What Is MCP (Model Context Protocol)?
MCP (Model Context Protocol) is an open standard for connecting large language models to external tools, data sources, and services. Think of it as a universal plugin system for AI.
How MCP Works
An MCP server exposes tools (functions the model can call) and resources (data the model can read). The AI client connects to these servers and makes their capabilities available to the model.
For example, an MCP server might provide:
- File system access (read/write local files)
- Database queries
- API integrations (GitHub, Slack, Jira)
- Web browsing
- Code execution
Why MCP Matters
Before MCP, every AI app built its own integrations from scratch. MCP provides a shared standard so:
- One server works with any compatible client
- Developers build integrations once, not per-app
- Users mix and match tools freely
Popular MCP Servers
| Server | What It Does |
|---|---|
| Filesystem | Read/write files on your machine |
| GitHub | Browse repos, create PRs, manage issues |
| Postgres | Query databases with natural language |
| Puppeteer | Browse and scrape web pages |
| Slack | Send messages, search channels |
MCP in Elvean
Elvean has built-in MCP support — connect any MCP server and your models gain access to its tools automatically. This turns Elvean into an agentic workspace where models can take actions, not just chat.
Elvean brings all these concepts together in one native Mac app — local models, cloud APIs, agentic tools, and more.
Learn more about Elvean