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.
Connect a Strands agent to an MCP server in Python or TypeScript.
Install Add MCP Server
$ npx skills add strands-agents/harness-sdk --skill add-mcp-server -a claude-codeProject install by default; add -g for ~/.claude/skills/.
$ gh skill install strands-agents/harness-sdk add-mcp-server --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/strands-agents/harness-sdk.git skills-src && mkdir -p .claude/skills && cp -r skills-src/.agents/skills/strands/skills/add-mcp-server .claude/skills/add-mcp-server && 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 "add-mcp-server" agent skill from https://github.com/strands-agents/harness-sdk/tree/main/.agents/skills/strands/skills/add-mcp-server into .claude/skills/add-mcp-server/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "add-mcp-server", 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/strands-agents/harness-sdk/tree/main/.agents/skills/strands/skills/add-mcp-serverType 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 strands-agents/harness-sdk --skill add-mcp-server -a codexProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.codex/skills/.
$ gh skill install strands-agents/harness-sdk add-mcp-server --agent codexProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/strands-agents/harness-sdk.git skills-src && mkdir -p .agents/skills && cp -r skills-src/.agents/skills/strands/skills/add-mcp-server .agents/skills/add-mcp-server && rm -rf skills-srcUse ~/.agents/skills/ instead of .agents/skills for a personal install.
Codex skills documentation · loads skills from .agents/skills/
Install the "add-mcp-server" agent skill from https://github.com/strands-agents/harness-sdk/tree/main/.agents/skills/strands/skills/add-mcp-server into .agents/skills/add-mcp-server/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "add-mcp-server", 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 strands-agents/harness-sdk --skill add-mcp-server -a cursorProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.cursor/skills/.
$ gh skill install strands-agents/harness-sdk add-mcp-server --agent cursorProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/strands-agents/harness-sdk.git skills-src && mkdir -p .cursor/skills && cp -r skills-src/.agents/skills/strands/skills/add-mcp-server .cursor/skills/add-mcp-server && 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 "add-mcp-server" agent skill from https://github.com/strands-agents/harness-sdk/tree/main/.agents/skills/strands/skills/add-mcp-server into .cursor/skills/add-mcp-server/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "add-mcp-server", 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/strands-agents/harness-sdk.git --path .agents/skills/strands/skills/add-mcp-server--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 strands-agents/harness-sdk --skill add-mcp-server -a gemini-cliProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.gemini/skills/.
$ gh skill install strands-agents/harness-sdk add-mcp-server --agent gemini-cliProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/strands-agents/harness-sdk.git skills-src && mkdir -p .gemini/skills && cp -r skills-src/.agents/skills/strands/skills/add-mcp-server .gemini/skills/add-mcp-server && 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 "add-mcp-server" agent skill from https://github.com/strands-agents/harness-sdk/tree/main/.agents/skills/strands/skills/add-mcp-server into .gemini/skills/add-mcp-server/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "add-mcp-server", 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 strands-agents/harness-sdk add-mcp-serverInstalls 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 strands-agents/harness-sdk --skill add-mcp-server -a github-copilotProject install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.copilot/skills/.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/strands-agents/harness-sdk.git skills-src && mkdir -p .github/skills && cp -r skills-src/.agents/skills/strands/skills/add-mcp-server .github/skills/add-mcp-server && 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 "add-mcp-server" agent skill from https://github.com/strands-agents/harness-sdk/tree/main/.agents/skills/strands/skills/add-mcp-server into .github/skills/add-mcp-server/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "add-mcp-server", 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 strands-agents/harness-sdk --skill add-mcp-server -a opencodeOpenCode documents no install command of its own. Project install goes to .agents/skills/; add -g for ~/.config/opencode/skills/.
$ gh skill install strands-agents/harness-sdk add-mcp-server --agent opencodeProject scope by default (.agents/skills/); add --scope user for a personal install.
$ git clone --depth 1 https://github.com/strands-agents/harness-sdk.git skills-src && mkdir -p .opencode/skills && cp -r skills-src/.agents/skills/strands/skills/add-mcp-server .opencode/skills/add-mcp-server && 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 "add-mcp-server" agent skill from https://github.com/strands-agents/harness-sdk/tree/main/.agents/skills/strands/skills/add-mcp-server into .opencode/skills/add-mcp-server/ in this project. Copy the whole folder (SKILL.md and every file beside it), keep the folder name "add-mcp-server", 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
add-mcp-server- GitHub stars
- 8.7k
- Token cost
- ~195 tokens
- SKILL.md length
- 72 words
- Files
- 1
- Skills in repo
- 14
- Repo updated
- First seen
- Licence
- Apache-2.0
At a glance
Connect a Strands agent to an MCP server in Python or TypeScript.
- The user asks to load MCP tools into a Strands application
- Instructions only: no scripts, shell commands, URLs or credentials in SKILL.md
- Choose an MCP transport
- Configure multiple servers
What it does
Add MCP Server is an agent skill from strands-agents/harness-sdk. Connect a Strands agent to an MCP server in Python or TypeScript. Use when the user asks to load MCP tools into a Strands application, choose an MCP transport, filter tools, or configure multiple servers.
Its SKILL.md is about 200 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. The repository describes itself as: Build an agent harness and control it end-to-end. Open-source SDK for production AI agents in Python & TypeScript - any model, any cloud. The licence is Apache-2.0.
When your agent uses it
- The user asks to load MCP tools into a Strands application
- Choose an MCP transport
- Configure multiple servers
Example prompts
- “/add-mcp-server”
Requirements
- Python 3
What it can do on your machine
Read from SKILL.md and the folder at commit b340edb. 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
No scripts in the folder and no shell commands in SKILL.md.
From the folder's file list and the shell code blocks in SKILL.md.
Network
No URLs in SKILL.md.
From URLs in SKILL.md, links to its own repository left out.
Credentials
Names no API keys, tokens, secrets or passwords.
From names ending in _API_KEY, _TOKEN, _SECRET, _KEY or _PASSWORD in SKILL.md.
Context cost
Add MCP Server loads about 195 tokens when it runs. Until then it costs about 55 tokens; SKILL.md has 72 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
The full file from strands-agents/harness-sdk at commit b340edb, republished under its Apache-2.0 licence (© strands-agents). 72 words, ~195 tokens.
Download SKILL.mdSave it as
.claude/skills/add-mcp-server/SKILL.md (or your agent's skills folder).- name
- add-mcp-server
- description
- Connect a Strands agent to an MCP server in Python or TypeScript. Use when the user asks to load MCP tools into a Strands application, choose an MCP transport, filter tools, or configure multiple servers.
Add an MCP server to a Strands agent
Read the shared Strands skill and the MCP guide completely.
Confirm whether the user means an MCP server used by the Strands application or the Strands documentation server used by their coding assistant. For an application server, inspect its command or URL and required credentials, use the current managed MCPClient or McpClient integration, and verify initialization and tool discovery before relying on model-driven calls.
© strands-agents, Apache-2.0. Rendered from Markdown: HTML in the file is shown as text, images as links, and headings moved down two levels. Raw file
Files
Just SKILL.md in .agents/skills/strands/skills/add-mcp-server of strands-agents/harness-sdk.
Open the folder on GitHubat commit b340edb
Compare with similar skills
Add MCP Server 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Add MCP Server this skillstrands-agents/harness-sdk | 8.7k | — | ~195 | Automated safety check: Pass | Apache-2.0 | |
| MCP Server Builderanthropics/skills | 180k | 63 repos | ~2.3k | Automated safety check: Pass | Apache-2.0 | |
| MCP Server BuildershareAI-lab/learn-claude-code | 78k | 5 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 | 588 | — | ~1.2k | Automated safety check: Pass | Apache-2.0 | |
| Build MCP Serverbobmatnyc/claude-mpm | 155 | — | ~2k | Automated safety check: Pass | Apache-2.0 |
Similar skills
- Official
MCP Server Builder
shareAI-lab/learn-claude-code
Walks through building MCP servers in Python or TypeScript that expose tools, resources and prompts to Claude, with templates, registration and testing.
Create MCP Servers
glittercowboy/taches-cc-resources
Create Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers that expose tools, resources, and prompts to Claude.
MCP Builder
LeastBit/Claude_skills_zh-CN
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。
Build MCP Server
bobmatnyc/claude-mpm
Create high-quality MCP servers that enable LLMs to effectively interact with external services.
MCP Server Builder
shareAI-lab/Kode-CLI
Guide to designing and building MCP servers: tool, resource and prompt design for agent usability, with TypeScript or Python implementation workflows.
More from strands-agents/harness-sdk
All 14 skills in this repoDocs Audit
strands-agents/harness-sdk
Assess a published or in-progress documentation page for quality, accuracy, and voice compliance.
Docs Planner
strands-agents/harness-sdk
Identify documentation gaps and prioritize the docs backlog.
Docs Reviewer
strands-agents/harness-sdk
Review documentation drafts for voice consistency, structure, and terminology before PR submission.
Docs Writer
strands-agents/harness-sdk
Draft or rewrite Strands Agents documentation pages. An agent skill from strands-agents/harness-sdk.
PR Create
strands-agents/harness-sdk
Creates a GitHub pull request using the gh CLI. An agent skill from strands-agents/harness-sdk.
PR Feedback
strands-agents/harness-sdk
Fetches PR review feedback and inline comments, categorizes them, and presents options to the user.
Related
Works with
Categories
Questions about Add MCP Server
What does Add MCP Server do?
Connect a Strands agent to an MCP server in Python or TypeScript. Add MCP Server is an agent skill from strands-agents/harness-sdk. Connect a Strands agent to an MCP server in Python or TypeScript.
When should I use Add MCP Server?
Add MCP Server fits situations like: the user asks to load MCP tools into a Strands application; choose an MCP transport; configure multiple servers.
How do I install Add MCP Server in Claude Code?
Run `npx skills add strands-agents/harness-sdk --skill add-mcp-server -a claude-code`. Or copy the skill folder (.agents/skills/strands/skills/add-mcp-server in strands-agents/harness-sdk) into .claude/skills/add-mcp-server in your project. Claude Code loads it when a task matches its description.
How do I install Add MCP Server in Codex?
Run `npx skills add strands-agents/harness-sdk --skill add-mcp-server -a codex`. Or copy the skill folder (.agents/skills/strands/skills/add-mcp-server in strands-agents/harness-sdk) into .agents/skills/add-mcp-server in your project. Codex loads it when a task matches its description.
Can I use Add MCP Server 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 strands-agents/harness-sdk --skill add-mcp-server -a cursor` (or -a gemini-cli, github-copilot or opencode for the others). To copy it by hand, put the folder in .cursor/skills/add-mcp-server, .gemini/skills/add-mcp-server, .github/skills/add-mcp-server and .opencode/skills/add-mcp-server in your project.
What does Add MCP Server need to run?
SKILL.md names no scripts, command-line tools or credentials: Add MCP Server is instructions for the agent only. Our summary lists: Python 3.
Does Add MCP Server access the network?
SKILL.md contains no URLs. Any network use would come from the scripts or tools the agent runs. This is read from the text; nothing was executed.
Is Add MCP Server 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 Add MCP Server use?
Add MCP Server is published under the Apache-2.0 licence (the repository's licence). It allows redistribution, so the full SKILL.md is shown on this page.
How many tokens does Add MCP Server use?
About 195 tokens (SKILL.md is roughly 780 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 Add MCP Server?
Skills that share tags, products or a category with Add MCP Server: 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, 588 stars). The comparison table on this page puts their stars, adoption, token cost, safety result and licence side by side.
Who maintains Add MCP Server?
strands-agents (a GitHub organization) maintains it in strands-agents/harness-sdk, which has 8,747 GitHub stars. The repository holds 14 skills in this directory. The repository was last updated on October 8, 2026.
Source: strands-agents/harness-sdk on GitHub. Facts on this page come from the repository at the commit we read; the author's words are quoted as theirs.