Hands-On MCP: Build an MCP Server in Python from Scratch

About this course

This course contains the use of artificial intelligence.In this course, you will learn how to build a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server in Python from scratch through clear, hands-on, step-by-step lessons.The course is designed as a build-first learning journey, where you start by setting up the complete development environment and gradually move toward building, extending, and testing multiple MCP server implementations.Each section of the course maps directly to the book’s chapters, allowing you to follow the curriculum sequentially and build a working MCP server piece by piece.What This Course CoversYou will begin by preparing a clean development environment and verifying all required tools. From there, you will move into configuring an existing MCP server and then progress toward building your own MCP server from scratch.As the course advances, you will incrementally enhance your MCP server with different capabilities, including:Database-backed MCP servers using SQLiteMCP servers that work with resources and promptsMCP servers using local and remote streamable HTTPTesting and validating MCP servers using VS Code and CopilotEach stage builds on the previous one, ensuring a clear, structured, and progressive learning path.Course StructureThe course follows this exact progression:Install and configure all required softwarePython, VS Code, PIP, UVClaude Desktop ClientNode.jsInstallation verificationDownload and understand the complete book source codeConfigure an existing MCP serverFinding and setting up an MCP serverRunning it inside the Claude Desktop Client