From Zero to MCP Publisher in 15 Minutes

Never published an MCP tool? This guide gets you from zero to live on mcpm in 15 minutes flat.

Step 1: Install mcpm CLI (1 min)

npm i -g mcpm-dev
mcpm-dev login

Follow the browser prompt to authenticate with GitHub.

Step 2: Scaffold Your Tool (2 min)

<span class="hljs-built_in">mkdir</span> my-first-mcp &amp;&amp; <span class="hljs-built_in">cd</span> my-first-mcp
npm init -y
npm install @modelcontextprotocol/sdk

Step 3: Write the Tool (5 min)

Create index.js:

<span class="hljs-keyword">import</span> { <span class="hljs-title class_">Server</span> } <span class="hljs-keyword">from</span> <span class="hljs-string">&quot;@modelcontextprotocol/sdk/server/index.js&quot;</span>;
<span class="hljs-keyword">import</span> { <span class="hljs-title class_">StdioServerTransport</span> } <span class="hljs-keyword">from</span> <span class="hljs-string">&quot;@modelcontextprotocol/sdk/server/stdio.js&quot;</span>;

<span class="hljs-keyword">const</span> server = <span class="hljs-keyword">new</span> <span class="hljs-title class_">Server</span>({
  <span class="hljs-attr">name</span>: <span class="hljs-string">&quot;my-first-mcp&quot;</span>,
  <span class="hljs-attr">version</span>: <span class="hljs-string">&quot;1.0.0&quot;</span>,
}, {
  <span class="hljs-attr">capabilities</span>: { <span class="hljs-attr">tools</span>: {} }
});

server.<span class="hljs-title function_">setRequestHandler</span>(<span class="hljs-string">&quot;tools/list&quot;</span>, <span class="hljs-title function_">async</span> () =&gt; ({
  <span class="hljs-attr">tools</span>: [{
    <span class="hljs-attr">name</span>: <span class="hljs-string">&quot;hello_world&quot;</span>,
    <span class="hljs-attr">description</span>: <span class="hljs-string">&quot;Returns a friendly greeting&quot;</span>,
    <span class="hljs-attr">inputSchema</span>: {
      <span class="hljs-attr">type</span>: <span class="hljs-string">&quot;object&quot;</span>,
      <span class="hljs-attr">properties</span>: {
        <span class="hljs-attr">name</span>: { <span class="hljs-attr">type</span>: <span class="hljs-string">&quot;string&quot;</span>, <span class="hljs-attr">description</span>: <span class="hljs-string">&quot;Who to greet&quot;</span> }
      },
      <span class="hljs-attr">required</span>: [<span class="hljs-string">&quot;name&quot;</span>]
    }
  }]
}));

server.<span class="hljs-title function_">setRequestHandler</span>(<span class="hljs-string">&quot;tools/call&quot;</span>, <span class="hljs-title function_">async</span> (request) =&gt; {
  <span class="hljs-keyword">if</span> (request.<span class="hljs-property">params</span>.<span class="hljs-property">name</span> === <span class="hljs-string">&quot;hello_world&quot;</span>) {
    <span class="hljs-keyword">const</span> name = request.<span class="hljs-property">params</span>.<span class="hljs-property">arguments</span>.<span class="hljs-property">name</span>;
    <span class="hljs-keyword">return</span> {
      <span class="hljs-attr">content</span>: [{ <span class="hljs-attr">type</span>: <span class="hljs-string">&quot;text&quot;</span>, <span class="hljs-attr">text</span>: <span class="hljs-string">`Hello, <span class="hljs-subst">${name}</span>! 👋`</span> }]
    };
  }
  <span class="hljs-keyword">throw</span> <span class="hljs-keyword">new</span> <span class="hljs-title class_">Error</span>(<span class="hljs-string">`Unknown tool: <span class="hljs-subst">${request.params.name}</span>`</span>);
});

<span class="hljs-keyword">const</span> transport = <span class="hljs-keyword">new</span> <span class="hljs-title class_">StdioServerTransport</span>();
<span class="hljs-keyword">await</span> server.<span class="hljs-title function_">connect</span>(transport);

Step 4: Test Locally (2 min)

node index.js

In another terminal, configure your MCP client (Claude Desktop, Cursor, etc.) to point to this server.

Step 5: Write a README (2 min)

Create README.md. This becomes your mcpm listing page. Include:

• What the tool does
• How to install and use it
• Available tools and their parameters

Step 6: Publish to mcpm (1 min)

mcpm-dev publish

That's it! Your tool is now live at https://www.mcpm.dev/packages/my-first-mcp.

What's Next?

• Add more tools to your server
• Set up automated testing
• Apply for the verified badge after 100 weekly downloads

What's the first MCP tool you want to build? Share your idea below!

#MCP #Tutorial #Beginner #DevTools #mcpm