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Create Your First MCP Server

This guide will walk you through creating your first Model Context Protocol (MCP) server with TRMX AI.

Building an MCP server​

In this tutorial, you'll learn how to:

  • Set up a new project - Create the foundation for your MCP server
  • Configure the server - Set up essential configuration options
  • Add tools and resources - Enhance your server with AI capabilities
  • Test your server locally - Ensure everything works before deploying

What is an MCP Server?​

An MCP server is a serverless application that provides context-aware AI capabilities through a standardized protocol. It handles the communication between your application and AI models.

Prerequisites​

Before you begin​

Make sure you have the following installed:

  • Node.js (v16 or later)
  • TRMX CLI (npm install -g @trmx/cli)
  • An OpenAI API key (or other supported model provider)

Step 1: Setting Up Your Project​

Create a new MCP server project using the TRMX CLI:

# Create a new MCP server project
trmx create my-first-mcp

# Navigate to your project
cd my-first-mcp

The CLI will guide you through the setup process, asking for your API keys and other configuration options.

Step 2: Exploring the Project Structure​

Project Files​

Your newly created project contains these key files:

  • src/index.js - The main entry point for your server
  • src/tools/ - Directory for defining AI tools
  • src/resources/ - Directory for defining data resources
  • config.json - Server configuration settings

Step 3: Configuring Your Server​

Edit the config.json file to configure your MCP server:

{
  "name": "my-first-mcp",
  "modelProvider": "openai",
  "contextRetention": "session",
  "maxTokens": 2048
}

Key configuration options:

  • name: The name of your MCP server
  • modelProvider: The AI model provider (e.g., "openai", "anthropic")
  • contextRetention: How long to retain conversation context
  • maxTokens: Maximum context size in tokens

Step 4: Running Your Server Locally​

Start your server in development mode:

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Start the server
npm run dev

Your MCP server should now be running at http://localhost:3000.

Next Steps​

Continue Your MCP Journey​

Now that you've created your MCP server, you can: