Scope the Project & Tools
Decide which capabilities your server will expose.
Scope the Project & Tools is a free MCP Academy lesson on CoddyKit — lesson 1 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.
Time to Ship Something Real
You have learned the pieces; now you build a complete server. This capstone wraps one real service into a tidy, installable MCP server. 🚀
Start with the User Goal
Before any code, name the job your server helps with. A clear goal like search my notes keeps every later decision focused and small.
Pick One Real Service
Choose a single concrete backend: a notes folder, a SQLite database, or one public API. One source keeps the capstone shippable, not sprawling.
List the Capabilities
Write down what the AI should be able to do, like search, read, and add. This short capability list becomes your map of tools and resources.
Sort Actions from Reads
Split your list: things that change state are tools, things that only fetch context are resources. This sorting decides each primitive up front.
Sketch the Tool Signatures
For each tool, jot a name, its arguments, and what it returns. A quick signature sketch catches missing inputs long before you write logic.
# add_note(title: str, body: str) -> str
# search_notes(query: str) -> list[str]
# A two-line sketch is enough to start.Plan One Resource
Pick one piece of read-only context to expose as a resource, such as a single note by its id. Resources feed the model without taking action.
Plan One Prompt
Add one reusable prompt the user can trigger, like summarize this note. Prompts package your best instructions so callers do not retype them.
Define Done Early
Decide what finished looks like now: the server loads, lists three tools, and answers one real query. A clear scope stops endless feature creep.
Name the Server
Give your project a short, descriptive name like notes-mcp. Clients show this name to users, so make it instantly tell people what it does.
from mcp.server.fastmcp import FastMCP
mcp = FastMCP("notes-mcp")Write a Tiny Spec
Capture the plan in one short spec file: goal, backend, tools, resource, and prompt. This page becomes your checklist as you build the rest.
Quick Check
Let us confirm how you sort capabilities.
Recap
You scoped a real project: one goal, one backend, and a tight list of tools, a resource, and a prompt. A clear plan makes the build easy. 🎯
Frequently asked questions
Is the “Scope the Project & Tools” lesson free?
Yes — the full text of “Scope the Project & Tools” 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 “Scope the Project & Tools”?
Decide which capabilities your server will expose. 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 1 of 4, so you can start here or from the beginning and move at your own pace.
How long does the “Scope the Project & Tools” 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.
All lessons in this course
- Scope the Project & Tools
- Implement Tools, Resources & Prompts
- Test, Inspect & Harden
- Document & Publish the Server