Lesson 5 · Building MCP Servers · Last updated 2026-05-12 · By Dheeraj Sharma

Build an MCP Server in 30 Minutes

Step-by-step tutorial on creating your first MCP server

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In this lesson

Step-by-step tutorial on creating your first MCP server

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This lesson is part of the MCP Masterclass: Connect AI to Everything series, published on Substack. Open the link below to read the full walkthrough, see the screenshots, and grab any templates or downloads that go with it.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard that lets AI assistants like Claude connect to external tools and data sources. It's how you give AI access to your files, databases, APIs, and more.

Basic familiarity with JSON and command line is helpful. I walk through everything step-by-step, so you can follow along even if you're not a developer.

Claude Desktop (via Anthropic), Cursor, Windsurf, and other MCP-compatible clients. The protocol is open, so support is growing.

Dheeraj Sharma

AI Systems Builder

Creator of the n8n Zero to Hero course (42 lessons, 31+ hours). I help solopreneurs build AI systems that grow revenue without growing workload.

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