Guide · Agent skill

How to use the MCP Server Builder agent skill (mcp-builder)

Updated 2026-10-29 · written with AI from the project's own documentation and checked against our catalogue data

The mcp-builder skill is a set of documentation and code examples that teaches an AI agent how to plan and write Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers using the mcp-use framework in TypeScript. MCP is a standard that lets AI assistants call tools and read data from external programs. This guide explains what the skill does, how to install it, how to ask for help with natural requests, and what to watch for. Note first: SKILL.md marks this skill as deprecated and points to mcp-app-builder as its replacement.

MCP Server BuilderShubhamsaboo/awesome-llm-apps · Apache-2.0 Download the skill

Quick start

1Read the deprecation notice. Check SKILL.md first, since it says this skill is replaced by mcp-app-builder.
2Download and unzip. Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it to get the mcp-builder folder.
3Place the folder. Put it in ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or in your project's .claude/skills/ folder.
4Or upload it in the Claude apps. Go to Settings → Capabilities → Skills and upload the ZIP.
5Install the replacement if needed. If mcp-app-builder is missing, install it with npx skills install mcp-use/mcp-use --skill mcp-app-builder.
6Ask in plain language. Describe the MCP server you want and mention mcp-use and TypeScript.
7Review and run the code yourself. Check the generated code, then run it in your own Node.js and npm project.

What does the mcp-builder skill make the agent do?

Once installed, the agent knows how to break a request into MCP building blocks: tools (backend actions the model can call), widget tools (tools that return visual UI), resources (read-only data) and prompts (reusable message templates). The skill's reference guides cover designing tools versus visual widgets, writing server code, formatting responses with mcp-use helpers, and defining parameterized resources with URI templates.

Plan what to build and decide what needs a UI versus plain text
Write server-side tool, resource and prompt code with mcp-use
Format return values with response helpers such as text(), object() and markdown()
Define parameterized resources using URI template patterns

Install the mcp-builder skill

Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it. For a personal install, place the folder in ~/.claude/skills/. For a single project, place it in that project's .claude/skills/ folder. Alternatively, in the Claude apps, go to Settings → Capabilities → Skills and upload the ZIP there.

Because this skill is deprecated, SKILL.md also tells the agent to check whether mcp-app-builder is available and, if not, install it with the npx skills CLI. Use that replacement for new work.

npx skills install mcp-use/mcp-use --skill mcp-app-builder

Trigger the skill with natural requests

You do not need a special command. The skill's description says it is used when creating MCP servers, defining tools, resources or prompts, working with mcp-use, bootstrapping MCP projects, or when you mention MCP development. Describe what you want in plain language and name mcp-use if you are using that framework.

Create an MCP server in TypeScript with mcp-use that exposes a todo list with add, list, complete and delete tools
Add a parameterized resource that returns a user profile by ID
Write a prompt that asks the model to draft a summary on a given topic
Plan which parts of a weather app should be tools and which should be visual widgets

Example of the code pattern the skill follows

The Quick Reference in SKILL.md shows the basic shape of an mcp-use server: import MCPServer and response helpers from mcp-use/server, define a schema with zod, register tools, resources and prompts, then call listen(). The snippet below is copied from the skill and shows one tool, one resource and one prompt.

Install requirements for this pattern: Node.js and npm, the mcp-use package, and zod for schema validation (inferred from the TypeScript and npx examples)

import { MCPServer, text, object } from "mcp-use/server";
import { z } from "zod";

const server = new MCPServer({ name: "my-server", version: "1.0.0" });

server.tool({ name: "my-tool", description: "...", schema: z.object({ param: z.string().describe("...") }) }, async ({ param }) => text("result"));

server.resource({ uri: "config://settings", name: "Settings", mimeType: "application/json" }, async () => object({ key: "value" }));

server.listen();

Safety notes: scripts and network access

The skill does not run scripts and does not use the network, according to its metadata. The files it provides are documentation and examples, not executable scripts. It will not write or run the server for you by itself: the agent produces code and you still need to run your own project.

Review any code the agent writes before you execute it, and check the Apache-2.0 licence in LICENSE.txt if you plan to reuse the material.

No scripts are included to run
No network use is stated for this skill
The npx command in SKILL.md installs a different skill, so review it before running

Tips for better results

The skill's design guide asks the agent to stick to what you asked for rather than inventing extra features, so state the core actions you need. The evals folder documents a manual test format: each file is a JSON array of queries with an expected_behavior, which you can use to check the agent's output yourself.

List the exact tools and resources you want before asking for code
Say whether each feature needs visual UI or plain text output
Use the evals/README.md format to test responses against expected behavior
Switch to mcp-app-builder for any new project

What people use it for

Planning a todo list MCP server with tools for add, list, complete and delete
Writing a parameterized resource such as user://{userId}/profile
Choosing response helpers like text(), object() or markdown() for tool output
Designing a weather app with separate tools for current conditions and forecasts
Creating a prompt template that takes a topic and returns a writing instruction

Frequently asked questions

How do I install the mcp-builder skill?

Download the ZIP from this page and unzip it into ~/.claude/skills/ for personal use or a project's .claude/skills/ folder. You can also upload the ZIP in the Claude apps under Settings → Capabilities → Skills. Because the skill is deprecated, install mcp-app-builder for new work.

Is mcp-builder deprecated?

Yes. SKILL.md states that this skill has been replaced by mcp-app-builder and tells the agent to use that instead. The skill is still usable as reference material, but the source recommends the replacement.

What do I need to use it?

The guidance targets TypeScript projects using the mcp-use framework, so you need Node.js and npm, the mcp-use package and zod for schema validation. The npx skills CLI is needed only to install the replacement skill.

Does mcp-builder run code or access the internet?

According to its metadata, the skill runs no scripts and uses no network. Its files are documentation and examples, not executable programs, so you run any server code yourself.

Is mcp-builder free?

The skill is distributed under the Apache License 2.0, as stated in LICENSE.txt. Check that file for the full terms before reuse or redistribution.

What should I use instead of mcp-builder?

Use mcp-app-builder, the replacement named in SKILL.md, which you can install with npx skills install mcp-use/mcp-use --skill mcp-app-builder. Pick this skill only if you specifically need its older reference guides for mcp-use.

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Our verdict

Use this skill if you are working in TypeScript with mcp-use and want its reference patterns for tools, resources, prompts and response helpers. Pick something else for new projects, since SKILL.md says to switch to mcp-app-builder, and skip it if your project does not use MCP or mcp-use.

Download the skill