Topic
Model Context Protocol (MCP) Deep Dives
15 posts on model context protocol (mcp) deep dives — part of ai agents & automation on the n4n AI blog.
Where to find and publish MCP servers in 2026
A practical guide to discovering, evaluating, and publishing MCP servers in 2026, including the best mcp server directory options and pitfalls to avoid.
MCP vs OpenAI's Assistants API: two tool-calling models
Head-to-head comparison of mcp vs assistants api for engineers: capabilities, cost, latency, ergonomics, ecosystem, limits, and which to use.
MCP resources vs tools vs prompts: the three primitives
Defends MCP resources, tools, and prompts—the three core mcp primitives—with examples and misconceptions for engineers building LLM agents.
MCP clients explained: Claude Desktop, Cursor, and Cline
MCP clients are the components in AI hosts like Claude Desktop and Cursor that connect to Model Context Protocol servers. Learn how they work.
MCP authentication: OAuth 2.1 and the 2026 spec update
MCP authentication OAuth 2.1 is now mandatory in the 2026 Model Context Protocol spec. This guide walks through implementation, pitfalls, and migration.
MCP adoption in 2026: who's building servers now
Analysis of MCP adoption 2026: who is building Model Context Protocol servers, why infrastructure teams lead, and the tradeoffs for engineers.
Local MCP servers vs remote MCP over HTTP
A head-to-head comparison of local vs remote mcp server deployment across capabilities, cost, latency, ergonomics, and ecosystem, with a verdict for each use case.
How to build an MCP server in TypeScript
Step-by-step tutorial to build MCP server TypeScript from scratch: set up SDK, define tools, handle requests, and run a compliant Model Context Protocol server.
Debugging MCP servers: common errors and fixes
Practical guide to debugging MCP servers: fix transport, JSON-RPC, capability, and tool schema errors with reproducible steps and code.
Connecting Claude to Postgres with an MCP server
Hands-on step-by-step guide to deploying an mcp server postgres bridge so Claude can run parameterized SQL against your database with full verification.
What is the Model Context Protocol? MCP explained
MCP is an open protocol standardizing how apps supply context, tools, and prompts to LLMs via client-server JSON-RPC. Learn architecture, examples, and myths.
MCP vs function calling: what's actually different
Engineer-focused head-to-head of MCP vs function calling across capabilities, cost, latency, ergonomics, ecosystem, limits, with a use-case verdict.
MCP security risks: prompt injection through tool results
Tool results in MCP introduce prompt injection vectors that bypass guardrails. This analysis breaks down the risks and concrete mitigations for engineers.
How to build an MCP server in Python
Step-by-step tutorial to build an MCP server in Python using the official SDK: define tools, resources, and prompts, then test with the inspector.
Building an MCP server for your internal REST API
Hands-on tutorial: build an mcp server rest api wrapper using the Model Context Protocol Python SDK, with a mock internal API, runnable code, and client tests.
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