The Secret Birth of MCP – AI’s Answer to HTTP
Vivi Carter · 22, July 2025
How a Frustrated Engineer’s Hackathon Project Became AI’s New "HTTP"
Inside Anthropic’s MCP Protocol That Lets Claude Control 3D Printers – and Everything Else
"MCP isn’t another API – it’s a universal language for models to understand our world."– David Soria Parra, MCP Co-Creator
September 2024, Anthropic HQ:
During an internal hackathon, engineers ignored flashy AI projects. Instead, they raced to build MCP servers – letting Claude manipulate Slack, databases, even 3D printers. When David Soria Parra saw Claude physically print an object via protocol, he knew: Text boxes were obsolete.
🔍 Core Insights
- Reality Breakthrough: MCP frees AI from chat prisons to control tools/data
- Organic Validation: 100% hackathon participation signaled industry-wide pain
- Open-Source Gambit: Anthropic surrendered control to dominate adoption
- Ecosystem Explosion: 10K+ developers adopted MCP in months (GitHub Traction)
- Future Vision: AI will autonomously discover tools via registry APIs
The Copy-Paste Rebellion
David’s Pain Point (April 2024):
As an Anthropic engineer, he wasted hours copying code between Claude and VS Code. Existing APIs failed because:
The Epiphany:
When colleague Justin Spargur shared the frustration, they realized: Every AI developer rebuilt custom integrations. The solution needed standardization, not new endpoints.
Technical Architecture: Simplicity as Superpower
MCP’s genius lies in three standardized interaction modes:
| Component | Function | Real-World Use |
| Tools | Execute actions | Create GitHub issues, control smart lights |
| Resources | Access raw data | Query DBs, read files, API responses |
| Prompts | Slash-command skills | auto-generates Python script |
Game-Changer: Remote MCP servers (hosted vs. local) enabled enterprise scaling. As Theo Chu notes: "Suddenly, connecting Claude to SAP was as easy as sharing a URL."
The Counterintuitive Business Model
Why open-source a potential goldmine? MCP Product Lead Theo Chu (ex-Stripe, Twitter PM) explains:
"Closed ecosystems scare developers. Open standards? They build with* you. Our moat isn’t control – it’s model intelligence."*
Results:
- Claude became default MCP leader through compatibility, not coercion
- Enterprise adoption soared 300% post-open-sourcing (EnterpriseTech)
- Reduced customer acquisition costs by eliminating vendor-lock fears
Blood, Sweat & Typos: Lessons from the Trenches
Early Struggles:
- Naming Fail: "Model Context Protocol" confused developers → constant "MPC" misspellings
- Server Overload: Claude froze when 3+ project management tools connected simultaneously
- Enterprise Reality Check: Fortune 500s demanded SSO/auth controls missing in V1
The Fixes:
- Added AI-powered tool prioritization logic
- Co-designed security extensions with IBM/Google
- Published "MCP in Production" war stories
Next Evolution: AI That Builds Its Own Tools
Q2 2025 Roadmap:
- Registry API: Claude autonomously discovers/searches new MCP serversExample: "Analyze this site’s SEO" → Claude finds SEO MCP server → self-integrates
- Long-Running Tasks: Support multi-hour workflows (e.g., video rendering)
- Elicitation Protocol: AI gracefully requests missing info from users
- Claude 4 Synergy: Smarter tool selection for complex operations
Developer Playbook
- In Claude: Type
"Build me an MCP server"→ get live prototype in 10min
- Start with
/hello_worldtool → add Resources/Prompts incrementally
- Pro Tip: Test music/Blender control servers first to grasp possibilities
Ecosystem Roles:
| Player | Examples | Value Add |
| Protocol Stewards | Anthropic | Core spec, Claude integration |
| Client Builders | VS Code, Cursor | Native MCP support |
| Server Creators | 10K+ devs | Niche tools (IoT, finance, bio) |
| Enterprise Users | Walmart, Siemens | Real-world stress testing |
Why This Changes Everything
2025 Forecast:
- MCP becomes AI’s HTTP → 90% tools support it natively
- Agent ecosystems automate multi-step business workflows
- Physical world manipulation via IoT explodes (IEEE Prediction)
Innovation Playbook:
- Solve Your Own Pain (David’s copy-paste hell)
- Validate Organically (Hackathon’s unanimous choice)
- Open > Own (Control surrendered = dominance achieved)
Relevant Resources