Model Context Protocol for Beginners
by microsoft
Microsoft's free, open-source MCP curriculum walks through protocol fundamentals with runnable code samples in Python, TypeScript, Java, C#, and Rust.
Clone the curriculum
git clone https://github.com/microsoft/mcp-for-beginners.git
About
MCP for Beginners is Microsoft's open-source curriculum for learning the Model Context Protocol from the ground up. It moves through core concepts, security, and multi-modal integration in short lessons, then backs each one with runnable samples in C#, Java, JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, and Rust so you can see the protocol working instead of just reading about it.
The material is organized into numbered modules: foundations, a 15-plus-guide implementation section for building your own servers and clients, an 11th module built around a 13-lab sequence on database-integrated MCP servers, and a closing module on tooling. It reads as a reference for onboarding a team onto MCP, not a single tutorial you skim once.
Key features
- Runnable code samples in six languages: C#, Java, JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, and Rust
- Dedicated security module covering auth, sandboxing, and trust boundaries for MCP servers
- 13-lab sequence dedicated to wiring MCP servers up to real databases
- Azure integration case study showing MCP orchestrating a real agent architecture
- MIT-licensed and structured for classroom or self-paced study
Use cases
- Onboarding a team of engineers onto MCP before they build a production server
- Following a structured path from 'what is MCP' through building and deploying servers
- Using the database-integration labs as a template for a company's own MCP-plus-database project
Available tools
03-GettingStarted samples
Runnable client/server examples in six languages you clone and run locally to see the base protocol working.
04-PracticalImplementation guides
15+ step-by-step guides for building your own MCP servers and clients from scratch.
11-SecurityAndDatabase labs
A 13-lab sequence dedicated to connecting MCP servers to real databases safely.
Azure AI Travel Agents case study
A worked example showing MCP orchestrating multiple services inside an Azure-hosted agent.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need prior MCP experience to start?
No. The first modules assume no background and build up from what MCP is and why it exists before touching code.
Which language should I use for the samples?
Pick whichever matches your stack; every core lesson has parallel samples in C#, Java, JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, and Rust.