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MCP servers and plugins for Claude Code

What the Model Context Protocol (MCP) is, how to add MCP servers to Claude Code for GitHub, databases and docs, and how plugins bundle it all together.

Lesson 4.4⏱ 8 min read🏎️ Power user❓ 3-question quiz
The short answer

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard that lets Claude Code connect to external tools and data such as GitHub, databases, Figma or your CRM. Add servers with claude mcp add or a shared .mcp.json file, and use plugins to install bundles of commands, skills, agents, hooks and MCP servers in one go.

MCP explained

MCP (Model Context Protocol) is an open standard for connecting AI to tools and data. An MCP server is a small program that exposes capabilities ("search Jira tickets", "query the database", "read this Figma design") that Claude can call.

Analogy: MCP is like USB-C for AI. One standard plug, many devices.

Adding an MCP server

From your terminal:

# a remote (HTTP) server
claude mcp add --transport http my-docs https://example.com/mcp

# a local server started as a command
claude mcp add my-db -- npx -y some-database-mcp-server

claude mcp list

Inside a session, run /mcp to see connected servers and authenticate where needed.

Sharing with your team: .mcp.json

Project-scoped servers live in a .mcp.json file at the repo root, committed so the whole team gets them. Keep secrets out using environment variable expansion:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "github": {
      "type": "http",
      "url": "https://api.example.com/mcp",
      "headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer ${GITHUB_TOKEN}" }
    }
  }
}

Each developer sets GITHUB_TOKEN locally; nothing sensitive is committed. Personal servers can be added at user scope instead.

Build vs use: check for an existing official or community MCP server before building your own. Build custom only for workflows nobody else covers.

Plugins: bundles in one install

Plugins package slash commands, skills, subagents, hooks and MCP servers together so you can install a whole workflow at once. Use /plugin to browse marketplaces and install.

For a consultancy, this is powerful: you can build an internal plugin with your proposal skill, review agent and CRM connector, and roll it out to every consultant consistently.

Trust carefully: MCP servers and plugins can access data and run code. Install only from sources you trust and review what permissions they need.

Check yourself

Three quick questions to check it stuck.

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Frequently asked

What is MCP in Claude Code?

MCP, the Model Context Protocol, is an open standard for connecting Claude to external tools and data sources through MCP servers, such as GitHub, databases, docs or design tools.

How do I add an MCP server to Claude Code?

Run claude mcp add with a name and either a URL (for remote servers) or a command (for local ones), or define servers in a project .mcp.json file. Use /mcp in a session to check status.

What are Claude Code plugins?

Plugins are installable bundles that can include slash commands, skills, subagents, hooks and MCP servers. Browse and install them with the /plugin command.