations: execute
• Restrict globally or per-entity with mcp.dml-tools

Example: disable delete globally:

dab configure --runtime.mcp.dml-tools.delete-record false

Troubleshooting (syntax gotchas)

Wrong endpoint path

# WRONG
http://localhost:5000/api

# CORRECT
http://localhost:5000/mcp

Wrong client transport assumptions

Use MCP over HTTP with an MCP URL (not GraphQL/REST URLs):

{
  "servers": {
    "my-database": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "http://localhost:5000/mcp"
    }
  }
}

Stored procedure permission mismatch

# WRONG
dab add GetReport --source dbo.usp_GetReport --source.type stored-procedure --permissions "anonymous:read"

# CORRECT
dab add GetReport --source dbo.usp_GetReport --source.type stored-procedure --permissions "anonymous:execute"

DML tool key names are hyphenated

# CORRECT
dab configure --runtime.mcp.dml-tools.delete-record false

Description quality for AI

Add meaningful descriptions to entities/fields so agents reason better.

dab update Products --description "Product catalog with price and inventory"

Deployment notes

• Local: Docker/Aspire + http://localhost:5000/mcp

Completion checks

• /mcp endpoint reachable
• describe_entities returns expected entities
• Role restrictions behave as intended
• Unwanted write/delete tools are disabled where required

References

• https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/data-api-builder/mcp/overview
• https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/data-api-builder/mcp/data-manipulation-language-tools
• https://learn.microsoft.com/azure/data-api-builder/mcp/quickstart-visual-studio-code