mcp-server-plus
Introduction
mcp-server-plus is an MCP Server Toolkit — a small TypeScript framework for building Model Context Protocol servers without repeating boilerplate.
Package name note:
mcp-server-toolkitwas already taken on npm, so this ships asmcp-server-plus.
Why this package exists
Developers starting MCP servers repeatedly re-implement tool registration, prompts, resources, auth, logging, and tests. Popular libraries like Express and Hono succeed because they make the happy path obvious. mcp-server-plus aims for that same DX on top of the official @modelcontextprotocol/sdk.
Installation
npm install mcp-server-plus zod
Requires Node.js 18+.
Features
- Tool registration
- Prompt registry
- Resources
- Authentication / authorization
- Logging
- Metrics
- Streaming (via MCP stdio transport)
- Middleware
- CLI scaffolder
- Testing helpers
Quick Start
import { z } from "zod";
import { createServer, toolResult } from "mcp-server-plus";
const weatherTool = {
description: "Get weather",
inputSchema: { city: z.string() },
async handler({ city }: { city: string }) {
return toolResult(`Weather in ${city}: sunny`);
},
};
const server = createServer({
name: "demo",
version: "1.0.0",
});
server.tool("weather", weatherTool);
await server.start(); // stdio
CLI
npx mcp-server-plus init my-weather-server
cd my-weather-server
npm install
npm start
API Reference
createServer(options) / createMcpServer(options)
Creates an McpKitServer.
| Option | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|
name |
string |
Server name |
version |
string |
Server version |
instructions |
string? |
Optional MCP instructions |
auth |
AuthOptions? |
API key / custom auth |
middleware |
Middleware[]? |
Global middleware |
logger |
Logger? |
Custom logger |
server.tool(name, definition)
Registers a tool (also wired into the MCP SDK).
server.prompt(name, definition)
Registers a prompt template.
server.resource(uri, definition)
Registers a resource.
server.use(middleware)
Adds middleware around tool calls.
server.start()
Connects an MCP stdio transport (streaming handled by the SDK).
server.invokeTool(name, args, meta?)
In-process invocation for tests/scripts.
Testing helpers
import { callTool, expectText } from "mcp-server-plus/testing";
Examples
server.tool("weather", weatherTool);
server.prompt("greet", {
description: "Greeting",
arguments: [{ name: "name", required: true }],
handler: async ({ name }) => ({
messages: [
{ role: "user", content: { type: "text", text: `Hello ${name}` } },
],
}),
});
server.resource("memo://hello", {
mimeType: "text/plain",
handler: async (uri) => ({
contents: [{ uri: uri.href, text: "Hello", mimeType: "text/plain" }],
}),
});
Advanced Examples
Auth + RBAC
const server = createServer({
name: "secure",
version: "1.0.0",
auth: { apiKey: process.env.MCP_API_KEY, required: true },
});
server.tool("deploy", {
roles: ["admin"],
scopes: ["deploy"],
handler: async () => toolResult("deployed"),
});
Middleware + metrics
server.use(async (ctx, next) => {
const started = Date.now();
try {
return await next();
} finally {
ctx.log.info("tool timing", ctx.toolName, Date.now() - started);
}
});
console.log(server.metricsSnapshot());
Framework Integration
Works with Cursor, Claude Desktop, and any MCP host that supports stdio servers. Point the host at your node dist/index.js (or npm start) process.
Example MCP host config:
{
"mcpServers": {
"demo": {
"command": "node",
"args": ["/path/to/server/src/index.js"]
}
}
}
TypeScript Usage
First-class TypeScript. Tool args are inferred from Zod inputSchema when you type the handler explicitly. Enable strict for best results.
Error Handling
Typed errors: McpKitError, AuthError, ForbiddenError. Tool failures return { isError: true, content: [...] } so hosts can display them safely.
Performance
- Thin wrapper over the official SDK (no extra network hops)
- Middleware only on tool invocations
- Metrics use simple counters (low overhead)
Best Practices
- Keep tools small and side-effect aware
- Validate inputs with Zod schemas
- Use
optionalauth for local/dev,requiredfor shared hosts - Prefer
invokeToolin unit tests; use stdio for integration
FAQ
Is this an official SDK? No — it builds on @modelcontextprotocol/sdk with nicer DX.
Does it support streaming? Yes via the MCP stdio transport used by server.start().
CJS or ESM? Dual published; ESM-first.
Migration Guide
From raw SDK McpServer
Replace registerTool boilerplate with server.tool(name, definition) and keep Zod schemas. Call server.start() instead of manually wiring StdioServerTransport.
SemVer
Breaking changes land in major versions and are documented in CHANGELOG.md.
Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Fix |
|---|---|
| Host can’t start server | Ensure start() is called and stdout isn’t polluted with logs |
| Unauthorized tool calls | Pass meta.apiKey / configure host env MCP_API_KEY |
| Types missing | Import from mcp-server-plus and use Node 18+ |
Contributing
See CONTRIBUTING.md.
License
MIT