Building a Custom MCP Server: Architecture and Implementation Patterns (ANSWERED)
Building a custom MCP server is a common system-design follow-up to "what is MCP?" Strong candidates describe end-to-end architecture, not just SDK boilerplate.
TL;DR — Quick Answer
Implement an MCP server that exposes typed tools/resources over stdio or HTTP/SSE, validate inputs with JSON Schema, proxy to your internal API with service credentials, and test with contract tests plus a mock host client.
The Interview Question
Walk through how you would design and implement a custom MCP server for an internal API. Cover transport, tool schemas, auth, and testing.
Deep Explanation
Building a custom MCP server is a common system-design follow-up to "what is MCP?" Strong candidates describe end-to-end architecture, not just SDK boilerplate.
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