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MCP How-To Tutorials in 2026
Practical, single-task tutorials for working with Model Context Protocol servers. Install one on the client you actually use, build your own from scratch, debug the "connected but no tools" case, or harden credentials before letting an agent touch real systems.
Each tutorial is goal-shaped — open it, follow the steps, hit a working result. Where there is depth to go further, links into the rest of the directory pick up from where the tutorial ends.
Install an MCP server
Per-client setup walkthroughs covering config paths, tokens, and verification.
How to Install an MCP Server on Claude Desktop
Add an MCP to claude_desktop_config.json on macOS or Windows in under 5 minutes.
How to Install an MCP Server on Cursor
Add an MCP to Cursor at the global or project scope and verify it from Agent mode.
How to Install an MCP Server on Windsurf
Wire an MCP into Cascade through ~/.codeium/windsurf/mcp_config.json with one Refresh.
How to Install an MCP Server on VS Code
Add an MCP to VS Code via .vscode/mcp.json with secret-storage-backed tokens.
How to Add an MCP Server via the claude mcp add CLI
Attach an MCP to Claude Code in one shell command — no JSON editing required.
Build an MCP server
Scaffold your own server, expose tools, and wire it into a real client.
Debug an MCP server
Read logs, inspect handshakes, isolate stdio failures, fix the manifest.
Secure an MCP server
Scope credentials, lock paths, and contain prompt-injection blast radius.
Ready to pick MCPs?
Tutorials cover the "how". For the "which" — the actual MCPs worth installing per client and per use case — head into the directory or the comparison hub.