mcp-chatbot

MCP.Pizza Chef: 3choff

Built as a teaching example rather than a finished product, this small Python program runs in a terminal window, reads the same settings file format Claude Desktop uses, starts whichever MCP tools you list, and lets any OpenAI-compatible model call them. You bring your own model key. There have been no code changes since December 2024, so expect gaps against newer parts of the protocol, and treat it as a starting point to read and adapt rather than an app to depend on.

Unmaintained · no code changes since December 2024
Coding

Use This MCP client To

Chat with my MCP tools without installing a desktop app Try a model other than Claude with the same tools See in readable code how a chat app wires up tools Test a tool I am building from a plain terminal Reuse the settings file I already wrote for Claude Desktop

README

MCP Chatbot

This chatbot example demonstrates how to integrate the Model Context Protocol (MCP) into a simple CLI chatbot. The implementation showcases MCP's flexibility by supporting multiple tools through MCP servers and is compatible with any LLM provider that follows OpenAI API standards.

If you find this project helpful, don’t forget to ⭐ star the repository or buy me a ☕ coffee.

Key Features

  • LLM Provider Flexibility: Works with any LLM that follows OpenAI API standards (tested with Llama 3.2 90b on Groq and GPT-4o mini on GitHub Marketplace).
  • Dynamic Tool Integration: Tools are declared in the system prompt, ensuring maximum compatibility across different LLMs.
  • Server Configuration: Supports multiple MCP servers through a simple JSON configuration file like the Claude Desktop App.

Requirements

  • Python 3.10
  • python-dotenv
  • requests
  • mcp
  • uvicorn

Installation

  1. Clone the repository:

    git clone https://github.com/3choff/mcp-chatbot.git
    cd mcp-chatbot
  2. Install the dependencies:

    pip install -r requirements.txt
  3. Set up environment variables:

    Create a .env file in the root directory and add your API key:

    LLM_API_KEY=your_api_key_here
    
  4. Configure servers:

    The servers_config.json follows the same structure as Claude Desktop, allowing for easy integration of multiple servers. Here's an example:

    {
      "mcpServers": {
        "sqlite": {
          "command": "uvx",
          "args": ["mcp-server-sqlite", "--db-path", "./test.db"]
        },
        "puppeteer": {
          "command": "npx",
          "args": ["-y", "@modelcontextprotocol/server-puppeteer"]
        }
      }
    }

    Environment variables are supported as well. Pass them as you would with the Claude Desktop App.

    Example:

    {
      "mcpServers": {
        "server_name": {
          "command": "uvx",
          "args": ["mcp-server-name", "--additional-args"],
          "env": {
            "API_KEY": "your_api_key_here"
          }
        }
      }
    }

Usage

  1. Run the client:

    python main.py
  2. Interact with the assistant:

    The assistant will automatically detect available tools and can respond to queries based on the tools provided by the configured servers.

  3. Exit the session:

    Type quit or exit to end the session.

Architecture

  • Tool Discovery: Tools are automatically discovered from configured servers.
  • System Prompt: Tools are dynamically included in the system prompt, allowing the LLM to understand available capabilities.
  • Server Integration: Supports any MCP-compatible server, tested with various server implementations including Uvicorn and Node.js.

Class Structure

  • Configuration: Manages environment variables and server configurations
  • Server: Handles MCP server initialization, tool discovery, and execution
  • Tool: Represents individual tools with their properties and formatting
  • LLMClient: Manages communication with the LLM provider
  • ChatSession: Orchestrates the interaction between user, LLM, and tools

Logic Flow

flowchart TD
    A[Start] --> B[Load Configuration]
    B --> C[Initialize Servers]
    C --> D[Discover Tools]
    D --> E[Format Tools for LLM]
    E --> F[Wait for User Input]
    
    F --> G{User Input}
    G --> H[Send Input to LLM]
    H --> I{LLM Decision}
    I -->|Tool Call| J[Execute Tool]
    I -->|Direct Response| K[Return Response to User]
    
    J --> L[Return Tool Result]
    L --> M[Send Result to LLM]
    M --> N[LLM Interprets Result]
    N --> O[Present Final Response to User]
    
    K --> O
    O --> F
Loading
  1. Initialization:

    • Configuration loads environment variables and server settings
    • Servers are initialized with their respective tools
    • Tools are discovered and formatted for LLM understanding
  2. Runtime Flow:

    • User input is received
    • Input is sent to LLM with context of available tools
    • LLM response is parsed:
      • If it's a tool call → execute tool and return result
      • If it's a direct response → return to user
    • Tool results are sent back to LLM for interpretation
    • Final response is presented to user
  3. Tool Integration:

    • Tools are dynamically discovered from MCP servers
    • Tool descriptions are automatically included in system prompt
    • Tool execution is handled through standardized MCP protocol

Contributing

Feedback and contributions are welcome. If you encounter any issues or have suggestions for improvements, please create a new issue on the GitHub repository.

If you'd like to contribute to the development of the project, feel free to submit a pull request with your changes.

License

This project is licensed under the MIT License.

mcp-chatbot FAQ

Is this still maintained?
No. The code has not changed since December 2024, well over a year ago. It is not archived, but nothing has been fixed or updated in that time.
Is this something I install into Claude or ChatGPT?
No, it is the other side of the pairing. It is the chat program itself, and the tools plug into it.
Do I need a key?
Yes. You supply a key for whichever model service you use, saved in a small settings file alongside the program.
Which models does it work with?
Anything that follows the OpenAI request format. The author tested it with Llama 3.2 90b on Groq and GPT-4o mini.
Can I use this to run something like a database or web browser tool from my terminal?
Yes. That is exactly the demonstration. You list the tools you want in the settings file and the program starts and offers them to the model.
How hard is the setup?
This one is for developers. You download the code, install Python packages, create a settings file, and run it by hand.