# MCP TypeScript SDK review

> MCP TypeScript SDK is the official TypeScript library for building Model Context Protocol servers and clients on Node.js, Bun, and Deno.

Devtoolwatch Board, the week of Oct 25–31, 2026. Canonical page: https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/mcp-ts-sdk/

## TL;DR

MCP TypeScript SDK implements the Model Context Protocol specification in TypeScript, with separate server and client packages. It is for developers who build MCP servers or clients that give LLM applications context. v2 targets the 2026-07-28 MCP spec, runs on Node.js, Bun, and Deno, and offers optional adapters for Express, Fastify, Hono, and Node.js HTTP.

## MCP TypeScript SDK at a glance

- **Category:** [MCP and agent tools](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/categories/mcp-servers/)
- **Maintained by:** Model Context Protocol (organization, [@modelcontextprotocol](https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol) on GitHub)
- **Language:** TypeScript, JavaScript, Shell
- **Repository:** [github.com/modelcontextprotocol/typescript-sdk](https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/typescript-sdk)
- **Website:** [ts.sdk.modelcontextprotocol.io/v2](https://ts.sdk.modelcontextprotocol.io/v2)
- **npm package:** [@modelcontextprotocol/sdk](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@modelcontextprotocol/sdk) 1.32.1
- **Latest release:** [@modelcontextprotocol/core@2.3.1](https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/typescript-sdk/releases/tag/%40modelcontextprotocol/core%402.3.1) on GitHub, Oct 5, 2026
- **First published:** Sep 24, 2024

## What MCP TypeScript SDK does

- MCP TypeScript SDK provides server libraries for exposing tools, resources, and prompts over Streamable HTTP or stdio, with auth helpers.
- MCP TypeScript SDK provides client libraries with transports, high-level helpers, and OAuth helpers for connecting to MCP servers.
- MCP TypeScript SDK accepts tool and prompt schemas from any Standard Schema library, such as Zod v4, Valibot, or ArkType.
- MCP TypeScript SDK publishes thin middleware adapters for Express, Fastify, Hono, and Node.js HTTP, including Host header validation.
- MCP TypeScript SDK's server can accept only bearer tokens issued for that server through the optional expectedResource setting.
- MCP TypeScript SDK includes runnable, self-verifying client and server example pairs in its examples directory.

### How it works

You install the server or client package and import it into a TypeScript project on Node.js, Bun, or Deno. A server creates an McpServer, registers tools with schemas, and connects a transport such as stdio or Streamable HTTP. Clients connect to servers, list their tools, and call them. Optional middleware packages connect the server to Express, Fastify, Hono, or Node.js HTTP.

## How to install MCP TypeScript SDK

**Server with npm**

```
npm install @modelcontextprotocol/server
```

**Client with npm**

```
npm install @modelcontextprotocol/client
```

**Server with Deno**

```
deno add npm:@modelcontextprotocol/server
```

### Requirements

- A Node.js, Bun, or Deno runtime.
- The v1 package @modelcontextprotocol/sdk requires Node.js 18 or later.

### First steps

1. Install @modelcontextprotocol/server, then create an McpServer with a name and version.
2. Register a tool with registerTool, giving it a description and an input schema such as a Zod v4 object.
3. Connect the server to a StdioServerTransport so a host can call your tool over stdio.
4. Follow the "Build your first client" tutorial to connect to the server, list its tools, and call them.

## Who MCP TypeScript SDK is for

- TypeScript developers building MCP servers that expose tools, resources, or prompts to LLM applications.
- Developers building MCP clients that connect to servers and call their tools.
- Teams adding MCP endpoints to existing Express, Fastify, Hono, or Node.js HTTP services.

### Limitations

- MCP TypeScript SDK v2 uses new package names, so v1 users must follow the migration guide to upgrade.
- MCP TypeScript SDK v1.x receives only bug fixes and security updates, for at least six months after the 2026-07-27 v2 release.
- MCP TypeScript SDK middleware packages are thin adapters and add no MCP functionality or business logic.

## Usage data (the week of Oct 25–31, 2026)

- Board rank: #160 overall, #23 in MCP and agent tools, momentum score 50
- Downloads that week: 88.5M (+13% vs 4-week average)
- New GitHub stars per week (last 12 weeks): Aug 9: 75; Aug 16: 57; Aug 23: 56; Aug 30: 55; Sep 6: 50; Sep 13: 49; Sep 20: 39; Sep 27: 45; Oct 4: 52; Oct 11: 58; Oct 18: 58; Oct 25: 44

## MCP TypeScript SDK alternatives

| Rank | Tool | Stars | Downloads/wk |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | [REA](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/morluto-rea/) | 415.5k | 760.6k |
| #2 | [ha-mcp](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/homeassistant-ai-ha-mcp/) | 5.4k | 118.1k |
| #3 | [Treg](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/superdesigndev-treg/) | 6.9k | 6.7k |
| #4 | [Chrome DevTools MCP](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/chrome-devtools-mcp/) | 54.6k | 2.7M |
| #5 | [codebase-memory-mcp](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/deusdata-codebase-memory-mcp/) | 47.9k | – |
| #6 | [open-computer-use](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/tools/ifuryst-open-computer-use/) | 2.8k | – |

## MCP TypeScript SDK FAQ

### Is MCP TypeScript SDK free and open source?

MCP TypeScript SDK's code is on GitHub (modelcontextprotocol/typescript-sdk), but the repository doesn't declare a standard open-source license. Check its license file before using it commercially.

### How do I install MCP TypeScript SDK?

Run `npm install @modelcontextprotocol/server`. It needs Node.js >=18. The install section above has the other options from the project's README.

### Is MCP TypeScript SDK still maintained?

Yes. The modelcontextprotocol/typescript-sdk repository was last updated on Oct 21, 2026, and the latest release, @modelcontextprotocol/core@2.3.1 on GitHub, came out on Oct 5, 2026.

### How popular is MCP TypeScript SDK?

MCP TypeScript SDK has 13.7k GitHub stars as of Nov 1, 2026. It gained 44 new stars in the week of Oct 25–31, 2026, against a 12-week average of 53 a week. Its main package had about 88.5M downloads that week, +13% against its own 4-week average. That made it #23 among MCP servers and agent tools on the Devtoolwatch Board.

### What are the best alternatives to MCP TypeScript SDK?

Other MCP servers and agent tools on the Devtoolwatch Board in the week of Oct 25–31, 2026, by momentum: REA (#1), ha-mcp (#2), Treg (#3), Chrome DevTools MCP (#4), codebase-memory-mcp (#5). The alternatives table above has their numbers.

### Which MCP spec version does the MCP TypeScript SDK implement?

MCP TypeScript SDK v2, the stable release line on the main branch, implements the 2026-07-28 MCP specification.

### What is the difference between v1 and v2 of the MCP TypeScript SDK?

MCP TypeScript SDK v2 splits the SDK into @modelcontextprotocol/server and @modelcontextprotocol/client. v1 ships as @modelcontextprotocol/sdk on the v1.x branch and receives bug fixes and security updates. A migration guide covers upgrading.

### Which runtimes does the MCP TypeScript SDK support?

MCP TypeScript SDK runs on Node.js, Bun, and Deno. The README gives install commands for npm, bun, and deno.

### Do I have to use Zod with the MCP TypeScript SDK?

No. MCP TypeScript SDK uses Standard Schema for tool and prompt schemas, so you can use Zod v4, Valibot, ArkType, or any compatible library.

### Which transports does the MCP TypeScript SDK support?

MCP TypeScript SDK servers support Streamable HTTP and stdio. Optional middleware wires Streamable HTTP into Node.js HTTP, Express, Fastify, or Hono.

## Sources

1. [modelcontextprotocol/typescript-sdk on GitHub](https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/typescript-sdk)
2. [MCP TypeScript SDK README](https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/typescript-sdk/blob/main/README.md)
3. [@modelcontextprotocol/sdk on npm](https://www.npmjs.com/package/@modelcontextprotocol/sdk)
4. [MCP TypeScript SDK website](https://ts.sdk.modelcontextprotocol.io/v2)
5. [Release @modelcontextprotocol/core@2.3.1 (Oct 5, 2026)](https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/typescript-sdk/releases/tag/%40modelcontextprotocol/core%402.3.1)
6. [Release @modelcontextprotocol/server-legacy@2.3.1 (Oct 5, 2026)](https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/typescript-sdk/releases/tag/%40modelcontextprotocol/server-legacy%402.3.1)
7. [Release @modelcontextprotocol/codemod@2.3.1 (Oct 5, 2026)](https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/typescript-sdk/releases/tag/%40modelcontextprotocol/codemod%402.3.1)
8. [Devtoolwatch Board, the week of Oct 25–31, 2026](https://index.devtoolwatch.com/)