MCPBar: The Reference Implementation of MCP Server Manifest

Photo by Alexander Faé on Unsplash

Hey there, AI developers! I've got some exciting news to share. Remember our previous post about the MCP server manifest concept? Well, I'm thrilled to announce that the concept has moved from theory to practice with the release of MCPBar - a fully functional reference implementation of the MCP manifest proposal!

Let's dive into what MCPBar brings to the table and how it can simplify your experience with Model Context Protocol servers.

🚀 From Concept to Implementation

In our previous post, we outlined a standardized approach for managing MCP servers using the mcp.json manifest. Today, that vision has become reality with the MCPBar project.

MCPBar is an all-in-one CLI manager for MCP servers that implements the standardized manifest concept, offering a practical solution to the challenges we discussed:

Fragmentation? Solved.
Installation complexity? Simplified.
Metadata inconsistency? Standardized.
Discoverability issues? Addressed.

💻 Getting Started with MCPBar

Installation is straightforward - just use npm:

npm install -g mcpbar

Once installed, MCPBar gives you a powerful set of commands to manage your MCP servers:

# Search for available servers
mcpbar search github

# Install a server from a manifest file
mcpbar install ./manifests/github.json

# Or install using a package alias
mcpbar i github/github-mcp-server

# List your installed MCP servers
mcpbar list

# Remove a server
mcpbar remove github

🧩 The MCP Registry: 1500+ Servers at Your Fingertips

One of the most exciting aspects of MCPBar is its extensive registry with over 1500 ready-to-use MCP servers. This open registry serves as the foundation of a standardized MCP ecosystem, making it easier than ever to discover and share AI tools.

The registry follows the decentralized approach we proposed, where each server is described by a standardized mcp.json manifest file that contains all the necessary metadata and configuration details.

🔧 Key Features of MCPBar

MCPBar brings several powerful features to developers:

Simple Installation: Install MCP servers with a single command
User-Friendly Interface: Interactive prompts make configuration easy
Cross-Platform Support: Works on Windows, macOS, and Linux
Flexible Sources: Install from URLs, local files, or package aliases
Multi-Client Support: Compatible with Claude, Cline, Cursor, Windsurf, Witsy, and more

By implementing the mcp.json manifest concept, MCPBar creates a standardized yet flexible ecosystem that benefits both developers and users of MCP servers.

🌟 Real-World Example: Installing a GitHub MCP Server

Let's see how MCPBar simplifies the installation process with a real example:

# Install the GitHub MCP server
mcpbar install github/github-mcp-server

# The CLI will prompt for any required inputs, such as your GitHub token

# Verify the installation
mcpbar list

Behind the scenes, MCPBar handles all the complexity:

It fetches the mcp.json manifest
Processes the server configuration
Securely handles your token input
Sets up the server in your MCP client

What used to be a multi-step manual process is now reduced to a single command!

🔄 The Standardized Manifest in Action

MCPBar uses the standardized mcp.json manifest structure we proposed, which includes key information such as:

{
  "name": "github",
  "version": "1.0.0",
  "description": "GitHub MCP Server for AI tools using Model Context Protocol (MCP).",
  "homepage": "https://github.com/github/github-mcp-server",
  "repository": {
    "type": "git",
    "url": "https://github.com/github/github-mcp-server.git"
  },
  "license": "MIT",
  "keywords": [
    "mcp",
    "ai",
    "github"
  ],
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "github_token",
      "type": "promptString",
      "description": "GitHub Personal Access Token",
      "password": true
    }
  ],
  "server": {
    "command": "docker",
    "args": [
      "run",
      "-i",
      "--rm",
      "-e",
      "GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN",
      "ghcr.io/github/github-mcp-server"
    ],
    "env": {
      "GITHUB_PERSONAL_ACCESS_TOKEN": "${input:github_token}"
    }
  }
}

This structured approach ensures consistency and interoperability across different MCP clients and tools.

🚶‍♀️ Next Steps for the MCP Ecosystem

While MCPBar represents a significant step forward, this is just the beginning:

Growing the Registry: Adding more MCP servers to the open registry
Enhancing the CLI: Introducing new features based on user feedback
Expanding Client Support: Working with more MCP clients for seamless integration
Community Contributions: Encouraging developers to submit their MCP servers

🤝 Join the Movement

The MCPBar project is open source and welcomes contributions. If you're interested in improving the MCP ecosystem, here's how you can get involved:

Try MCPBar: Install it and provide feedback
Submit MCP Servers: Add your servers to the registry
Contribute to Development: Help enhance the CLI and registry
Spread the Word: Share MCPBar with fellow AI developers

Together, we can build a more connected, efficient, and powerful MCP ecosystem!

Visit MCP.Bar and check out the GitHub repository to learn more and get started with MCPBar today.

What do you think of this implementation? I'd love to hear your thoughts and experiences with MCPBar!