Building MCP Servers - part 2: Example Using Remote Services and Bndtools

In a previous post, I described how using dynamic remote tools could make building MCP Servers more flexible, more secure, and more scalable.  In this post, I show an example MCP Server that uses remote services and Bndtools to build.

To use/try this example yourself see Installing Bndtools with Remote Services Support below.

Create a Bndtools Workspace via File->New->Bndtools Workspace, and choose the ECF/bndtools.workspace template from this dialog

Choose Next->Finish

Choose File->New->Bnd OSGi Project to show this dialog

There are 4 project templates.  They should each be created in your workspace in turn:

1. MCP ArithmeticTools API Project  (example name: org.test.api)

2. MCP ArithmeticTools Impl Server Project (ArimethicTools RS Server) (example name: org.test.impl)

3. MCP ArithmeticTools Consumer Project (MCP Server Impl/ArithmeticTools Consumer) (example name: org.test.mcpserver)

4. MCP ArithmeticTools Test Client Project (MCP Client) (example name: org.test.mcpclient)

Note:  For the Impl/Consumer/Test Client project creations you will be prompted to provide the name of the project that you specified for the API Project (1)

Click Finish for each of the first 3 (server) projects.

If you wish to use your own MCP Client, and start the MCP Server (MCP ArithmeticTools Consumer Project) from your own MCP Client (stdio transport), see the Readme.md in the MCP ArithmeticTools Consumer project.

MCP ArithmeticTools Example Test Client

There is also a MCP Example Test Client Project template, implemented via the MCP Java SDK that makes a couple of test calls to the MCP Server/Arithmetic Tools Consumer server.

Note:  When creating the test client, the project template will as for you to specify the names of the API project (1) and the MCP Server/ArithmeticTools Consumer project (3).   For example:

Click Finish

You should have these four projects in the Bndtools Explorer

You can open source for any/all the projects, set breakpoints, etc.

Launching the ArithmeticTools Remote Service Impl server

The ArithmeticTools Impl server (2) must be launched first

To launch the ArithmeticTools Impl (2), see the Readme.md in that project

Launching MCP Client and MCP Server (with stdio transport)

The MCP Client (4) may then be launched, and it will launch the MCP Server (3) and use the MCP stdio transport.   The MCP Client (4) Readme.md more info on launch and expected output of the MCP Client.

You may examine or set breakpoints in the ArithmeticTools Impl Server (2) or the MCP Client (4) to examine the communication sequence for calling the ArithmeticTools.add or multiple tools.

Installing Bndtools with Remote Services Support

1. Install Bndtools 7.1 

2. Add ECF Latest Update site to Eclipse install with URL: https://download.eclipse.org/rt/ecf/latest/site.p2

3. Install Feature:  SDK for Bndtools 7.1+