modelcontextprotocol/inspector and its usecases

 When developing a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server, you often need a client to test its functionality. While you could build a custom client or use an IDE with a dedicated plugin, there’s a more streamlined solution: @modelcontextprotocol/inspector. This Node.js package provides a web-based user interface for interacting with and testing your MCP server.

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Getting Started with modelcontextprotocol/inspector

Let’s walk through how to set it up and run it.

1. Set Up Your Environment

First, create a new directory and set up a Python virtual environment to keep your dependencies isolated.

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# Create a folder and navigate into it mkdir mcp-inspector-demo cd mcp-inspector-demo   # Create and activate a Python virtual environment python -m venv .venv # On Windows .venv\Scripts\activate # On macOS/Linux source .venv/bin/activate

2. Run the Inspector

The easiest way to use the inspector is with npx, which allows you to run a Node.js package without installing it globally.

1	npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector

When prompted, type y to proceed with the installation. This command will:

• Launch a proxy server, typically at localhost:6277.
• Generate a unique session token for authentication.
• Open a new browser window or tab, taking you to the inspector’s web interface.

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Connecting to Your MCP Server

With the inspector running, you can now connect to your MCP server, such as a FASTMCPServer, to test its functionality directly from the web UI.

For more information, including details on persistent installation using npm and advanced configuration, you can refer to the official GitHub documentation.

https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/inspector