Glossary · term107 of 202
MCP
Model Context Protocol, an open standard that lets an AI tool connect to external data sources and services through a shared connector format instead of a custom integration per service.
also written as mcp connector · mcp server · model context protocol
Related terms
.mcp.json routeThe CLI's file-based method for wiring up MCP servers by hand, contrasted with Claude Desktop's one-click Extensions install path.view termExtensions directoryA Claude Desktop settings screen listing Anthropic-reviewed connector tools that install with a single click, without editing any config file.view termMcp-Session-Id headerAn HTTP header MCP servers once used to track which open session a request belonged to, removed when the protocol dropped stateful sessions.view termSEP-2575The MCP specification enhancement proposal that made servers stateless by default, forbidding them from remembering anything a client sent in a prior request.view terminitialize handshakeThe one-time exchange at the start of an MCP connection where a client and server negotiated protocol version and capabilities before any tool calls happened.view termtool callingA model capability where the AI can invoke external functions or APIs mid-response to fetch data or take an action, rather than only generating text.view termtools/callThe MCP request type a client sends to invoke a specific tool on a server, the basic unit of work the protocol's wire-cost math is measured against.view term
At a glance
- cited by
- 13 posts
- categories
- 4
- first used
- apr 2026
Starter Usage Tips for Claude CLI and Claude DesktopEleven starter usages for Claude CLI and Claude Desktop, from Plan mode and CLAUDE.md to Projects and MCP connectors, picked for your first real session.
Every Stateless MCP Server Rebuilds State SomewhereA stateless MCP server never deletes its state, it just relocates it. The measured wire cost, the three places it lands, and how to pick one of them on purpose.
Token-Compression Skills Do Not Survive MeasurementToken compression skills report savings the invoice never shows. Cache reads carry 87 percent of an agent bill, and cutting tokens can push the cost up.
WebMCP Has 20× the Interest and Zero DeploymentsWebMCP adoption is zero across 111,076 scanned domains while search interest holds near 20 times its January level. Here is what to ship now, and what to watch.
7 Free Ways to Stop ChatGPT From Eating Your CPU, RAM, and DiskFix ChatGPT performance without spending a cent: diagnose high CPU, reduce RAM-heavy threads, stop disk churn, trim Git load, and disable unused MCP servers.
How to Write Claude Code Skills That Actually TriggerWrite Claude Code skills that actually trigger: fix the description-as-router, structure for progressive disclosure, and test in fresh sessions.
Cut MCP Round-Trip Overhead by Looping Inside the ToolMCP round-trip overhead can balloon a task from 2,000 to 150,000 tokens. Move the loop inside one MCP tool to collapse N calls into a single round-trip.
Host a Minecraft or ARK Server With Claude CodeSkip the $25/month managed hosts. Use Claude Code to self-host a Minecraft or ARK game server in 15 minutes with zero DevOps knowledge required.
Best MCP Servers Worth Installing (And 5 That Waste Your Context Window)The best MCP servers for Claude Code ranked by real context cost. 8 worth keeping, 5 that waste your context window, and the exact config I run daily.
Building an MCP Server From Scratch (The Parts Nobody Explains)Build an MCP server in TypeScript from zero. Covers the handshake, Streamable HTTP transport, OAuth 2.1 auth, error codes the SDK swallows, and production deployment patterns.
Every Claude Code Environment Variable That Actually MattersAll 40+ Claude Code environment variables grouped by what they do. API keys, Bedrock, Vertex, Foundry, CI/CD, and the billing gotcha nobody warns about.
How to Reduce AI Coding Tool Token Usage by 50%Reduce AI coding tool token usage by half with system prompt trimming, targeted reads, and model routing. Save $100+/month on Claude Code, Cursor, and Copilot.
15 Claude Code Tips That Actually Make a DifferenceMost Claude Code tip lists overwhelm with 50 items. These 15 are ranked by impact, from writing your first CLAUDE.md to running overnight Docker jobs.