MCP (Model Context Protocol) is a standard created by Anthropic that lets AI tools connect to and act on external services like databases, Notion, and GitHub. Instead of copy-pasting between AI and tools, MCP lets the AI execute queries, read documents, and create outputs autonomously. The post explains the three capability types (tools, resources, prompts), the difference between remote and local MCP servers, security considerations, and how to configure servers via Claude's directory or JSON config. A practical demo shows querying 50M+ HackerNews posts via MotherDuck MCP and automatically generating a Notion report in a single prompt.
Table of contents
What is MCP?The Protocol: Tools, Resources, PromptsRemote vs Local MCP ServersHow to set up MCP serversThe Magic demo with two MCPsGetting StartedSort: