{
  "id": "build-mcp-server",
  "title": "Build your own MCP server",
  "category": "agents",
  "job": "Give AI assistants access to your app or data through MCP.",
  "difficulty": "Advanced",
  "tools": [
    {
      "id": "claude-code",
      "name": "Claude Code",
      "url": "https://claude.com/product/claude-code",
      "kind": "coding-agent",
      "summary": "Anthropic's agentic coding tool for the terminal and IDEs. Included in paid Claude plans.",
      "open_source": false,
      "pricing": {
        "plans": [
          {
            "name": "Pro",
            "usd_month": 20,
            "note": "$17/mo billed yearly; 5-hour and weekly usage limits"
          },
          {
            "name": "Max 5x",
            "usd_month": 100,
            "note": "5x Pro usage per session"
          },
          {
            "name": "Max 20x",
            "usd_month": 200,
            "note": "20x Pro usage per session"
          }
        ],
        "source": "https://claude.com/pricing?mode=code",
        "status": "verified",
        "notes": "Free Claude plan does not include Claude Code."
      },
      "last_checked": "2026-10-21"
    },
    {
      "id": "mcp-inspector",
      "name": "MCP Inspector",
      "url": "https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/inspector",
      "kind": "dev-tool",
      "summary": "Official visual tester for MCP servers.",
      "open_source": true,
      "pricing": {
        "plans": [
          {
            "name": "Open source",
            "usd_month": 0,
            "note": "Run with npx"
          }
        ],
        "source": "https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/inspector",
        "status": "unverified",
        "notes": "Not re-checked this cycle."
      },
      "last_checked": "2026-10-21"
    }
  ],
  "model": "Claude Sonnet 5.5",
  "mcp_servers": [],
  "config": {
    "filename": "terminal",
    "language": "bash",
    "code": "# test any MCP server visually\nnpx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector"
  },
  "starter_prompt": "Create a TypeScript MCP server with the official SDK that exposes these tools: <tools>. Validate inputs, return clear errors, add a README with a config snippet for Claude Code and Cursor, and test it with the MCP Inspector.",
  "monthly_cost": {
    "min_usd": 0,
    "max_usd": 20,
    "note": "Open-source SDK and Inspector are free; cost is your agent plan."
  },
  "steps": [
    "Define 2-3 tools with clear names.",
    "Build with the agent.",
    "Test in the Inspector, then in a real client."
  ],
  "why_this_works": "MCP lets one integration work across Claude, Cursor, Codex and more.",
  "watch_out": "Treat every tool as an API: authenticate it and limit what it can do.",
  "unverified": [
    "Inspector command and SDK details not re-checked this cycle."
  ],
  "tested": false,
  "last_checked": "2026-10-21"
}