// 16 tips in MCP Servers
Working with Model Context Protocol servers.
MCP servers aren't just for third-party integrations — you can build your own to give Claude direct access to your internal tools, databases, APIs, and workflows. A custom MCP server turns any system your team uses into a tool Claude can call natively from your session.
MCP servers can be scoped at three levels — user (available everywhere you work), project (shared with the team via version control), or enterprise (managed by your organization). Pick the right scope so each project gets exactly the tools it needs without cluttering unrelated ones.
Instead of manually editing settings JSON to add MCP servers, use the claude mcp command — add servers with one line, list what's configured, remove ones you don't need, and scope them to the right level, all from the terminal.
Add MCP servers to Claude Code so it can directly query your database, search documentation, check monitoring dashboards, or interact with any external service — extending what Claude can do far beyond reading files and running commands.
The claude mcp add command registers an MCP server with Claude Code in a single line — giving Claude new tools like database access, browser automation, or API integrations without editing config files by hand.
Scaffold a custom MCP server with Claude to give it direct access to your internal APIs, dashboards, and microservices.
Use --strict-mcp-config to restrict Claude Code to only the MCP servers you explicitly provide, ignoring all other sources.
When an MCP server misbehaves, /mcp gives you a live view of every connected server, its status, and the tools it's exposing — right inside your session.
Add the Slack MCP server to let Claude post deployment updates, incident alerts, or standup summaries directly to your channels.
The Filesystem MCP server gives Claude read/write access to whole directories, unlocking bulk file operations, cross-project searches, and codebase-wide audits without copying content into the chat.
The Postgres MCP server gives Claude read access to your real schema and data — so it writes SQL against your actual tables, not imaginary ones.
Give Claude live access to the web by connecting the Brave Search MCP server — no more answers that stop at its training cutoff.