Build Your First MCP Server in C#: A Complete Guide to Agentic AI

Build Your First MCP Server in C#: A Complete Guide to Agentic AI Master the Model Context Protocol (MCP) with .NET and Azure OpenAI What You'll Build By the end of this tutorial, you'll have a fully functional MCP server that: Exposes custom business logic as AI-callable tools Integrates seamlessly with Azure OpenAI Handles authentication and authorization Supports long-running operations Prerequisites .NET 9.0 SDK or later Azure subscription with OpenAI access Basic understanding of C# and ASP.NET Core Familiarity with AI concepts (helpful but not required) Part 1: Understanding MCP The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is becoming the "USB-C for AI" - a standardized way for AI agents to communicate with external tools and services. Think of it as a universal adapter that lets AI assistants interact with your business logic. Why MCP Matters for .NET Developers Standardization: One protocol for all AI integrations Flexibility: Swap AI providers without changing your tools Enterprise-Ready: