Homework

Objective

Install and configure 3 different MCP servers in Claude Desktop (or another MCP host).

Instructions

1. Choose 3 servers from the official MCP servers repository (e.g., filesystem, GitHub, fetch)
2. Add each server to your claude_desktop_config.json
3. Restart Claude Desktop and verify each server connects
4. For each server, demonstrate one successful tool call
5. Document the configuration and results in your notebook

Deliverable

A notebook with your config JSON, screenshots or logs of each server connecting, and one tool call per server.

Self-check: All 3 servers appear in Claude Desktop and respond to tool calls.

Objective

Design (but do not build yet) the schema for your own MCP server. You will build it in Lesson 13.

Instructions

1. Choose a domain you care about (e.g., a todo app, a recipe manager, a bookmark organiser)
2. Define 3–5 tools with names, descriptions, and JSON Schema input definitions
3. Define 1–2 resources with URI schemes and descriptions
4. Define 1 prompt template
5. Document your design in a structured format

{
  "tools": [
    {"name": "add_todo", "description": "Add a new todo item", "input_schema": {...}},
    {"name": "list_todos", "description": "List all todos", "input_schema": {...}}
  ],
  "resources": [
    {"uri": "todo://all", "description": "All todo items as JSON"}
  ],
  "prompts": [
    {"name": "plan_day", "description": "Plan tasks for today based on the todo list"}
  ]
}

Deliverable

A notebook with your full server design including tool schemas, resource URIs, and prompt template.

Self-check: Each tool has a complete JSON Schema for its input. Resources have clear URI schemes. The prompt includes argument definitions.

Objective

Write a clear explanation of the three MCP primitives, aimed at a developer who knows LLMs but has never heard of MCP.

Instructions

1. In 300–500 words, explain Tools, Resources, and Prompts
2. For each, include: what it is, who controls it (model / application / user), and a concrete example
3. Explain when you would choose one over another
4. Include a comparison table

Deliverable

A markdown cell in your notebook with the explanation, examples, and comparison table.

Self-check: A colleague unfamiliar with MCP could read your explanation and understand the distinction between the three primitives.