Introduction to MCP

Build MCP Servers and Clients That Give Claude Real-World Capabilities

Go from zero to a working CLI chatbot with tools, resources, and prompts — all built on the Python SDK.

You're a developer who knows Python and has worked with the Claude API. You want to build MCP servers and clients that give Claude access to external services — without writing mountains of integration code.

Start Module 1 — Free

What You'll Be Able To Do

Build an MCP server with tools that Claude can call autonomously
Define resources that inject data into prompts without tool calls
Create server-defined prompts that encode your domain expertise
Implement a client that connects to your MCP server and exposes all three primitives
Choose the right primitive — tools, resources, or prompts — for any use case

Course Structure

Module 1Free

Introduction

Understand what MCP is, why it exists, and how clients and servers communicate through standardised message types.

3 lessons

Module 2Premium

Hands-on with MCP servers

Set up your project, define tools with the Python SDK, and test them with the MCP Inspector.

4 lessons

Module 3Premium

Connecting with MCP clients

Build the client side: implement tool calls, read resources, and invoke server-defined prompts.

5 lessons

Module 4Premium

Assessment and wrap up

Test your knowledge and master the three-primitive decision framework for choosing tools, resources, or prompts.

2 lessons

Start the free module

Frequently Asked Questions

What do I need to know before taking this course?

You should be comfortable with Python and have experience making API calls to Claude. Familiarity with async/await and decorators is helpful but not required — the course explains MCP-specific patterns as you encounter them.

What will I build during the course?

A CLI-based chatbot that implements both an MCP client and an MCP server. You'll define tools (document read/edit), resources (document listing and fetching), and prompts (a /format command) — then test everything with the MCP Inspector and the CLI.

How is MCP different from tool use?

Tool use is how Claude calls functions you define. MCP is about who defines those functions. With MCP, someone else (often the service provider) has already built and tested the tools — you just connect to their MCP server instead of writing everything yourself.

How long does the course take?

Most developers complete the course in 2-3 hours, including hands-on exercises. The free module (Introduction) takes about 30 minutes.