MCP Server Builder
anthropics/skills
Guides the design and implementation of Model Context Protocol servers in TypeScript or Python, from tool naming and error messages to evaluation.
Build MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers that enable LLMs to interact with external services.
Install MCP Builder
$ npx skills add RedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop --skill mcp-builder -a claude-codeProject install by default; add -g for ~/.claude/skills/.
$ gh skill install RedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop mcp-builder --agent claude-codeProject scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/RedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop.git skills-src && mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/claude-code/mcp-builder .claude/skills/mcp-builder && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.claude/skills/ instead of .claude/skills for a personal install. The folder must contain SKILL.md.
Claude Code skills documentation · loads skills from .claude/skills/
Install the "mcp-builder" agent skill from https://github.com/RedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop/tree/main/skills/claude-code/mcp-builder into .claude/skills/mcp-builder/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "mcp-builder", then confirm the skill loads.Claude Code copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$skill-installer install https://github.com/RedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop/tree/main/skills/claude-code/mcp-builderType this inside Codex. $skill-installer <name> installs a curated skill from openai/skills. The installer writes to $CODEX_HOME/skills (default ~/.codex/skills). Restart Codex if the skill does not show up.
$ npx skills add RedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop --skill mcp-builder -a codexProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.codex/skills/.
$ gh skill install RedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop mcp-builder --agent codexProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/RedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop.git skills-src && mkdir -p .agents/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/claude-code/mcp-builder .agents/skills/mcp-builder && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.agents/skills/ instead of .agents/skills for a personal install.
Codex skills documentation · loads skills from .agents/skills/
Install the "mcp-builder" agent skill from https://github.com/RedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop/tree/main/skills/claude-code/mcp-builder into .agents/skills/mcp-builder/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "mcp-builder", then confirm the skill loads.Codex copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ npx skills add RedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop --skill mcp-builder -a cursorProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.cursor/skills/.
$ gh skill install RedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop mcp-builder --agent cursorProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/RedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop.git skills-src && mkdir -p .cursor/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/claude-code/mcp-builder .cursor/skills/mcp-builder && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.cursor/skills/ instead of .cursor/skills for a personal install.
Cursor skills documentation · loads skills from .cursor/skills/, .agents/skills/, .claude/skills/, .codex/skills/
Install the "mcp-builder" agent skill from https://github.com/RedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop/tree/main/skills/claude-code/mcp-builder into .cursor/skills/mcp-builder/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "mcp-builder", then confirm the skill loads.Cursor copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ gemini skills install https://github.com/RedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop.git --path skills/claude-code/mcp-builder--scope user (default) or --scope workspace; --path is the subfolder of the repo that holds the skill; --consent skips the security confirmation prompt.
$ npx skills add RedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop --skill mcp-builder -a gemini-cliProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.gemini/skills/.
$ gh skill install RedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop mcp-builder --agent gemini-cliProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/RedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop.git skills-src && mkdir -p .gemini/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/claude-code/mcp-builder .gemini/skills/mcp-builder && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.gemini/skills/ instead of .gemini/skills for a personal install, then run /skills reload.
Gemini CLI skills documentation · loads skills from .gemini/skills/, .agents/skills/
Install the "mcp-builder" agent skill from https://github.com/RedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop/tree/main/skills/claude-code/mcp-builder into .gemini/skills/mcp-builder/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "mcp-builder", then confirm the skill loads.Gemini CLI copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ gh skill install RedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop mcp-builderInstalls for Copilot at project scope by default; add --scope user for a personal install. Preview a skill first with gh skill preview. Needs GitHub CLI 2.90.0 or later (public preview).
$ npx skills add RedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop --skill mcp-builder -a github-copilotProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.copilot/skills/.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/RedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop.git skills-src && mkdir -p .github/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/claude-code/mcp-builder .github/skills/mcp-builder && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.copilot/skills/ instead of .github/skills for a personal install. Commit .github/skills so cloud agent and code review can use it.
GitHub Copilot skills documentation · loads skills from .github/skills/, .claude/skills/, .agents/skills/
Install the "mcp-builder" agent skill from https://github.com/RedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop/tree/main/skills/claude-code/mcp-builder into .github/skills/mcp-builder/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "mcp-builder", then confirm the skill loads.GitHub Copilot copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
$ npx skills add RedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop --skill mcp-builder -a opencodeOpenCode documents no install command of its own. Project install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.config/opencode/skills/.
$ gh skill install RedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop mcp-builder --agent opencodeProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/RedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop.git skills-src && mkdir -p .opencode/skills && cp -r skills-src/skills/claude-code/mcp-builder .opencode/skills/mcp-builder && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.config/opencode/skills/ instead of .opencode/skills for a personal install.
OpenCode skills documentation · loads skills from .opencode/skills/, .claude/skills/, .agents/skills/
Install the "mcp-builder" agent skill from https://github.com/RedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop/tree/main/skills/claude-code/mcp-builder into .opencode/skills/mcp-builder/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "mcp-builder", then confirm the skill loads.OpenCode copies the folder itself, the same result as the manual copy. Check what it changed before you commit it.
Facts
- Skill name
mcp-builder- GitHub stars
- 177
- Token cost
- ~1.3k tokens
- SKILL.md length
- 340 words
- Files
- 1
- Skills in repo
- 62
- Repo updated
- First seen
- Licence
- None found
At a glance
Build MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers that enable LLMs to interact with external services.
- Works in 7 steps: Define the Tools → Choose Python or TypeScript → Implement the Server → …
- Tasks that involve MCP servers
- SKILL.md covers What is MCP?, Python Server (FastMCP), TypeScript Server and Workflow for Building an MCP…, plus 1 more section
- Calls python, npm and pip; needs API_KEY
What it does
MCP Builder is an agent skill from RedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop. Build MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers that enable LLMs to interact with external services.
Its SKILL.md is about 1.3k tokens, which your agent loads only when the skill is triggered. It is a single SKILL.md file with no bundled scripts.
It sits in Agent Workflows, covering MCP servers. It works with Model Context Protocol, Python and TypeScript.
When your agent uses it
- Tasks that involve MCP servers
Example prompts
- “/mcp-builder”
Requirements
- Python 3
- Node.js
- A credential in API_KEY
Workflow steps
7 steps, taken from the step headings in SKILL.md.
- Define the Tools
- Choose Python or TypeScript
- Implement the Server
- Handle Authentication
- Add Resources (Optional)
- Test
- Configure for Use
What it can do on your machine
Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit be46b39. It shows what the files ask for, not the result of running them.
Tool permissions
Pre-approves nothing: there is no allowed-tools line, so your agent's usual permission prompts apply.
From allowed-tools in the SKILL.md frontmatter.
Runs code
Shell commands in SKILL.md call:
pythonnpmpipnpx
From the folder's file list and the shell code blocks in SKILL.md.
Network
No URLs in SKILL.md. Its commands use npm, pip and npx, which can reach the network depending on how they are called.
From URLs in SKILL.md, links to its own repository left out.
Credentials
Names these keys or tokens, usually read from environment variables:
API_KEY
From names ending in _API_KEY, _TOKEN, _SECRET, _KEY or _PASSWORD in SKILL.md.
Context cost
MCP Builder loads about 1.3k tokens when it runs. Until then it costs about 27 tokens; SKILL.md has 340 words of instructions outside code blocks.
Estimates: characters ÷ 4, the usual rule of thumb; real counts depend on the model's tokenizer. Scripts and assets cost tokens only if the agent reads them.
Safety
Auto-check passed
The automated check found no risky patterns in SKILL.md.
Automated static check — not a guarantee. Review scripts before installing. It scans the text of SKILL.md for risky patterns (piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files, hidden Unicode, destructive commands); files beside SKILL.md are not scanned.
SKILL.md
Without a licence we can't republish the file, so here is its outline and opening line. It has 340 words (~1,267 tokens).
“You are an expert at building MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers. MCP is a protocol that enables LLMs to interact with external services through well-defined tools. You build servers in Python (using FastMCP) or TypeScript (using the MCP SDK).”
- name
- mcp-builder
- tools
- bash, read_file, write_file, edit_file, glob, grep, web_search
Files
Just SKILL.md in skills/claude-code/mcp-builder of RedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop.
Open the folder on GitHubat commit be46b39
Compare with similar skills
MCP Builder next to the 5 skills that share the most tags, products or categories with it. Stars are the repository's; “used in” counts other GitHub owners with a copy.
| Skill | Stars | Used in | Tokens | Auto-check | Licence | Repo updated |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MCP Builder this skillRedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop | 177 | — | ~1.3k | Automated safety check: Pass | None | |
| MCP Server Builderanthropics/skills | 180k | 63 repos | ~2.3k | Automated safety check: Pass | Apache-2.0 | |
| MCP Server BuildershareAI-lab/learn-claude-code | 78k | 4 repos | ~1.2k | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT | |
| Create MCP Serversglittercowboy/taches-cc-resources | 2k | — | ~1.5k | Automated safety check: Pass | MIT | |
| MCP BuilderLeastBit/Claude_skills_zh-CN | 590 | — | ~1.2k | Automated safety check: Pass | Apache-2.0 | |
| Build MCP Serverbobmatnyc/claude-mpm | 156 | — | ~2k | Automated safety check: Pass | Apache-2.0 |
Similar skills
- Official
MCP Server Builder
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Create MCP Servers
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Create Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers that expose tools, resources, and prompts to Claude.
MCP Builder
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构建高质量 MCP（模型上下文协议）服务器的指南，使 LLM 能够通过精心设计的工具与外部服务交互。在使用 Python (FastMCP) 或 Node/TypeScript (MCP SDK) 构建 MCP 服务器以集成外部 API 或服务时使用。
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Create high-quality MCP servers that enable LLMs to effectively interact with external services.
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Related
Works with
Categories
Questions about MCP Builder
What does MCP Builder do?
Build MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers that enable LLMs to interact with external services. MCP Builder is an agent skill from RedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop. Build MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers that enable LLMs to interact with external services.
When should I use MCP Builder?
MCP Builder fits situations like: tasks that involve MCP servers.
How do I install MCP Builder in Claude Code?
Run `npx skills add RedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop --skill mcp-builder -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (skills/claude-code/mcp-builder in RedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop) into .claude/skills/mcp-builder in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.
How do I install MCP Builder in Codex?
Run `npx skills add RedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop --skill mcp-builder -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (skills/claude-code/mcp-builder in RedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop) into .agents/skills/mcp-builder in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.
Can I use MCP Builder in Cursor, Gemini CLI or GitHub Copilot?
Cursor, Gemini CLI, GitHub Copilot and OpenCode also load SKILL.md folders. With the skills CLI, run `npx skills add RedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop --skill mcp-builder -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/mcp-builder, .gemini/skills/mcp-builder, .github/skills/mcp-builder and .opencode/skills/mcp-builder in your project.
What does MCP Builder need to run?
Going by SKILL.md and its folder, MCP Builder needs the command-line tools its instructions call (python, npm, pip and npx) and credentials named API_KEY. Our summary lists: Python 3; Node.js; A credential in API_KEY.
Does MCP Builder access the network?
SKILL.md contains no URLs. Its commands use npm, pip and npx, which can reach the network depending on how they are called. This is read from the text; nothing was executed.
Is MCP Builder safe to install?
Our automated static check of SKILL.md found no risky patterns, such as piping downloads into a shell, reading credential files or hidden Unicode. It is not a guarantee. Review the folder before installing.
What licence does MCP Builder use?
No licence was found for MCP Builder or its repository. Without one, default copyright applies: ask the author before reusing or redistributing it.
How many tokens does MCP Builder use?
About 1.3k tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 5.1k characters). Agents keep only the skill's name and description in context until a task matches; then they load SKILL.md in full.
What are the alternatives to MCP Builder?
Skills that share tags, products or a category with MCP Builder: MCP Server Builder (anthropics/skills, 180k stars), MCP Server Builder (shareAI-lab/learn-claude-code, 78k stars), Create MCP Servers (glittercowboy/taches-cc-resources, 2k stars) and MCP Builder (LeastBit/Claude_skills_zh-CN, 590 stars). The comparison table on this page puts their stars, adoption, token cost, safety result and licence side by side.
Who maintains MCP Builder?
RedWoodOG (a GitHub user) maintains it in RedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop, which has 177 GitHub stars. The repository holds 62 skills in this directory. The repository was last updated on May 30, 2026.
Source: RedWoodOG/Hermes-Desktop on GitHub. Facts on this page come from the repository at the commit we read; the author's words are quoted as theirs.