modelcontextprotocol/inspector

What it solves

MCP Inspector is a developer tool designed to help developers build, test, and debug Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers. It provides a way to inspect the capabilities and responses of these servers to ensure they are functioning correctly before they are integrated into larger AI systems.

How it works

The tool operates as a single package that offers three different interfaces for interacting with MCP servers:

• Web UI: A single-page application built with React and Mantine that provides a visual interface for inspection.
• CLI: A scriptable command-line interface for automation, continuous integration (CI), and fast feedback loops.
• TUI: An interactive terminal user interface built with Ink.

All three interfaces are managed through a global mcp-inspector binary that allows users to users switch between them using flags (e.g., --cli or --tui).

Who it’s for

It is primarily for developers who are creating MCP servers and need a tool to verify their server's tools, resources, and prompts.

Highlights

• Three Interface Options: Offers Web, CLI, and TUI versions to suit different developer workflows.
• Secret Management: Securely handles OAuth tokens and environment variables, storing them in the OS keychain or an encrypted file.
• Comprehensive Testing: Includes a composable set of test servers and fixtures for integration and smoke testing.
• Agent-Driven Development: Utilizes a structured "AI Software Factory" approach with specific skills and rules for both human and human-AI collaborative contributions.