MCP Calculator Server - VSCode Setup Guide

This project contains a simple Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides an add_numbers tool.

Prerequisites

• Python 3.10+
• A compatible VSCode extension (e.g., Roo Code or Cline)

Quick Setup

1. Initialize Virtual Environment

python3 -m venv venv
source venv/bin/activate  # On Windows: .\venv\Scripts\activate
pip install -r requirements.txt

2. Configure VSCode Extension

This project includes a local mcp_config.json that is configured to use the local venv.

If your VSCode extension (like Roo Code or Cline) supports workspace-level MCP settings, it will automatically detect the server. Otherwise, you can point your global settings to the local venv path:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "calculator": {
      "command": "/ABSOLUTE/PATH/TO/mcp_poc/venv/bin/python3",
      "args": ["/ABSOLUTE/PATH/TO/mcp_poc/mcp_server.py"]
    }
  }
}

Repository-level Configuration

We have included a template configuration file at mcp_config.template.json. You can copy this and adjust the paths for your local machine.

How to Test

Run the included test script to ensure the server is working correctly:

python3 test_server.py

Setup on a New PC

If you are moving to a different machine:

1. Clone the repo: git clone https://github.com/barneybarney143/mcp_poc.git

2. Run Setup:

   python3 -m venv venv
   source venv/bin/activate
   pip install -r requirements.txt
   

3. Update Path: MCP servers usually require absolute paths. Open your VSCode MCP settings and update the command and args to match the location of the project on your new machine.

   [!TIP] If you use the Roo Code extension, it can automatically detect the mcp_config.json in the root of this workspace using relative paths!