Model Context Protocol (MCP) for Beginners

A Comprehensive Learning Path by Microsoft

Learn MCP with hands-on code examples in C#, Java, JavaScript, Rust, Python, and TypeScript.

About This Curriculum

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is a cutting-edge framework designed to standardize interactions between AI models and client applications. This open-source curriculum from Microsoft offers a structured learning path, complete with practical coding examples and real-world use cases.

Original Source: Microsoft MCP for Beginners GitHub

Hosted with permission for educational purposes on StartAITools.com

🧭 Learning Path

Module 1-3: Fundamentals

Module 00: Introduction to MCP

• Overview of the Model Context Protocol
• Significance in AI pipelines
• Read Module 00

Module 01: Core Concepts

• In-depth exploration of MCP concepts
• Architecture and design principles
• Read Module 01

Module 02: Security in MCP

• Security threats and vulnerabilities
• Best practices for secure implementations
• Read Module 02

Module 03: Getting Started

• Environment setup
• Building your first server and client
• Integration strategies
• Read Module 03

Module 4-5: Practical & Advanced

Module 04: Practical Implementation

• SDKs and development tools
• Debugging and testing strategies
• Reusable prompt templates
• Read Module 04

Module 05: Advanced Topics

• Multi-modal AI integration
• Scaling strategies
• Enterprise use cases
• Read Module 05

Module 6-10: Community & Best Practices

Module 06: Community Contributions

• How to contribute to the MCP ecosystem
• Read Module 06

Module 07: Lessons from Early Adoption

• Real-world implementation stories
• Read Module 07

Module 08: Best Practices

• Performance optimization
• Fault-tolerance and resilience
• Read Module 08

Module 09: Case Studies

• Practical implementation examples
• Read Module 09

Module 10: Hands-on Workshop

• Building an MCP Server with AI Toolkit
• Read Module 10

Module 11: MCP Server Hands-On Labs

Database Integration with PostgreSQL

• 13 comprehensive labs covering retail analytics use case
• Row Level Security and multi-tenancy
• Production deployment patterns
• Read Module 11

🔗 Official MCP Resources

• 📘 MCP Documentation – Detailed tutorials and user guides
• 📜 MCP Specification – Protocol architecture and technical references
• 🧑‍💻 MCP GitHub Repository – Open-source SDKs and tools
• 🌐 MCP Community – Join discussions

🌐 Multi-Language Support

This curriculum includes code examples in:

• C# - .NET implementation patterns
• Java - Enterprise Java integration
• JavaScript - Web and Node.js applications
• TypeScript - Type-safe implementations
• Python - Pythonic MCP servers and clients
• Rust - High-performance system integration

Credits & Attribution

Original Authors: Microsoft Corporation Source Repository: github.com/microsoft/mcp-for-beginners License: MIT License

This content is hosted on StartAITools.com for educational purposes as part of our AI development curriculum.

Ready to start? Begin with Module 00: Introduction to MCP