Meet the mcp CLI
Run, develop, and inspect servers from the command line.
Meet the mcp CLI is a free MCP Academy lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 3 of 4. You can read the complete lesson below for free — then practise it hands-on in the browser with a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor. It is part of the MCP Academy learning path, one of 4 lessons in the course, and your progress syncs across the web and the CoddyKit app.
Your Command-Line Companion
The mcp command-line tool came with the [cli] extra. It's how you run, test, and ship servers without writing extra glue code. 🛠️
Three Commands to Know
The CLI centers on three verbs: dev, install, and run. Each handles a different stage of working with your server, from testing to shipping.
Run It Through uv
Because the tool lives in your project's environment, you call it with uv run. That guarantees the right Python and packages are used every time.
uv run mcpmcp dev for Testing
The fastest way to try a server is mcp dev. It launches your server and opens the MCP Inspector so you can poke at it interactively.
uv run mcp dev server.pyWhy dev Is So Handy
With mcp dev you see your tools and resources live, call them by hand, and watch responses. It's the tightest possible feedback loop. 🔍
mcp install for Claude
When a server is ready for daily use, mcp install wires it straight into Claude Desktop's config so the app loads it on startup.
uv run mcp install server.pyName Your Server
Pass a friendly label with the --name flag so it's easy to spot inside Claude. A clear name beats a raw file path every time.
uv run mcp install server.py --name "My Server"mcp run to Execute
The plain mcp run command executes a server directly, no Inspector attached. It's the simple way to launch a FastMCP server for a client.
uv run mcp run server.pydev vs run
Reach for mcp dev while building and debugging, and switch to mcp run once you just need the server up. Same server, different intent.
Discover Flags with Help
Forgot an option? Every command supports --help, which prints its arguments and usage. It's the quickest reference you'll always have on hand.
uv run mcp dev --helpOne CLI, Whole Lifecycle
Together these commands cover the lifecycle: test with dev, ship with install, launch with run. You rarely need anything else to operate a server. 🔄
Quick Check
You want to test a new server and click through its tools interactively.
You Know the CLI
You can now dev to test, install to add a server to Claude, and run to launch it. Three commands give you full control of your server. 🎉
Frequently asked questions
Is the “Meet the mcp CLI” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “Meet the mcp CLI” is free to read here on the web, and the MCP Academy course includes 4 lessons in total. To practise it interactively (a built-in code editor and a 24/7 AI tutor) and unlock the rest of the MCP Academy course, upgrade to CoddyKit PRO.
What will I learn in “Meet the mcp CLI”?
Run, develop, and inspect servers from the command line. You practise MCP Academy with hands-on code you run directly in the browser, and a 24/7 AI tutor answers your questions as you work through the lesson.
Do I need any experience to start MCP Academy?
No prior experience is required. MCP Academy on CoddyKit is structured for beginners through advanced learners; this is — lesson 3 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “Meet the mcp CLI” lesson take?
Most CoddyKit lessons take about 5–10 minutes. Each one is bite-sized and interactive, so you make steady progress and pick up exactly where you left off across the web and the app.
Can I write and run code in this MCP Academy lesson?
Yes. Every MCP Academy lesson includes a built-in code editor, so you write and run real code right in your browser and get instant AI feedback — no local setup required.