version: "1.0.0" name: mcp-builder description: Design, build, configure, or debug Model Context Protocol servers for codesmith, including stdio and HTTP/SSE transports.

MCP Builder

Use this skill when the user asks to create, configure, or debug an MCP server or tool integration.

Design Rules

• Prefer stdio MCP servers for local tools and HTTP/SSE for remote services.
• Keep tool schemas small, typed, and explicit. Return structured JSON where

possible.

• Put secrets in environment variables, never in committed config.
• For HTTP/SSE clients, send Accept: application/json, text/event-stream by

default unless the server explicitly requires something else.

• Add timeouts and clear error messages around external APIs.

CodeSmith Setup

Common commands:

codesmith mcp init
codesmith mcp add my-server --command node --arg server.js
codesmith mcp add remote-server --url http://127.0.0.1:3000/mcp
codesmith mcp list
codesmith mcp validate
codesmith mcp tools

HTTP/SSE entries can include per-server headers in ~/.codesmith/mcp.json when credentials or custom routing headers are required.

Workflow

1. Define the service boundary and the minimum useful tools.
2. Choose transport and credential handling.
3. Implement the server using a maintained MCP SDK when available.
4. Add the server with codesmith mcp add or edit ~/.codesmith/mcp.json.
5. Run codesmith mcp validate, then codesmith mcp tools.
6. Test one happy path and one failure path before calling it done.