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What is MCP? API-first, OpenAPI, Model Context Protocol

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is a modern standard for building API-first, context-driven systems. MCP combines the power of OpenAPI with structured, portable context to enable scalable, interoperable, and developer-friendly applications.

Key Principles​

  • API-first: Your OpenAPI schema is the contract—every tool, agent, and service follows it
  • Context-driven: Context is a first-class citizen, enabling personalization, memory, and stateful workflows
  • Interoperability: MCP makes it easy to integrate services, agents, and tools across languages and platforms
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MCP is designed for teams who want to move fast, avoid lock-in, and deliver great developer and user experiences.

How MCP Works​

  • Define your API and context structure in OpenAPI
  • Use MCP-compliant servers (e.g., HAPI, RunMCP) to enforce contracts and manage context
  • Connect agents, tools, and clients using the same protocol

Example: MCP Context in OpenAPI​

components:
  schemas:
    Context:
      type: object
      properties:
        userId:
          type: string
        preferences:
          type: object
          properties:
            language:
              type: string
            theme:
              type: string

Further Reading​