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Rahul Raut
Rahul Raut

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Setting Up MCP Server for dev.to: A Complete Guide

Introduction

Model Control Protocol (MCP) is a powerful way to interact with dev.to programmatically. In this guide, we'll walk through setting up an MCP server configuration for dev.to, allowing you to automate your blogging workflow.

Prerequisites

  • A dev.to account
  • API key from dev.to
  • Basic understanding of JSON configuration

MCP Configuration

Here's the basic MCP configuration for dev.to:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "dev.to": {
      "url": "https://dev.to",
      "type": "web",
      "endpoints": {
        "createPost": "/api/articles",
        "draftPost": "/api/articles/draft"
      },
      "auth": {
        "type": "api_key",
        "header": "YOUR_API_KEY"
      }
    }
  }
}
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Configuration Breakdown

  1. Server Configuration
  • url: The base URL for dev.to
  • type: Set to "web" for web-based services
  1. Endpoints
  • createPost: Endpoint for creating new articles
  • draftPost: Endpoint for saving draft articles
  1. Authentication
    • type: Specifies the authentication method (api_key)
    • header: Your dev.to API key

Using the MCP Server

Creating a New Post

To create a new post, send a POST request to the createPost endpoint:

curl -X POST "https://dev.to/api/articles" \
  -H "api-key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d "{\"article\":{\"title\":\"Your Title\",\"body_markdown\":\"Your content\"}}"
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Saving a Draft

To save a draft, use the draftPost endpoint:

curl -X POST "https://dev.to/api/articles/draft" \
  -H "api-key: YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d "{\"article\":{\"title\":\"Draft Title\",\"body_markdown\":\"Draft content\"}}"
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Best Practices

  1. Security
  • Never commit your API key to version control
  • Use environment variables for sensitive data
  1. Error Handling
  • Implement proper error handling for API responses
  • Validate your markdown content before posting
  1. Rate Limiting
    • Be mindful of API rate limits
    • Implement appropriate delays between requests

Conclusion

Setting up an MCP server for dev.to opens up possibilities for automating your blogging workflow. Whether you're creating posts programmatically or managing drafts, the MCP configuration provides a structured way to interact with dev.to's API.

Remember to keep your API key secure and follow dev.to's terms of service when using their API.

Happy coding! 🚀

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