mcp-use
A TypeScript framework for building MCP servers and interactive MCP Apps for AI assistants.
- Stars
- 10.8k
- Forks
- 1.5k
- Licence
- MIT
- Language
- TypeScript
- Last update
- 6 days ago
- Type
- Library
What it is
mcp-use is a TypeScript framework for building MCP (Model Context Protocol) servers, which let AI assistants call tools and read data. It also supports React-based interactive views that can appear inside clients like ChatGPT and Claude. It includes a built-in Inspector for testing tools in the browser or from the terminal.
- Scaffold a new MCP server project with npx create-mcp-use-app
- Define a tool with Zod input and output schemas and bind it to a React view
- Test tools and views in the Inspector at localhost during development
- Expose a local server through a tunnel to test with ChatGPT or Claude
Great for
- TypeScript developers who want to build MCP servers
- Developers creating interactive MCP Apps with React views
- Teams who want to test MCP tools with a built-in Inspector
- Developers exposing tools to ChatGPT or Claude during local development
Not ideal for
- Non-developers who want a ready-made app without coding, since it requires writing TypeScript and React
- Projects that need a language other than TypeScript, since the README only describes the TypeScript framework
How to get it
- 1
Install with a package manager
You'll need: Node.js
Create a new project
npx -y create-mcp-use-app@latestStart development mode
npm run devCreate a production build
npm run buildInstall the headless client for terminal testing
npm install --save-dev @mcp-use/client - 2
Run it
- Run npx -y create-mcp-use-app@latest to generate a project
- Run npm run dev in the generated project folder
- Open http://localhost:3000/mcp/inspector in your browser
- Invoke the example get-weather tool from the Inspector
- 3
Get the most out of it
- Use mcp-use dev --tunnel or the Inspector tunnel option to test with ChatGPT and Claude before deployment
- Use the headless CLI client to list and invoke tools from the terminal
- Use useModelContext in views to let users add content from a View to the conversation
- Follow the official migration guide if upgrading from v1
Downloads
Strengths
- Typed schemas with Zod connect tool inputs, outputs, and views
- Built-in Inspector and CLI let you test tools without extra setup
- Active project with an MIT license and a published npm package
Trade-offs
- The README is truncated and covers only part of the API, so some details are unclear
- Features tied to ChatGPT and Claude depend on those platforms, which may change
- Requires familiarity with TypeScript, React, and the MCP concept
How it compares
| Project | Stars | Type | Level | Updated | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| mcp-use (this) | 10.8k | Library | intermediate | 6 days ago | TypeScript developers who want to build MCP servers |
| mcp-for-beginners | 17.6k | Learning resource | beginner | 4 days ago | Developers new to MCP who want guided lessons |
| fastapi_mcp | 12k | Library | intermediate | 12 months ago | Python developers who already have a FastAPI app and want AI assistants to use it |
| python-sdk | 24.7k | Library | intermediate | 4 days ago | Python developers who want to expose their own functions to an LLM app as MCP tools |
| codebase-memory-mcp | 48k | Dev tool | intermediate | 4 days ago | Developers who use an MCP-capable AI coding agent on a large codebase |
| ida-pro-mcp | 13.3k | App | intermediate | 1 months ago | Reverse engineers who already use IDA Pro 8.3 or newer and want an AI assistant to help with analysis |
Stats synced from GitHub. The assessment above was drafted with AI from the project's README on 2026-10-29 and may miss recent changes — check the README before relying on a command. MIT licence: free to use, modify and distribute, including commercially, as long as you keep the copyright notice.