Python: Add initial MCP Connector Version

[nmoeller]

Motivation and Context

With MCP getting more and more popular, i thought it's a cool idea to have plugins loaded and executed remotely with Semantic Kernel.

Description

What is included ?

• Sample on how to use a MCP Server with Semantic Kernel
• New Connector that can read Tools from the MCP Server
• The Connector creates a Plugin with the corresponding MCP Tools
• Connection can be done via stdio & sse

What is not included ?

• Loading of Resources, Prompts etc.
• Handling Authentication to the MCP Server

What needs to be done ?

• Load MCP Tools as Plugins
• Enhance Parameter Parsing between KernelParameters and MCP Tool Parameters
• Add Unit Tests
• Add Integration Tests

Contribution Checklist

• The code builds clean without any errors or warnings
• The PR follows the SK Contribution Guidelines and the pre-submission formatting script raises no violations
• All unit tests pass, and I have added new tests where possible
• I didn't break anyone 😄

[markwallace-microsoft]

Python Test Coverage Report •

File	Stmts	Miss	Cover	Missing
semantic_kernel/connectors/mcp
mcp_manager.py	23	23	0%	2–56
mcp_server_settings.py	25	9	64%	19–28, 41, 50
semantic_kernel/functions
kernel_plugin.py	185	8	96%	399–401, 419, 422, 435, 460, 481, 506
TOTAL	19639	2585	87%

Python Unit Test Overview

Tests	Skipped	Failures	Errors	Time
3207	5 💤	0 ❌	0 🔥	1m 40s ⏱️

[eavanvalkenburg]

@markwallace-microsoft would be good to get your thought on this, compared to dotnet