> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.dedaluslabs.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# MCP server guidelines

> Best practices for building MCP servers that work well with the Dedalus SDK

This guide covers practical best practices for building MCP servers that work reliably with the Dedalus SDK.

If you’re new to MCP, start with the MCP docs first:

* **Build a server**: [MCP server overview](/sdk/mcp/python/server/overview)
* **Deploy**: [Deploy an MCP server](/sdk/mcp/python/deploy)
* **Test/debug**: [Testing](/sdk/mcp/python/testing), [Debugging](/sdk/mcp/python/debugging)

## Guidelines (high-level)

* **Keep tools small and deterministic**: One tool should do one job, with clear input/output.
* **Use strict schemas**: Prefer explicit parameter types and avoid “any”-shaped payloads.
* **Return stable data**: Avoid embedding large prose in tool responses—return structured fields whenever possible.
* **Be stateless when possible**: It simplifies scaling and avoids surprising cross-user behavior.
* **Handle errors explicitly**: Return actionable error messages; avoid silent failures.

## Next steps

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="MCP Servers" href="/sdk/agents/mcp/typescript">
    Connect from the Dedalus SDK
  </Card>

  <Card title="Tools" href="/sdk/agents/tools/typescript">
    Combine with local tools
  </Card>
</CardGroup>