name: mcp-sdlc description: > Orchestrate the full end-to-end SDLC for building a production-quality MCP server. Use when building a new MCP server from scratch, following a complete MCP development pipeline, managing iterative MCP server development, running the full lifecycle from ideation to client integration, guiding a structured MCP workflow, or performing lifecycle management for an existing MCP server. Covers all phases: planning, design, creation, testing, verification, integration, validation, live scenario testing, iteration loops, and final ship.

MCP SDLC

End-to-end orchestrator for building, validating, and shipping MCP servers.

Intent Router

Load reference files on demand — only when the corresponding phase is active:

• references/phase-planning.md — Phase 1: purpose definition, capability inventory, transport decision, gate criterion
• references/phase-design.md — Phase 2: tool schema design, resource/prompt templates, interface contract
• references/phase-creation.md — Phase 3: scaffold setup, handler implementation, build commands
• references/phase-testing.md — Phase 4: test harness, unit tests, Inspector integration
• references/phase-verification.md — Phase 5: verification checklist, schema validation, Inspector run
• references/phase-integration.md — Phase 6: client config patterns, settings.json, connection verification
• references/phase-validation.md — Phase 7: M01–M06 quality rubric, scoring workflow, verdict thresholds
• references/phase-test-drive.md — Phase 8: scenario matrix, Inspector execution, friction report
• references/iteration-patterns.md — Phase 9: re-entry decision tree, loop patterns, partial recovery

Quick Start — Phase Overview

Phase Definitions

Phase 1: Planning

Load references/phase-planning.md for the full deliverable list and gate criterion.

Document four outputs before writing any code: purpose statement, capability inventory (all tools named), transport decision, and client compatibility notes. Scope limit: one server = one domain. Gate: all four outputs written; no tool names listed as TBD.

Phase 2: Design

Load references/phase-design.md for the schema checklist and validation commands.

Produce valid JSON Schema inputSchema for every tool. Validate schemas with ajv or jsonschema before writing any implementation code. Gate: all schemas validated; interface contract document written.

Phase 3: Creation

Load references/phase-creation.md for scaffold templates and the handler contract.

npm create @modelcontextprotocol/server@latest my-server  # TypeScript
pip install mcp                                            # Python
npm run build                                              # Build TypeScript

Gate: server starts; tools/list returns all declared tools via the Inspector.

Phase 4: Testing

Load references/phase-testing.md for test harness setup and coverage targets.

npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector node dist/index.js    # TypeScript
npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector python server.py      # Python
npm test                                                   # Unit tests
pytest                                                     # Python tests

Gate: unit tests pass; Inspector shows all tools in the Tools panel.

Phase 5: Verification

Load references/phase-verification.md for the full 10-item checklist.

Run the verification checklist. Validate each tool's inputSchema. Confirm the initialize handshake includes protocolVersion. Gate: all 10 checklist items PASS.

Phase 6: Integration

Load references/phase-integration.md for config examples and troubleshooting.

Add the server to ~/.claude/settings.json or .claude/settings.json using absolute paths. Start a new session and confirm tools appear. Gate: client connects; all tools visible; one tool call succeeds.

Phase 7: Validation

Load references/phase-validation.md for scoring steps and the report template.

Score dimensions M01–M06 using the mcp-validation quality rubric. Write the validation report. Gate: APPROVE verdict (≥5 PASS, 0 FAIL, M05 PASS).

Phase 8: Test Drive

Load references/phase-test-drive.md for bucket definitions and the friction report.

Design a 5+ scenario matrix from the capability inventory. Execute via the Inspector. Record outcomes and write the friction report. Gate: ≥5 attempted; ≥3 PASS; friction report written.

Phase 9: Iteration

Load references/iteration-patterns.md for the re-entry decision tree.

Match each failure mode to its minimum re-entry phase — do not restart from Phase 1 unless planning scope is the root cause. After any code change, always re-run Phase 5 (Verification). Gate: re-entry complete; upstream phase gates re-pass.

Phase 10: Ship

Confirm all phase gates pass. Update README, then commit:

bash linting/lint-skill.sh skills/<name>
bash validation/validate-skill.sh skills/<name>
git add README.md skills/<name>
git commit -m "feat(<name>): add MCP server"
# At workspace root:
git add repos/llm-shared-skills
git commit -m "chore(submodules): advance llm-shared-skills with <name>"

Iteration Patterns

Cross-Phase Decision Guide

• After any change to handler code, re-run Phase 5 before anything else.
• If validation returns REVISE on M01, fix tool descriptions and names before re-validating — discoverability affects all downstream testing.
• If test drive returns ≥3 PASS with mostly PARTIAL results, prefer Phase 7 re-validation over full re-implementation.
• Record all BLOCKED scenarios — they document infrastructure dependencies, not dismissible failures.
• When M01 fails twice in a row, treat it as a scope signal — load references/iteration-patterns.md for escalation guidance.
• Never ship with a Phase 5 FAIL or M05 Safety FAIL.

Resource Index