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Tutorials, deep-dives, and updates on building with the Model Context Protocol.
The MCP Server Security Checklist
A practical, updated checklist for securing an MCP server before you expose it to a real AI client, covering authentication, input validation, rate limiting, and the 2026-07-28 spec's authorization changes.
By MCPCore Team
MCP Server Authentication: OAuth 2.1 vs API Keys
The MCP specification formally requires OAuth 2.1 for authorization over HTTP transports, but API keys remain the simpler, more common choice for most servers. Here is how to pick between them.
By MCPCore Team
How to Deploy an MCP Server in 2026
The 2026-07-28 spec removed session state from MCP entirely. Here is what that actually changes about deploying a server: simpler load balancing, and one new thing you have to handle explicitly.
By MCPCore Team
MCP TypeScript SDK v2 Migration Guide
The official MCP TypeScript SDK split into separate client and server packages for v2. Here is what actually breaks, what the codemod handles automatically, and what you still have to fix by hand.
By MCPCore Team
MCPCore vs mcp.run: Which One Do You Need?
mcp.run is a registry of sandboxed, Wasm-based tool servlets. MCPCore is a hosting and building platform for MCP servers written in JavaScript. Here is how the two approaches differ.
By MCPCore Team
MCP 2026-07-28: What Changed in the New Specification
The 2026-07-28 revision is the largest change to the Model Context Protocol since it launched. Here is what actually changed: a stateless core, Multi Round-Trip Requests, header-based routing, and stricter authorization.
By MCPCore Team
MCPCore vs Docker MCP Toolkit: Which One Do You Need?
Docker's MCP Catalog and Toolkit are a registry and local development tool, not cloud hosting. MCPCore hosts servers on the internet. Here is why that distinction matters for your decision.
By MCPCore Team
How to Connect ChatGPT to a Remote MCP Server
ChatGPT and the OpenAI API both support connecting to a custom remote MCP server, through two different surfaces. Here is how each one actually works, and what has changed recently.
By MCPCore Team
MCPCore vs Zapier MCP: Which One Do You Need?
Zapier MCP connects AI clients to Zapier's existing automation library. MCPCore is for building and hosting original MCP tools. Here is how to tell which one your project actually needs.
By MCPCore Team
Cloudflare vs Self-Hosted vs Managed MCP: A Real Comparison
Three genuinely different ways to run an MCP server: Cloudflare's DIY edge framework, fully self-hosted infrastructure, and a managed platform. Here is what each one actually asks of you.
By MCPCore Team
MCPCore vs Composio: Which One Do You Need?
Composio connects AI agents to hundreds of existing SaaS integrations. MCPCore is for building and hosting original MCP tools from scratch. Most teams actually need one, not the other.
By MCPCore Team
Best MCP Server Hosting Platforms: 2026 Comparison
A look at ten real platforms and approaches for hosting or building MCP servers in 2026, from managed platforms to DIY frameworks, with an honest read on what each one actually is.
By MCPCore Team
MCPCore vs Smithery: Which One Do You Need?
Smithery was acquired by Arcade.dev in August 2026, which changes what evaluating it actually means today. Here is where things stand, and how MCPCore compares to what Smithery offered.
By MCPCore Team
MCP Server Monitoring and Observability: What to Track
An MCP server called by an AI model fails differently than a normal API. Here is what to actually monitor: request volume, latency, error rate, and the specific things that go wrong with AI-initiated calls.
By MCPCore Team
MCPCore vs Klavis AI: Which One Do You Need?
Both MCPCore and Klavis AI offer managed MCP server hosting. Here is how they actually differ in how you build tools and what's included by default.
By MCPCore Team
Remote MCP Server vs Local MCP Server: Which Do You Need?
Local and remote MCP servers solve different problems. Here is the actual difference in transport, sharing, and security, and how to decide which one fits your use case.
By MCPCore Team
MCPCore vs Glama: Which One Do You Need?
Glama combines an MCP server registry with hosting, aimed partly at public discoverability. MCPCore is a private-by-default hosting and building platform. Here is how they actually differ.
By MCPCore Team
How to Host an MCP Server: A Quick-Start Walkthrough
A short, practical walkthrough for getting an MCP server hosted and reachable today, whether you pick a VPS, Docker, or a managed platform.
By MCPCore Team
MCPCore vs AWS Bedrock AgentCore Gateway: Which One Do You Need?
AgentCore Gateway turns existing AWS APIs and Lambda functions into MCP tools for teams already on AWS. MCPCore is a standalone platform for writing and hosting MCP servers directly. Here is the real difference.
By MCPCore Team
MCP Server Hosting: The Complete Guide
Everything that goes into hosting an MCP server for real use: what production hosting actually requires, the four main ways to do it, and how to pick between them.
By MCPCore Team
MCPCore vs Self-Hosted MCP: Which One Do You Need?
Self-hosting an MCP server gives you full control at the cost of building everything yourself. Here is an honest look at what that cost actually is compared to a managed platform.
By MCPCore Team
MCPCore vs Cloudflare: Which One Do You Need?
Cloudflare gives you a framework for building your own MCP server on Workers. MCPCore gives you a hosted server with no framework to assemble. Here is what that difference actually means.
By MCPCore Team
MCP Server Security: Protecting Your Tools with API Keys and OAuth 2.0
MCP tools can query databases, call APIs, and execute code. Here's how to lock them down properly: covering API key authentication, OAuth 2.0 integration, rate limiting, and the security model defined in the MCP spec.
By MCPCore Team
How to Deploy an MCP Server to Production: A Complete Guide
Everything you need to know to take an MCP server from localhost to a production deployment: HTTPS, authentication, rate limiting, process management, and zero-downtime updates.
By MCPCore Team
How to Connect Claude, Cursor, and Windsurf to Your MCP Server
A practical guide to configuring Claude Desktop, Cursor, Windsurf, Cline, and VS Code Copilot to connect to a custom MCP server, with working config examples for each client.
By MCPCore Team
How to Create an MCP Server: Step-by-Step Tutorial (2026)
A complete guide to building your first Model Context Protocol server: from understanding the spec to writing your first tool and exposing it to AI assistants like Claude and Cursor.
By MCPCore Team