https://github.com/microsoft/mcp-for-beginners

This open-source curriculum introduces the fundamentals of Model Context Protocol (MCP) through real-world, cross-language examples in .NET, Java, TypeScript, JavaScript, and Python. Designed for developers, it focuses on practical techniques for building modular, scalable, and secure AI workflows from session setup to service orchestration.

Follow these steps to get started using these resources:

1. Fork the Repository: Click
2. Clone the Repository: git clone https://github.com/microsoft/mcp-for-beginners.git
3. Join The Azure AI Foundry Discord and meet experts and fellow developers

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The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is a cutting-edge framework designed to standardize interactions between AI models and client applications. This open-source curriculum offers a structured learning path, complete with practical coding examples and real-world use cases, across popular programming languages including C#, Java, JavaScript, TypeScript, and Python.

Whether you're an AI developer, system architect, or software engineer, this guide is your comprehensive resource for mastering MCP fundamentals and implementation strategies.

• 📘 MCP Documentation – Detailed tutorials and user guides
• 📜 MCP Specification – Protocol architecture and technical references
• 📜 Original MCP Specification – Legacy technical references (may contain additional details)
• 🧑‍💻 MCP GitHub Repository – Open-source SDKs, tools, and code samples
• 🌐 MCP Community – Join discussions and contribute to the community

Get ready for two days of deep technical insight, community connection, and hands-on learning at MCP Dev Days, a virtual event dedicated to the Model Context Protocol (MCP) — the emerging standard that bridges AI models and the tools they rely on.

➡️ Register for MCP Dev Days

You can watch MCP Dev Days by registering on our event page: https://aka.ms/mcpdevdays. From there, you’ll be able to join a live stream on YouTube or Twitch. All of the content is recorded and will be available afterwards on the Microsoft Developer YouTube channel. Source code for the demos will be available on GitHub too.

• Dates: July 29 (Day 1) & July 30 (Day 2)
• Time: 9:00 AM PST daily
• Where: Online – join from anywhere!

Is all about empowering developers to use MCP in their developer workflow and celebrating the amazing MCP community. We’ll be joined with community members and partners such as Arcade, Block, Okta, and Neon to see how they are collaborating with Microsoft to shape an open, extensible MCP ecosystem. Real-world demos across VS Code, Visual Studio, GitHub Copilot, and popular community tools Practical, context-driven dev workflows Community-led sessions and insights Whether you’re just getting started with MCP or already building with it, Day 1 will set the stage with inspiration and actionable takeaways.

Is for MCP builders. We’ll go deep into implementation strategies and best practices for creating MCP servers and integrating MCP into your AI workflows.

• Building MCP Servers and integrating them into agent experiences
• Prompt-driven development
• Security best practices
• Using building blocks like Functions, ACA, and API Management
• Registry alignment and tooling (1P + 3P)

If you’re a developer, tool builder, or AI product strategist, this day is packed with the insights you need to build scalable, secure, and future-ready MCP solutions.

Module	Topic	Description	Link
Module 1-3: Fundamentals
00	Introduction to MCP	Overview of the Model Context Protocol and its significance in AI pipelines	Read more
01	Core Concepts Explained	In-depth exploration of core MCP concepts	Read more
02	Security in MCP	Security threats and best practices	Read more
03	Getting Started with MCP	Environment setup, basic servers/clients, integration	Read more
Module 3: Building Your First Server & Client
3.1	First Server	Create your first MCP server	Guide
3.2	First Client	Develop a basic MCP client	Guide
3.3	Client with LLM	Integrate large language models	Guide
3.4	VS Code Integration	Consume MCP servers in VS Code	Guide
3.5	SSE Server	Create servers using Server-Sent Events	Guide
3.6	HTTP Streaming	Implement HTTP streaming in MCP	Guide
3.7	AI Toolkit	Use AI Toolkit with MCP	Guide
3.8	Testing	Test your MCP server implementation	Guide
3.9	Deployment	Deploy MCP servers to production	Guide
Module 4-5: Practical & Advanced
04	Practical Implementation	SDKs, debugging, testing, reusable prompt templates	Read more
05	Advanced Topics in MCP	Multi-modal AI, scaling, enterprise use	Read more
5.1	Azure Integration	MCP Integration with Azure	Guide
5.2	Multi-modality	Working with multiple modalities	Guide
5.3	OAuth2 Demo	Implement OAuth2 authentication	Guide
5.4	Root Contexts	Understand and implement root contexts	Guide
5.5	Routing	MCP routing strategies	Guide
5.6	Sampling	Sampling techniques in MCP	Guide
5.7	Scaling	Scale MCP implementations	Guide
5.8	Security	Advanced security considerations	Guide
5.9	Web Search	Implement web search capabilities	Guide
5.10	Realtime Streaming	Build realtime streaming functionality	Guide
5.11	Realtime Search	Implement realtime search	Guide
5.12	Entra ID Auth	Authentication with Microsoft Entra ID	Guide
5.13	Foundry Integration	Integrate with Azure AI Foundry	Guide
5.14	Context Engineering	Techniques for effective context engineering	Guide
Module 6-10: Community & Best Practices
06	Community Contributions	How to contribute to the MCP ecosystem	Guide
07	Insights from Early Adoption	Real-world implementation stories	Guide
08	Best Practices for MCP	Performance, fault-tolerance, resilience	Guide
09	MCP Case Studies	Practical implementation examples	Guide
10	Hands-on Workshop	Building an MCP Server with AI Toolkit	Lab

Language	Description	Link
C#	MCP Server Example	View Code
Java	MCP Calculator	View Code
JavaScript	MCP Demo	View Code
Python	MCP Server	View Code
TypeScript	MCP Example	View Code

Language	Description	Link
C#	Advanced Sample	View Code
Java	Container App Example	View Code
JavaScript	Advanced Sample	View Code
Python	Complex Implementation	View Code
TypeScript	Container Sample	View Code

To get the most out of this curriculum, you should have:

• Basic knowledge of programming in at least one of the following languages: C#, Java, JavaScript, Python, or TypeScript

• Understanding of client-server model and APIs

• Familiarity with REST and HTTP concepts

• (Optional) Background in AI/ML concepts

• Joining our community discussions for support

This repository includes several resources to help you navigate and learn effectively:

A comprehensive Study Guide is available to help you navigate this repository effectively. The guide includes:

• A visual curriculum map showing all topics covered
• Detailed breakdown of each repository section
• Guidance on how to use sample projects
• Recommended learning paths for different skill levels
• Additional resources to complement your learning journey

We maintain a detailed Changelog that tracks all significant updates to the curriculum materials, including:

• New content additions
• Structural changes
• Feature improvements
• Documentation updates

Each lesson in this guide includes:

1. Clear explanations of MCP concepts
2. Live code examples in multiple languages
3. Exercises to build real MCP applications
4. Extra resources for advanced learners

Thanks to Microsoft Valued Professional Shivam Goyal for contributing important code samples.

This content is licensed under the MIT License. For terms and conditions, see the LICENSE.

This project welcomes contributions and suggestions. Most contributions require you to agree to a Contributor License Agreement (CLA) declaring that you have the right to, and actually do, grant us the rights to use your contribution. For details, visit https://cla.opensource.microsoft.com.

When you submit a pull request, a CLA bot will automatically determine whether you need to provide a CLA and decorate the PR appropriately (e.g., status check, comment). Simply follow the instructions provided by the bot. You will only need to do this once across all repos using our CLA.

This project has adopted the Microsoft Open Source Code of Conduct. For more information see the Code of Conduct FAQ or contact opencode@microsoft.com with any additional questions or comments.

The repository is organized as follows:

• Core Curriculum (00-10): The main content organized in ten sequential modules
• images/: Diagrams and illustrations used throughout the curriculum
• translations/: Multi-language support with automated translations
• translated_images/: Localized versions of diagrams and illustrations
• study_guide.md: Comprehensive guide to navigating the repository
• changelog.md: Record of all significant changes to the curriculum materials
• mcp.json: Configuration file for MCP specification
• CODE_OF_CONDUCT.md, LICENSE, SECURITY.md, SUPPORT.md: Project governance documents

Our team produces other courses! Check out:

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• Generative AI for Beginners
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• Cybersecurity for Beginners
• Web Dev for Beginners
• IoT for Beginners
• XR Development for Beginners
• Mastering GitHub Copilot for AI Paired Programming
• Mastering GitHub Copilot for C#/.NET Developers
• Choose Your Own Copilot Adventure

This project may contain trademarks or logos for projects, products, or services. Authorized use of Microsoft trademarks or logos is subject to and must follow Microsoft's Trademark & Brand Guidelines. Use of Microsoft trademarks or logos in modified versions of this project must not cause confusion or imply Microsoft sponsorship. Any use of third-party trademarks or logos is subject to those third-parties' policies.