Add MCP Catalog discovery specification#3
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Add docs/discovery.md defining the MCP Catalog format for config-free auto-discovery of MCP server cards via a well-known URI. The catalog is a minimal, MCP-scoped subset of the AI Catalog specification. Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
- Add MCP Server Card subsection defining application/mcp-server+json and link 'MCP Server Cards' references internally rather than to SEP-2127 - Reframe domain hosting language to support cross-host advertising (catalog MAY reference servers on different web hosts) - Switch well-known URI to /.well-known/mcp/catalog.json - Add SHOULD-publish recommendation for organizations offering MCP services - Make specVersion OPTIONAL with note about pushing AI Catalog to align - Tighten identifier definition: MUST begin with urn:mcp:server: and the remainder MUST exactly match the server card's name - Update all examples to use reverse-DNS identifiers - Keep Content-Type: application/json for the catalog itself - Add cross-host advertising example and trust considerations Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
Replaces the prior reconstruction with the canonical content from commit bb3bd697 on SamMorrowDrums/modelcontextprotocol@sammorrowdrums/mcp-catalog-specification, adapted from .mdx to plain .md (frontmatter and Mintlify components stripped, content preserved verbatim). Covers all of tadasant's review feedback: internal MCP Server Cards subsection, .json well-known path, reverse-DNS identifiers, identifier MUST constraint, cross-domain advertising language, SHOULD-publish recommendation. Co-authored-by: Copilot <223556219+Copilot@users.noreply.github.com>
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May 28, 2026
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Summary
Adds
docs/discovery.md— the MCP Catalog discovery specification, as agreed upon in the Server Card working group meeting (discussion #2563).What is the MCP Catalog?
The MCP Catalog is a JSON document served at
/.well-known/mcp/catalogthat lists MCP server cards available from a domain, enabling config-free auto-discovery. It is a minimal, MCP-scoped subset of the AI Catalog specification.Specification Highlights
/.well-known/mcp/catalogspecVersionandentriesarrayidentifier,mediaType(application/mcp-server+json),url— no optional fieldsReferences