Building an MCP server is mostly a writing problem, not an engineering one. A practical six-step walkthrough - transport, tools, descriptions that actually work, error handling and the security rules that matter.
There are 22,000+ MCP servers and several of the most recommended ones are quietly archived. Here are 15 worth connecting, ranked by how well maintained they are, plus how to vet one before you install it.
MCP became the standard way AI applications connect to tools - nearly 16,000 public servers and support from every major lab. What it is, how the July 2026 stateless spec changed it, and why tool poisoning should shape how you use it.