Video course · 11 chapters · 58 min · certificate
MCP Essentials for Python AI Developers
Dave Ebbelaar's MCP crash course for Python AI developers: what the Model Context Protocol is and why adoption matters, key terminology and transports, building a FastMCP server, testing with the inspector, connecting Python clients over stdio and SSE, integrating OpenAI tool calls, MCP vs function calling, Docker deployment and lifecycle management.
What you'll learn
- Explain what MCP is and what it adds
- Distinguish hosts, clients, servers and transports
- Build and inspect a FastMCP server
- Connect Python clients via stdio and SSE
- Wire MCP tools into OpenAI tool calling
- Deploy MCP servers with Docker and manage lifecycles
Chapters
11 chapters · 57:46-
2:06
01Intro Members
Introduction
Beyond Claude Desktop.
-
5:57
02Basics Members
Understanding MCP basics
A standard, not new powers.
-
4:26
03Architecture Members
Technical aspects of MCP
Hosts, clients, servers.
-
4:27
04Transports Members
Setting up your MCP server
stdio vs SSE.
-
8:52
05FastMCP Members
Simple server setup
Minimal server.
-
7:51
06Client Members
Connecting your Python application
Call tools from code.
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15:50
07OpenAI Members
Integrating LLMs with MCP
Tool calls via MCP.
-
1:38
08Compare Members
MCP vs function calling
Same result.
-
3:12
09Deploy Members
Running MCP servers with Docker
Package and ship.
-
2:10
10Lifecycle Members
Lifecycle management
Init, operate, terminate.
-
1:17
11Wrap-up Members
Conclusion and next steps
Build real systems.
Jobs this course suits
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