Reasons to Construct an MCP Server This Weekend
Not since the early days of mobile apps have I seen an opportunity this open.
You should take advantage of this if you work as a coder, a side hustler, or are just experimenting with AI.
It is comparable to discovering a goldmine in which no claim has yet been made.
servers for MCP?
They are the key to enabling AI to perform practical tasks like data extraction, app syncing, and task automation. What's the best part?
You can start making money after building one in a weekend.
While all the other developers were talking about Model Context Protocol (MCP) servers, I was scrolling through X.
It's being referred to as a "gold rush" with "zero competition."
Anthropic and Cloudflare are supporting it, and Stripe is making it incredibly simple to charge for access.
To get you in on this before it gets crowded, here is my three-step, dead-simple plan. Let's do this while you get a coffee.
What is an MCP server?
An AI like Claude is conversing with you, but it does more than just respond to your questions. For example, it finds the ideal UI button from a design library, updates your Trello board, or retrieves prices from Amazon. The intermediaries that make that possible are MCP servers. They are straightforward, standardized, and incredibly powerful, much like the USB port that connects AI to the outside world.
Why should you give a damn? Due to:
One can be made in a day or two.
It will be paid for by humans (and soon by AI agents).
Since the market is new, you are not up against tech behemoths.
It's enjoyable! Last weekend, I constructed a toy MCP server to scrape ratings from coffee shops, and I'm already thinking of ways to market it.
Step 1: Find an Issue That Needs to Be Fixed
The first step is to identify a problem that is really bothering you. These are what I refer to as "painkiller" problems—manual labor that people detest. It could involve organizing disorganized CSV files, scraping job postings, or connecting Slack to your CRM. Someone will give you money if your MCP server helps them avoid a headache.
For instance, I spent hours researching competitor prices while assisting a friend with her Etsy store. "What if an MCP server could automatically scrape those prices?" I asked myself.
It takes a price from a website and outputs it without alteration. It could be configured as an MCP server that AI agents can use to compare prices. Uncertain of what issue to address? Join X or r/indiehackers on Reddit and pose the question, "What is a task that you detest?" Last week, I came across a thread in which someone pleaded for a tool to connect Jira and Notion. And there you have it.
Step 2: Use Cloudflare to Build It (It's Easier Than You Think)
Let's now develop that concept into an MCP server. This is so simple thanks to Cloudflare that it feels like cheating. You don't have to deal with complex setups or local servers because they have one-click deployment. Users only need to click on the URL of your server to get it to function. Not a headache.
npm create cloudflare@latest -- my-mcp-server --template=cloudflare/ai/demos/remote-mcp-authless
Use this.server.tool(...) to define each tool inside the src/index.ts init() method in order to add your own tools to the MCP server.
The Cloudflare AI Playground can be used as a remote MCP client to connect to your MCP server.
Using Cloudflare AI Playground, which functions as a remote MCP client, you can establish a connection to your MCP server:
Enter the MCP server URL that you have deployed:
https://remote-mcp-server-authless.<your-account>.workers.dev/sse
You can use your MCP tools right from the playground once you're connected!
Claude Desktop should be connected to your MCP server.
The MCP remote proxy can be used to link Claude Desktop to a local or distant MCP server.
How to Connect:
To set up the necessary environment, refer to Anthropic's Quickstart Guide.
Launch Claude Desktop and navigate to:
Configuration > Developer > Edit Configuration
Use the following to update or swap out the configuration:
{
"mcpServers": {
"calculator": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"mcp-remote",
"http://localhost:8787/sse"
// or use your remote server URL:
// "https://remote-mcp-server-authless.your-account.workers.dev/sse"
]
}
}
}
"mcpServers": {
"calculator": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"mcp-remote",
"http://localhost:8787/sse"
// or use your remote server URL:
// "https://remote-mcp-server-authless.your-account.workers.dev/sse"
]
}
}
}
You can write your server in Python, but since TypeScript is beginner-friendly, I'll show you an example using Cloudflare's MCP SDK. Establish a project first:
mkdir my-mcp-server
cd my-mcp-server
npm init -y
npm install @modelcontextprotocol/sdk
cd my-mcp-server
npm init -y
npm install @modelcontextprotocol/sdk
Make a document named index.ts:
import { McpServer, StdioServerTransport } from '@modelcontextprotocol/sdk';
import fetch from 'node-fetch'; // Make sure to run: npm install node-fetch
const server = new McpServer({
name: 'price-grabber',
version: '0.0.1',
capabilities: {
prompts: {},
resources: {},
tools: {
grab_price: {
description: 'Gets a product price from a URL',
parameters: {
url: { type: 'string', description: 'Product page URL' }
},
handler: async ({ url }) => {
try {
const response = await fetch(url);
const text = await response.text();
// TODO: Add actual scraping logic here (e.g., using cheerio)
// Example:
// const $ = cheerio.load(text);
// const price = $('selector-for-price').text().trim();
return { price: '$49.99' }; // Placeholder result
} catch (error) {
return { error: `Failed to fetch or parse the URL: ${error.message}` };
}
}
}
}
}
});
async function main() {
const transport = new StdioServerTransport();
await server.start(transport);
}
main();
import fetch from 'node-fetch'; // Make sure to run: npm install node-fetch
const server = new McpServer({
name: 'price-grabber',
version: '0.0.1',
capabilities: {
prompts: {},
resources: {},
tools: {
grab_price: {
description: 'Gets a product price from a URL',
parameters: {
url: { type: 'string', description: 'Product page URL' }
},
handler: async ({ url }) => {
try {
const response = await fetch(url);
const text = await response.text();
// TODO: Add actual scraping logic here (e.g., using cheerio)
// Example:
// const $ = cheerio.load(text);
// const price = $('selector-for-price').text().trim();
return { price: '$49.99' }; // Placeholder result
} catch (error) {
return { error: `Failed to fetch or parse the URL: ${error.message}` };
}
}
}
}
}
});
async function main() {
const transport = new StdioServerTransport();
await server.start(transport);
}
main();
This creates a simple MCP server named price-grabber. The grab_price tool accepts a URL and outputs a price (we're faking it, but you'd use the Python scraping method). To deploy, utilize Cloudflare Workers.
npx wrangler deploy
Your server is now live, with a public URL. Test it using Anthropic's MCP Inspector to ensure it's not performing strangely. Cloudflare is all-in on MCPs, so their documentation is strong, and their infrastructure can manage a lot of traffic without issue.
Step 3: Cash in using Stripe
This is where it gets exciting: making money. Stripe released an MCP payment connection that allows you to charge for access with just 20 lines of code. I almost dropped my coffee when I realized how simple it was. You may create a paywall without constructing a whole charging system.
Install the Stripe Node.js library.
npm install stripe
Adjust your index.ts to check for a valid subscription.
This validates if the user's apiKey (their Stripe subscription ID) is valid before allowing them to access the service. Set up a subscription form on your website using Stripe Checkout, and you're done. I would begin charging $5-$10 per month for, say, 1,000 inquiries. Indie hackers on microns.io believe modest pricing attracts early adopters quickly.
How to Get Eyeballs on Your Server
Was it built? Monetized it? Now you need to get it out there. Anthropic's "Integrations" platform is a significant development; it functions as a prototype app store for MCP servers. I believe it will soon become a full-fledged marketplace where AI agents may locate and purchase your server without you having to do anything. Cloudflare is also promoting MCPs strongly, so your server has a chance of getting highlighted.
For now, hurry a little. Share your server on GitHub (check out the Awesome MCP Servers repository), tweet about it using #MCP or #BuildInPublic, or post it on IndieHackers.
Why You Must Move Fast
MCP servers are new—Anthropic introduced them in late 2024 — and the market is wide open. Check out what's already available:
Blender MCP: Converts text into 3D models. Incredibly cool.
GitHub MCP automates repo tasks such as PR reviews.
Firecrawl MCP makes web scraping a snap.
Watch Out for These Gotchas!
It is not all sunlight. Here are some things to remember:
Security: Hackers can get access through sloppy programming. Always verify inputs and sandbox your server.
Compatibility: Claude is now the MCP king, but others are catching up. Stay with Claude for now.
Marketing: Because the app store is still in its early stages, you'll have to promote your server on X or Reddit.
The Weekend Game Plan
Want to give it a shot? Here's how you crush it before Monday:
Saturday morning: Consider an issue. Scroll X for suggestions (someone is constantly complaining about manual data entering).
Saturday evening: Code your MCP server. Use the price-grabber example and modify it.
Sunday morning: Deploy using Cloudflare. It's just one command.
Sunday PM: Integrate Stripe and tweet your server. Tag me—I'd want to see it!
I constructed my bookshop MCP in 10 hours despite having no MCP expertise, owing primarily to Cursor's assistance in writing the tough sections. You've got this.