DEV Community: goldct

The Complete Guide to MCP (Model Context Protocol) in 2025

goldct — Wed, 29 Apr 2026 23:06:35 +0000

What is MCP?

Model Context Protocol is an open standard that lets AI assistants connect to external tools and data. Think of it as a universal plugin system for AI.

Why MCP Matters

Standardized: One protocol works across Claude, Cursor, Windsurf
Growing fast: 900+ servers already available
Open source: Community-driven ecosystem

Getting Started

Pick tools from mcphello.com
Copy the install command
Add to your MCP config
Restart your AI assistant

Top Categories

Database connectors
File system tools
Web scraping
DevOps automation
Creative tools

Browse 900+ tools at mcphello.com

Free directory, updated every 6 hours.

Why I Chose Next.js for My AI-Powered Directory

goldct — Tue, 28 Apr 2026 23:06:41 +0000

The Project

mcphello.com — 900+ MCP tools with quality scoring.

Why Next.js?

SSR for SEO — Tool pages render server-side for search engines
API Routes — Built-in backend for scoring and search
Static Generation — Fast page loads with ISR
Vercel Deployment — Zero-config deploy

Architecture

Next.js 16 with App Router
Static data pipeline (Python agents)
Tailwind v4 for styling
Vercel Analytics for tracking

Results

Sub-second page loads
Great SEO rankings
Zero maintenance server costs

Check the result: mcphello.com

Why I Chose Next.js for My AI-Powered Directory

goldct — Sun, 26 Apr 2026 23:06:39 +0000

The Project

mcphello.com — 900+ MCP tools with quality scoring.

Why Next.js?

SSR for SEO — Tool pages render server-side for search engines
API Routes — Built-in backend for scoring and search
Static Generation — Fast page loads with ISR
Vercel Deployment — Zero-config deploy

Architecture

Next.js 16 with App Router
Static data pipeline (Python agents)
Tailwind v4 for styling
Vercel Analytics for tracking

Results

Sub-second page loads
Great SEO rankings
Zero maintenance server costs

Check the result: mcphello.com

The Complete Guide to MCP (Model Context Protocol) in 2025

goldct — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 23:12:16 +0000

What is MCP?

Model Context Protocol is an open standard that lets AI assistants connect to external tools and data. Think of it as a universal plugin system for AI.

Why MCP Matters

Standardized: One protocol works across Claude, Cursor, Windsurf
Growing fast: 900+ servers already available
Open source: Community-driven ecosystem

Getting Started

Pick tools from mcphello.com
Copy the install command
Add to your MCP config
Restart your AI assistant

Top Categories

Database connectors
File system tools
Web scraping
DevOps automation
Creative tools

Browse 900+ tools at mcphello.com

Free directory, updated every 6 hours.

I Built a Free iOS App for BJD Collectors

goldct — Sat, 25 Apr 2026 11:31:12 +0000

The Problem

If you are a BJD (Ball-Jointed Doll) collector, you know the struggle of tracking your dolls in spreadsheets and notes.

So I built BJD Doll Archive — a free iOS app designed specifically for BJD collectors.

What It Does

Doll profiles — add photos, names, and custom details for each doll
Track customizations — face-ups, body blushing, modifications
Set reminders — resin delivery dates, face-up appointments, payment schedules
4 languages — English, Chinese, Japanese, Korean
Privacy first — no account needed, data stays on your device

Tech Stack

Built with SwiftUI and Core Data. No backend, no accounts, no data collection. Your collection is private.

Key Learnings

Niche communities deserve niche tools — BJD collectors have very specific needs
Privacy-first design wins — collectors prefer apps that dont upload their data
Multilingual support is essential — the BJD community is truly global

What is Next

Based on feedback, the top requested feature is a photo gallery for each doll — multiple photos to track changes over time.

Try It

Search BJD Doll Archive on the App Store or visit: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/bjd-doll-archive/id6759537855

Would love to hear what features you want! 🎎

---

goldct — Fri, 24 Apr 2026 15:40:35 +0000

description: "How I built a privacy-first iOS app for BJD doll enthusiasts using SwiftUI, CoreData, and local notifications."
published: false
tags: swiftui, ios, indiedev, appdev

cover_image: /assets/bjd-cover.jpg

As an iOS developer and BJD (Ball-Jointed Doll) collector, I found myself managing my growing doll collection with spreadsheets, random notes, and calendar reminders. It was messy.

So I built BJD Doll Archive — a dedicated app that understands the specific needs of BJD collectors.

The Problem

BJD collecting involves a lot of tracking:

Doll details: brand, sculpt, model, face-up artist, purchase date
Care schedules: MSC coating refreshes, stain checks, light protection
Vendor experiences: which face-up artists deliver quality work, which shops are reliable
Photos: documenting customization progress

Generic inventory apps don't understand BJD-specific concepts like "face-up refresh cycle" or "resin yellowing prevention."

The Solution: SwiftUI + Local-First Architecture

SwiftUI for Rapid UI Development

SwiftUI made it straightforward to build the kind of detail-oriented forms BJD collectors need:

struct DollProfile: View {
    @State private var doll: Doll

    var body: some View {
        Form {
            Section("Basic Info") {
                TextField("Name", text: $doll.name)
                Picker("Brand", selection: $doll.brand) {
                    ForEach(Brand.allCases) { Text($0.rawValue) }
                }
            }
            Section("Face-up") {
                TextField("Artist", text: $doll.faceUpArtist)
                DatePicker("Last Refresh", selection: $doll.lastFaceUp)
            }
        }
    }
}

Privacy-First: No Backend

BJD collections can be valuable and personal. I made a deliberate choice to keep all data on-device:

CoreData for local persistence
No user accounts
No cloud sync
No analytics tracking

This means the app works offline and your collection data never leaves your phone.

Local Notifications for Care Reminders

The care reminder system uses UNUserNotificationCenter with custom repeat intervals:

func scheduleCareReminder(for doll: Doll, type: CareType) {
    let content = UNMutableNotificationContent()
    content.title = "Care Reminder"
    content.body = "Time to \(type.action) for \(doll.name)"

    let trigger = UNCalendarNotificationTrigger(
        dateMatching: type.nextDateComponents(from: doll),
        repeats: true
    )

    let request = UNNotificationRequest(
        identifier: "\(doll.id)-\(type)",
        content: content,
        trigger: trigger
    )

    UNUserNotificationCenter.current().add(request)
}

Lessons Learned

Niche apps have loyal users — The BJD community is passionate and underserved by mainstream apps
Privacy matters more than you think — Collectors appreciate that their data stays local
Simple > Feature-rich — Resistance to feature creep kept the app focused
One-time purchase > Subscription — For niche tools, users prefer paying once

What's Next

Japanese and Korean localization (BJD is huge in these markets)
iPad support for larger photo viewing
Export/import for backup

BJD Doll Archive is available on the App Store.

If you're interested in indie iOS development or BJD collecting, let's connect!

Download BJD Doll Archive →

I Built an AI Fortune Telling App with SwiftUI — Meet Arcana Stars

goldct — Sun, 19 Apr 2026 00:08:34 +0000

Arcana Stars: AI-Powered Fortune Telling

What happens when you combine Tarot, astrology, and AI?

What It Does

78 Tarot Cards with AI readings
12 Zodiac Daily Horoscopes
Crystal Ball — AI yes/no predictions
Love Compatibility — zodiac matching

Tech Stack

SwiftUI (zero UIKit)
GLM-4-Flash API (free tier!)
StoreKit 2 subscriptions
Zero third-party dependencies

Why

I wanted to prove a solo dev can build a polished AI app without expensive APIs or a design team.

Status

Currently under App Store review! 🤞

Follow for updates. Happy to share technical details if interested!

Built with ❤️ and AI.

From Zero to MCP: How I Automated My Entire Workflow

goldct — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 11:56:07 +0000

Before MCP

Every task was manual:

Write SQL, copy results, paste in chat
Open files one by one for AI to read
Manually create GitHub issues
Check servers in terminal

After MCP

Everything happens in one chat:

Hey Claude, what are the top selling products this month?
Read the config file and tell me what needs fixing
Create an issue for this bug
Check if the container is running

The Setup

I installed 5 MCP servers in 10 minutes:

PostgreSQL — database queries
Filesystem — file access
GitHub — repo management
Docker — container status
Brave Search — web lookup

Finding Tools

Browse 900+ at mcphello.com with quality scores and one-click install.

The Result

I went from 2 hours of context switching per day to near zero. MCP is a game changer.

What would you automate with MCP? Share your use case!

Why Every Developer Should Care About Model Context Protocol

goldct — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 11:50:45 +0000

The Shift

AI assistants are no longer just chatbots. They can now access your database, read your code, manage your servers, and browse the web.

The key enabler? Model Context Protocol (MCP).

What MCP Does

MCP gives AI a standard way to connect to external tools. One protocol, many integrations:

Database access (PostgreSQL, MySQL, SQLite)
File operations (read, write, manage)
Web interaction (search, scrape)
DevOps (Docker, Kubernetes, CI/CD)
Communication (Slack, Discord, email)

Why Developers Should Care

10x productivity — AI handles the boring stuff
No more context switching — everything in one chat
Open standard — not locked to any vendor
Growing ecosystem — 900+ tools already

Getting Started

Browse tools at mcphello.com — 900+ MCP tools with quality scores and one-click install.

The future of development is AI-assisted. MCP makes it possible.

The Developer Guide to MCP Quality: How to Evaluate MCP Servers

goldct — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 11:43:41 +0000

Not all MCP servers are equal. Here is how to evaluate them.

Criteria That Matter

1. Code Quality

Does it have tests?
Is the code well-structured?
Does it follow MCP conventions?

2. Documentation

Clear README with examples?
Configuration guide?
Troubleshooting section?

3. Maintenance

Recent commits?
Responsive to issues?
Active contributors?

4. Community

GitHub stars and forks
User reviews
Community contributions

The Easy Way

At mcphello.com, every tool gets a 0-100 quality score based on all these factors. No need to evaluate manually.

900+ tools scored
Updated every 6 hours
One-click install commands
Free, no signup

What criteria matter most to you when choosing an MCP server?

10 MCP Servers That Will Save You Hours Every Week

goldct — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 11:38:23 +0000

Time is money. Here are 10 MCP servers that will make you more productive:

1. Filesystem

Read and write files from your AI assistant. Essential.

2. PostgreSQL

Query databases directly from chat. No more copy-pasting.

3. GitHub

Manage repos, issues, PRs without leaving your AI tool.

4. Puppeteer

Automate browsers with AI. Testing and scraping made easy.

5. Google Drive

Access your docs and sheets from Claude.

6. Slack

Send messages, read channels, manage workflows.

7. Memory

Persistent memory for AI across conversations.

8. Brave Search

Web search directly from your AI assistant.

9. SQLite

Lightweight database access. Perfect for local projects.

10. Docker

Manage containers from chat. DevOps without the CLI.

Discover 900+ more at mcphello.com

Which MCP server saves you the most time? Comment below!

How Python Agents Helped Me Catalog 900+ AI Tools

goldct — Tue, 14 Apr 2026 11:33:05 +0000

The Challenge

Keeping track of 900+ MCP servers manually? Impossible. I needed automation.

My Python Agent Architecture

Collector Agent

Crawls GitHub API every 6 hours looking for new MCP repos.

Analyzer Agent

Scores each tool on quality, docs, activity.

Writer Agent

Generates review articles for top tools.

Ops Brain

Coordinates everything. Tells me what to focus on.

Results

900+ tools cataloged automatically
Quality scores for every tool
Deep reviews generated weekly
Zero manual data entry

The Tech Stack

Python 3.12 with asyncio
GitHub REST API + GraphQL
Playwright for social media posting
Cron for scheduling

Try It

See the results at mcphello.com

Questions about the agent setup? Ask in comments!