How to Create MCP Server Using .NET

This guide will help you set up a basic MCP (Model Context Protocol) server in .NET, configure it in VS Code, and interact with it using Copilot Chat.

How to Clone This Repo and Start Working

1. Fork this repository to your own GitHub account.

2. Clone your fork to your local machine:

   git clone https://github.com/<your-username>/How-To-Create-MCP-Server
   cd How-To-Create-MCP-Server
   

   Note: Replace <your-username> with your actual GitHub username in the clone URL above.

3. Create a new branch for your changes (for example, feature/my-contribution):

   git checkout -b feature/my-contribution
   

   🛑 Already completed steps 1–3?
   If you've already forked, cloned, and created your branch, you can skip ahead to 🚀 Start Work Now and continue with the rest of the setup!

4. Make your changes and commit them.

   git add .
   git commit -m"my-contribution"
   

5. Push your branch to your fork:

   git push origin feature/my-contribution
   

   Once you've pushed your changes, go to your GitHub repository in your browser. Switch to the feature/my-contribution branch

6. Open a Pull Request (PR) from your branch to the Submit branch of this repository (not main).

Step 01 Step 02

Note: Please do not open PRs directly to the main branch. Always target the Submit branch for contributions. Follow the steps below to set up and run the MCP server.

🚀 Start Work Now

Ready to dive in?
After cloning and setting up your branch, you can immediately begin making changes or adding features to the MCP server project. Use the provided steps below to guide your development process. If you get stuck, refer to the resources and discussion links at the end of this guide.

1. Install .NET

Download and install the .NET SDK for your OS.

Note: This guide uses .NET SDK 8. Make sure you download the correct version for your operating system.

If you're using VS Code, install the C# Dev Kit extension for the best development experience.

Verify installation in your terminal:

dotnet --version

2. Create a New Project

Open your terminal and run:

dotnet new console -o HelloSriLankaServer
cd HelloSriLankaServer

3. Install Required Packages

Install the necessary NuGet packages:

dotnet add package ModelContextProtocol --prerelease
dotnet add package Microsoft.Extensions.Hosting 

Project Folder Structure

After creating the project, your folder structure should look like this:

How-To-create-MCP-Server/
├── HelloSriLankaServer/
│   ├── Program.cs
│   ├── HelloSriLankaServer.csproj
│   └── (other project files)
├── images/
│   ├── image1.png
│   └── image2.png
├── README.md
└── LICENSE

This structure helps keep your source code, configuration, and documentation organized.

4. Update Program.cs

Clear the contents of Program.cs and replace with:

using Microsoft.Extensions.DependencyInjection;
using Microsoft.Extensions.Hosting;
using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging;
using Microsoft.Extensions.Logging.Console;
using Microsoft.Extensions.Options;
using ModelContextProtocol.Server;
using System.ComponentModel;

var builder = Host.CreateApplicationBuilder(args);

builder.Logging.AddConsole(options => {
    options.LogToStandardErrorThreshold = LogLevel.Trace;
});

builder.Services.AddMcpServer()
    .WithStdioServerTransport()
    .WithToolsFromAssembly();

Console.WriteLine(builder.Environment.ContentRootPath);
var app = builder.Build();

await app.RunAsync();

[McpServerToolType]
public static class HelloTool
{
    [McpServerTool(Name = "HelloTool"), Description("Say hello to Sri Lanka")]
    public static void SayHello()
    {
        Console.WriteLine("Hello Sri Lanka!");
        
    }
}

5. Configure MCP in VS Code

1. In your project root, create a .vscode directory:

Before creating the .vscode directory, navigate back to the project root if you're inside the HelloSriLankaServer folder:

cd ..

mkdir -p .vscode

After creating the .vscode directory, your folder structure should look like this:

How-To-create-MCP-Server/
├── HelloSriLankaServer/
│   ├── Program.cs
│   ├── HelloSriLankaServer.csproj
│   └── (other project files)
├── images/
│   ├── image1.png
│   └── image2.png
├── .vscode/
├── README.md
└── LICENSE

2. Inside .vscode, create a file named mcp.json and add your server configuration.

   • Once created, you will see an Add Server button. Click it.
     

   • Choose "Command (stdio)" as the server type.
     

   • Enter "dotnet" as the command and press Enter.
     

   • Enter the server name "Hello-SriLankaServer" and press Enter.
     

   • The mcp.json file will be populated automatically. Replace missing contents with the following:

     {
       "servers": {
         "Hello-SriLankaServer": {
           "type": "stdio",
           "command": "dotnet",
           "args": [
             "run",
             "--project",
             "${workspaceFolder}/HelloSriLankaServer/HelloSriLankaServer.csproj"
           ]
         }
       }
     }
     

     Note: ${workspaceFolder} will automatically resolve to your project root. If it does not work, replace it with the actual path to your .csproj file (right-click the file in VS Code and select "Copy Path").

6. Run the MCP Server(test if it's work)

From the HelloSriLankaServer directory, start the server:

dotnet run

Note: Once you've confirmed the server is running successfully, you can stop it (press Ctrl+C in the terminal) and proceed to the next step (Step 7).

7. Add the Tool in Copilot Chat

Note: Before adding the tool in Copilot Chat, make sure your MCP server is running. Then, open the mcp.json file in VS Code. You will see a small "Add Tool" button appear just below the(2nd Line) "servers": { line in the JSON code—click this button to proceed.

1. Open Copilot Chat in VS Code.
2. Click the gear icon (⚙️) or the "Add Tool" button.
3. Select your MCP server (Hello-SriLankaServe) from the list.

Image Example:

Note: The example images may display "LocationServer" or a similar name, but it actually refers to your MCP server (Hello-SriLankaServer).

8. Send a Message Using Copilot Chat

1. In Copilot Chat, select the Hello-SriLankaServer tool.

2. Type a message to invoke your tool, for example:

   Can you Say hello to Sri Lank
   

   Note: You may need to grant permission or continue when prompted by VS Code. Sometimes, Copilot Chat or other AI tools do not have access to the terminal or workspace by default. If you see a prompt asking for access, make sure to allow it so your tool can run successfully.

3. You should see a reply from your MCP server in the chat.

   Hello Sri Lanka !
   
   

9. Get a Reply from the MCP Server

You will receive a response from your MCP server in the Copilot Chat window.

10. Advanced Demo: Try the MCP Location Server

For a more advanced example, you can explore the Try-mcp-location-server-demo repository. This demo showcases how to build and interact with a location-based MCP server using .NET.

Additional Learning Resources

For a deeper understanding of MCP and more hands-on examples, check out the Introduction to MCP repository. This resource provides tutorials, sample projects, and further guidance on working with MCP in .NET.

💬 Join the Discussion!

Have questions, ideas, or want to share your experience?
We welcome you to use GitHub Discussions for:

• Asking questions about setup or usage
• Sharing feedback or suggestions
• Requesting new features
• Connecting with other contributors

👉 Click the "Discussions" tab at the top of this repo to start or join a conversation!

Let's build and learn together!

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Feel free to connect and stay updated!

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.

Tip:
You can add more tools to your MCP server by extending the HelloTool class in Program.cs.