Apollo MCP Demo

This folder sets up the same core architecture Apollo demonstrates for MCP:

1. a normal GraphQL API,
2. an Apollo MCP Server in front of it,
3. a small allowlist of GraphQL operations that become MCP tools.

This version uses the standalone Apollo MCP Server container instead of the rover init --mcp wizard because it is simpler to run locally without GraphOS credentials.

What gets started

• api: a tiny Apollo Server on http://localhost:4001/
• mcp: Apollo MCP Server on http://localhost:8000/mcp

Architecture Diagram

flowchart LR
    subgraph LocalMachine["Local machine"]
        Client["MCP client\nInspector / Codex / Cursor"]

        subgraph Docker["docker compose"]
            MCP["Apollo MCP Server\n:8000/mcp"]
            API["Apollo GraphQL API\n:4001"]
        end

        Ops["graphql/operations/*.graphql\nApproved operations"]
        Schema["graphql/api.graphql\nSchema snapshot"]
    end

    Client -->|"MCP over Streamable HTTP"| MCP
    Ops -->|"tool definitions"| MCP
    Schema -->|"schema metadata"| MCP
    MCP -->|"GraphQL queries/mutations"| API
    API -->|"GraphQL JSON response"| MCP
    MCP -->|"MCP tool results"| Client

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Run it

cd C:\Users\muham\Documents\apollo-mcp
npm install
docker compose up --build

In a second terminal, inspect the MCP server:

npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector

Then open the Inspector URL it prints, choose:

• Transport Type: Streamable HTTP
• URL: http://127.0.0.1:8000/mcp

Click Connect, then List Tools.

You should see MCP tools derived from:

• GetBooks
• GetBookById
• GetBooksByGenre

Optional client config

For MCP clients that use mcp-remote, the local config shape is:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "apollo-demo": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "mcp-remote",
        "http://127.0.0.1:8000/mcp"
      ]
    }
  }
}

What's actually happening

The GraphQL API is still the real data service. It knows the schema, resolves fields, and returns JSON for GraphQL queries.

Apollo MCP Server does not replace that API. It sits in front of it and translates approved GraphQL operations into MCP tools that an AI client can discover and call.

The important files are:

• mcp-config.yaml: tells Apollo MCP Server where the GraphQL endpoint lives, where the schema file is, where the allowed operations live, and how to expose MCP over HTTP.
• graphql/api.graphql: schema snapshot used by Apollo MCP Server so it can describe tools correctly.
• graphql/operations/GetBooks.graphql: one approved query that becomes one MCP tool.
• src/server.mjs: the actual GraphQL API implementation.
• docker-compose.yml: runs both services together on one local network.

The request flow is:

1. Your MCP client connects to http://localhost:8000/mcp.
2. Apollo MCP Server advertises tools based on the .graphql operation files.
3. The client calls one of those tools with arguments.
4. Apollo MCP Server converts that tool call back into the underlying GraphQL operation.
5. Apollo MCP Server sends that GraphQL request to http://api:4001/.
6. The GraphQL API executes the query and returns data.
7. Apollo MCP Server returns the result to the MCP client in MCP format.

Request Flow Diagram

sequenceDiagram
    autonumber
    participant C as MCP Client
    participant M as Apollo MCP Server
    participant O as Operation Files
    participant G as GraphQL API

    C->>M: Connect to http://localhost:8000/mcp
    M->>O: Load approved .graphql operations
    O-->>M: GetBooks / GetBookById / GetBooksByGenre
    M-->>C: Advertise MCP tools
    C->>M: Invoke tool with arguments
    M->>M: Convert tool call to GraphQL operation
    M->>G: Send GraphQL request to http://api:4001/
    G-->>M: Return GraphQL JSON data
    M-->>C: Return MCP-formatted tool result

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Why there is no router here

Apollo Router is useful when:

• you are serving a federated supergraph,
• you want Apollo's GraphOS-managed runtime,
• or you want GraphQL and MCP bundled in Apollo Runtime.

For a simple local demo with one existing GraphQL API, Apollo's own deployment docs support using the standalone Apollo MCP Server container directly against that endpoint. That is what this project uses.

Sources

• Apollo MCP Server quickstart: https://www.apollographql.com/docs/apollo-mcp-server/quickstart
• Apollo MCP Server config reference: https://www.apollographql.com/docs/apollo-mcp-server/command-reference
• Apollo MCP Server deploy docs: https://www.apollographql.com/docs/apollo-mcp-server/deploy
• Apollo MCP Server debugging docs: https://www.apollographql.com/docs/apollo-mcp-server/debugging