Frequently Asked Questions
Detailed answers regarding Model Context Protocol (MCP) conversion architecture, multi-client installation, credential security, and troubleshooting.
- Model Context Protocol (MCP)
- An open-source standard pioneered by Anthropic that allows AI assistants to interface directly with external developer tools, APIs, and databases via JSON-RPC 2.0 messages.
- MCP Server
- A lightweight runtime executable (Node.js, Python, or Docker) that translates client function calls into real-world API requests or database operations.
- MCP Client Host
- An AI coding assistant environment (Claude Desktop, Cursor IDE, VS Code Cline) that connects to MCP servers over standard input/output (stdio) or Server-Sent Events (SSE).
- OpenAPI Specification
- A standard JSON/YAML schema format defining REST API operations. MCP-Bridge automatically transforms OpenAPI endpoints into executable MCP tools.
What is MCP-Bridge?▼
MCP-Bridge is an open-source, high-performance developer platform that converts OpenAPI v3 (Swagger) REST specifications into ready-to-use Model Context Protocol (MCP) server configurations. The entire parser runs client-side inside your browser via WebAssembly and TypeScript, ensuring zero server data ingestion, zero latency, and 100% data confidentiality.
Do you store or log my OpenAPI specifications or API keys?▼
No. All specification parsing, parameter validation, schema extraction, and JSON configuration compilation take place entirely within your local browser session. Your OpenAPI endpoints, schema definitions, and private API keys are never transmitted to our servers or stored in any remote database.
Which AI clients and code editors support MCP-Bridge configurations?▼
All configurations generated by MCP-Bridge strictly adhere to the standard Model Context Protocol JSON-RPC 2.0 specification. They are pre-tested and 100% compatible with Claude Desktop (macOS and Windows), Cursor IDE, VS Code (via Cline, Roo Code, and Continue.dev), and Zed Editor.
What OpenAPI versions are supported by the converter?▼
MCP-Bridge supports both OpenAPI 3.0.x and OpenAPI 3.1.x specifications formatted in either JSON or YAML. The parser automatically detects parameter types, path operations, request bodies, authentication headers, and response schemas to construct deterministic MCP tools.
How do I install a generated MCP server into Claude Desktop?▼
Locate your claude_desktop_config.json file (on macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json; on Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json). Paste the generated JSON configuration under the root mcpServers object, specify any required API tokens under the env dictionary, and restart Claude Desktop.
How do I configure MCP servers in Cursor IDE?▼
In Cursor IDE, open Cursor Settings -> Features -> MCP Servers and click 'Add New MCP Server'. Alternatively, add a .cursor/mcp.json file directly to the root of your project workspace. This allows your team to check version-controlled tool configurations directly into Git.
What are .cursorrules files and how do they work with MCP?▼
.cursorrules files provide persistent, workspace-specific system prompts and coding guidelines for Cursor AI. When paired with MCP servers, .cursorrules instruct the AI on exactly when and how to invoke specific MCP tools, query database schemas, and adhere to clean architecture patterns.
How are server quality scores and health badges calculated?▼
Our automated health pipeline evaluates indexed MCP servers on a 99-point scale. Points are awarded based on official vs community maintainer verification, runtime compatibility (npm, Python, Docker), JSON-RPC 2.0 protocol adherence, input parameter documentation completeness, and recent GitHub commit cadence.
Can I run MCP servers inside Docker containers?▼
Yes. Docker containerization is supported across all our server templates. You can execute servers in isolated containers using interactive stdio flags (e.g. docker run -i --rm -e API_KEY=... mcp/server-name) to ensure zero host filesystem exposure and hardened security.
How can I submit a new API or claim maintainership of an indexed MCP server?▼
You can submit new OpenAPI specifications for automated directory listing via our Submit page or by emailing apis@mcpbridge.org. Maintainers can verify ownership of their server listings via our GitHub claim workflow to update documentation, logos, and custom launcher scripts.
What commercial licensing options and bundles are available?▼
All converter tools and public directory listings are 100% free and open-source. For enterprise engineering teams requiring curated .cursorrules technology stacks, custom OpenAPI MCP generation gateways, or sponsored directory placement, we offer digital asset bundles processed securely through our Merchant of Record, Paddle.