| name | create-mcp-servers |
| description | Create Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers that expose tools, resources, and prompts to Claude. Use when building custom integrations, APIs, data sources, or any server that Claude should interact with via the MCP protocol. Supports both TypeScript and Python implementations. |
MCP servers extend Claude's capabilities by exposing tools, resources, and prompts. This skill guides creation of production-ready MCP servers with API integrations, OAuth authentication, response optimization, and proper installation in Claude Code and Claude Desktop.
<essential_principles>
<the_5_rules>
Every MCP server must follow these:
- Never Hardcode Secrets - Use
${VAR} expansion in configs, environment variables in code
- Use
cwd Property - Isolates dependencies (not --cwd in args)
- Always Absolute Paths -
which uv to find paths, never relative
- One Server Per Directory -
~/Developer/mcp/{server-name}/
- Use
uv for Python - Better than pip, handles venvs automatically
</the_5_rules>
<security_checklist>
- Never ask user to paste secrets into chat
- Always use environment variables for credentials
- Use ${VAR} expansion in configs
- Provide exact commands for user to run in terminal
- Verify environment variable existence without showing values
- Never hardcode API keys in code or configs
</security_checklist>
<architecture_decision>
Operation count determines architecture:
- 1-2 operations → Traditional pattern (flat tools)
- 3+ operations → On-demand discovery pattern (meta-tools)
Traditional: Each operation is a separate tool
On-demand: 4 meta-tools (discover, get_schema, execute, continue) + operations.json
</architecture_decision>
MCP servers expose:
- **Tools**: Functions Claude can call (API requests, file operations, calculations)
- **Resources**: Data Claude can read (files, database records, API responses)
- **Prompts**: Reusable prompt templates with arguments
Based on user intent, route to appropriate workflow: