Use Model Context Protocol (MCP) in Cursor IDE - A Beginner's Guide to Seamless AI Tool Integration

Use Model Context Protocol (MCP) in Cursor IDE - A Beginner's Guide to Seamless AI Tool Integration

2025-02-26
AI

Let’s explore what MCP (Model Context Protocol) is, how it works with the Cursor IDE (AI-powered code editor/IDE), and how you can use free resources or even build your own MCP server.


What is MCP (Model Context Protocol)? #

Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard that connects AI models to external tools and data sources using one consistent method. It works through a client-server model where the AI sends requests to MCP servers that perform actions or fetch information.

The best part? MCP lets you use well-developed tools from the community seamlessly.

Before MCP, each AI integration with a tool needed custom coding, creating information silos. Launched by Anthropic in late 2024, MCP now works like a “universal adapter” for AI - similar to how USB standardized device connections. It lets AI systems talk to various data sources and tools through a single protocol, so you don’t need to build each integration from scratch.

For reference, see:


Using MCP in Cursor #

Cursor, an AI-powered code editor, now supports MCP as a client. This means Cursor’s AI assistant can connect to external tools and data sources to boost its capabilities. You can connect multiple MCP servers at once, giving Cursor access to a wide range of external tools.

Assuming you have Cursor installed and know the basics:

Setup (Step-by-Step):

  • Open Cursor → Settings → Features → MCP
  • Click “Add New MCP Server”
  • Name: Give your server a descriptive name
  • Type: usually command (for local process), or other appropriate type
  • Command: Enter the command to run your MCP server
  • Click “Add”
  • Make sure the server indicator in Cursor turns green (showing a successful connection).

Troubleshooting - Missing npm:

  • If you get a “no tools found” error, you need to install Node.js (which includes npm)
  • Download Node.js LTS from nodejs.org
  • Run the installer and follow the prompts
  • Verify installation by running node -v and npm -v in terminal
  • Try the command again: npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-sequential-thinking
  • Update the server path in Cursor’s MCP settings if needed

Minimal Example 1: Web Automation with Puppeteer MCP in Cursor #

Puppeteer MCP gives your AI assistant the power to control a web browser. This lets Cursor do tasks it can’t handle on its own. Here’s how to set it up:

  1. Install the Puppeteer MCP server:

    • Follow the setup steps. Use:
      • Name: “Puppeteer”
      • Type: command
      • Command: npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-puppeteer
    • Click “Add”. Refresh and make sure the server indicator turns green.

  2. Example Usage:

    • Open the Composer tool in Cursor (select Agent mode)

    • Try these tasks that weren’t possible before:

      a. Take a screenshot of the Bitcoin price on CoinMarketCap and save it to my current project folder."

      b. Extract all product names and prices from the first page of Amazon search results for ‘wireless headphones’.

      c. Fill out a contact form on website X with my information.

    • Note 1: You’ll need to approve the use of the MCP tool at each step.

    • Note 2: These tools and Cursor integration are still being polished, so you might hit occasional bugs.

  3. What makes this powerful:

    • Cursor can now interact with websites directly
    • No need to write automation code yourself
    • Can extract data, take screenshots, fill forms, and more
    • Perfect for testing, data collection, and automating repetitive web tasks

Minimal Example 2: Sequential Thinking with MCP in Cursor #

The Sequential Thinking tool helps your AI assistant reason step-by-step through complex problems. Setup is similar to the Puppeteer example:

  1. Install the Sequential Thinking MCP server:

    • Follow the setup steps. Use:
      • Name: “Sequential Thinking”
      • Type: command
      • Command: npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-sequential-thinking
    • Click “Add”. Refresh and make sure the server indicator turns green.

  2. Example Usage:

    • Open the Composer in Agent mode

    • Try asking complex questions that need methodical analysis:

      Analyze this SQL query performance issue:
      We have a table with 10 million customer records that includes name, email, address and purchase history. The query:

      SELECT * 
FROM customers 
WHERE last_purchase_date > '2023-01-01' 
AND state = 'California'

      is taking over 30 seconds to run. What could be causing this and how would you fix it? Think step by step.

    • With Sequential Thinking, Cursor’s AI will:

      • Break down problems into logical steps
      • Show reasoning at each stage
      • Consider multiple factors systematically
      • Provide thorough technical recommendations

    • This tool is ideal for debugging, optimization, algorithm design, and any task where clear reasoning leads to better results.


Platforms and Free MCP Resources #

Here’s a short list of free resources to help you get started with MCP:

Official Resources #

Ready-to-Use Tools #

  • Pre-built MCP Servers: Anthropic offers connectors for Google Drive, Slack, GitHub, PostgreSQL, and more in their GitHub repository.
  • Smithery.ai: Platform where you can find and deploy MCP servers with one click or simple CLI commands.
  • Glama.ai: Lists community MCP servers and provides a web-based Inspector for testing.

Learning Resources #

  • Egghead.io Tutorial: “Build Your First MCP Tool in Cursor in 2 Minutes” - quick video walkthrough.
  • Medium Guide: “Cursor MCP — A 5-Minute Quick Start Guide” by Yehuda Levi.
  • Sourcegraph Blog: Details how their AI (Cody) integrates with MCP.

Community Support #

  • MCP Discord Server: Official community for questions, sharing projects, and troubleshooting.
  • Cursor Community Forum: Discussions about MCP features and integration.

All these resources are completely free. Whether you want to use existing tools or build your own, these links give you everything you need to get started.


Build Your First MCP Server in 3 Steps #

Want to create custom AI tools now? Here’s the fast track to building an MCP server. We’ll use Python/TypeScript examples - you just need basic coding skills and Node/Python installed.

1. Install SDK & Create Server

# Python
pip install mcp

# TypeScript
npm install @modelcontextprotocol/sdk

# Basic server setup (Python)
from mcp.server.fastmcp import FastMCP
mcp = FastMCP("MyFirstServer")  # That's it!

2. Add Your First Tool
Create a calculator function with proper type hints:

@mcp.tool()
def add(a: int, b: int) -> int:
    """Add two numbers (AI sees this description)"""
    return a + b

3. Test & Connect

  1. Test with MCP Inspector:
npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector python your_server.py
  1. In Cursor: Settings > MCP Servers > Add Local Script

4. Example Flow

  1. User asks “What’s 2+2?”
  2. Cursor sends JSON-RPC request to your server
  3. Your add tool runs and returns 4
  4. AI shows result with [Tool] badge

5. More Pro Tips

  • Start with simple CLI tools using stdio transport
  • Tools = active functions, Resources = passive data
  • Always validate inputs: def delete_file(path: str) -> bool:
  • Use @mcp.resource("docs://{topic}") for internal knowledge

6. Security First!

  • Never expose dangerous functions without user confirmations
  • Store secrets in environment variables
  • Use allowlists for file access

Ready to share? Others can use your server by adding its endpoint in their Cursor settings!


Conclusion #

So what’s the big deal with MCP? It changes the game for AI tools. It gives AI assistants like Cursor a simple way to access data and do tasks they couldn’t handle before. The perks are pretty sweet:

  • Connect many tools with just one protocol
  • Set things up easily with servers that are ready to go
  • Build your own tools with just a bit of code
  • Use it across different platforms thanks to the open standard

You can use tools others made or build your own - either way, MCP helps your AI do more than just basic stuff. Try the examples I showed you and see results right away. As more people join in, we’ll see even cooler tools pop up.

Want to give it a shot? Just install an MCP server and watch your AI assistant level up. The future of AI tools is all about being connected and powerful - and now you know how to be part of it!

2025-02-26