The Agent MCP Workshop is an instructor-led series designed to guide participants through developing a Java-based server implementing the Model Context Protocol (MCP). The workshop is structured across successive branches—starting with 01-chapter, each representing a progressive lesson where learners will build components of an MCP server from scratch. While self-study is possible, success depends on active instruction and group participation. The introduction also outlines workshop objectives, teaches working with Java’s standard libraries, JSON-RPC messaging, tool registration, agent integration, and hands-on debugging techniques like STDIO-based communication and protocol-level routing. By setting these foundations, the introduction prepares learners to embark on a hands-on path toward building fully functioning, testable MCP-compatible agents and tools.
Key Takeaways
1 Build a working MCP server in Java from scratch—implement JSON-RPC over STDIO, wire up routing, register tools, integrate an agent—and finish with a minimal, testable, MCP-compatible repo.
2 Debug at the wire level—trace STDIO request/response flows to diagnose handshakes, routing, and tool invocation with repeatable troubleshooting habits.
3 Follow a branch-based learning path—complete 00-setup.md prework, then progress 01-chapter → … in instructor-led cohorts that reinforce concepts through collaborative exercises.
4 Internalize MCP fundamentals & reusable patterns—capability discovery, schema-driven tool design, protocol-level routing, and interoperability practices you can apply to future agents and tools.
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