What is MCP?
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard that lets AI assistants — such as Claude, Cursor, and other agent frameworks — call external tools in a structured, secure way. Instead of copy-pasting data between a chat and a website, an MCP-enabled agent can invoke a tool directly: "format this JSON", "encode this string as Base64", "convert this CSV to JSON" — and receive a structured response it can act on.
What's Coming
An NB Toolbox MCP server that exposes our tool suite to MCP-compatible AI agents. The server reuses the same pure-function logic as the browser tools and the REST API, so an agent gets identical, correct results. Planned capabilities:
- One tool per MCP resource. Each NB Toolbox tool becomes an MCP-callable function with a typed schema (inputs, options, limits) — discoverable by the agent without human-written prompts.
- Schema-driven discovery. Agents read each tool's published
schema.json(ARCH-011) to learn what inputs and options are valid — no guessing, no hallucinated parameters. - Same limits as the API. Larger payloads than the browser, consistent with the REST API tier.
- Authentication & usage tracking. API-key auth shared with the REST API; per-key usage meters.
- Local or remote. The MCP server can run locally (for personal agent workflows) or be hosted (for team/production agents).
Tools Planned for MCP Access
12 of 12 tools are flagged for programmatic access (API + MCP share the same availability flag). Each will be exposed as an MCP tool with a typed schema.
Base64 Encoder/Decoder
Encode and decode Base64 data instantly. Perfect for encoding binary data for text-based systems.
Cron Expression Generator
Generate, explain, and validate cron expressions with next-execution preview, natural language input, and multi-platform support (Unix, Quartz, AWS, Kubernetes).
CSV to JSON Converter
Convert CSV data into valid JSON format instantly. Perfect for data transformation and API integration.
CSV to Markdown Converter
Convert CSV data into Markdown tables instantly. Perfect for documentation and README files.
Glassmorphism CSS Generator
Generate glassmorphism CSS effects with live preview. Create modern frosted glass UI elements.
JSON Formatter
Format and validate JSON data with proper indentation. Beautify minified JSON instantly.
Lorem Ipsum Generator
Generate Lorem Ipsum placeholder text instantly. Customize paragraphs, words, and sentences.
Markdown Table Generator
Generate Markdown tables with ease. Perfect for GitHub README files and documentation.
Tailwind Color Palette Generator
Generate custom Tailwind CSS color palettes from a single base colour. OKLCH perceptually uniform generation, WCAG contrast validation, and complementary palette support.
Unix Timestamp Converter
Convert Unix timestamps to human-readable dates and vice versa. Supports milliseconds and seconds.
UTM Parameter Builder
Build UTM tracking parameters for marketing campaigns. Track campaign performance with proper URL tags.
YAML to JSON Converter
Convert YAML configuration files into valid JSON format instantly. Ideal for configuration management.
Why MCP?
For AI agents, raw HTTP APIs require the agent to construct requests, parse responses, and handle errors — error-prone for an LLM. MCP standardises tool invocation with typed schemas and structured responses, so the agent spends fewer tokens on plumbing and fewer cycles on retrying malformed calls. NB Toolbox's existing schema-first architecture (every tool publishes a machine-readable schema) makes it a natural fit for MCP.
Get Notified
The MCP server is on the roadmap after the REST API. To get notified when it launches, or to request early access:
- Use the Feedback button on any page and select "Feature request" with the note "MCP early access".
- Open a Discussion on GitHub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which AI agents will be supported?
Any MCP-compatible client. The MCP standard is client-agnostic; we will publish setup examples for popular agents (Claude Desktop, Cursor, etc.) at launch.
Will the MCP server be free?
A local/self-hosted MCP server will be free. A hosted MCP endpoint (no infrastructure to run) will share the REST API's pricing tiers.
How is MCP different from the REST API?
The REST API is for any HTTP client (scripts, CI, backends). MCP is specifically for AI agents — it adds typed schemas and a standardised invocation protocol so agents call tools correctly with less prompting. NB Toolbox exposes the same underlying functions through both.