MCP Link
A gateway that turns any API with an OpenAPI V3 spec into an MCP server, without touching the original API
Medium risk
We rate an entry medium when the tool runs code, makes network calls or reads project files. Check what exactly it does before installing.
Why this level
- Proxies calls to external APIs, including ones that change data
- Requires supplying authorization keys for the target service
Install
Manual install
git clone https://github.com/automation-ai-labs/mcp-link.git
cd mcp-link
go mod download
go run main.go serve --port 8080 --host 0.0.0.0Run the local Go gateway.
This is third-party code. Review the repository files before installing.
What it does
MCP Link reads an OpenAPI V3 spec and exposes the API's endpoints as tools over MCP. The original API stays untouched: the gateway proxies calls and injects an authorization header in the format you set. Path filters include or exclude endpoints by pattern and method. It runs locally as a Go server, ships examples for Brave, DuckDuckGo, Notion, Slack, YouTube and others, and offers a hosted online version.
Who it is for. For developers who need to quickly give an agent access to an existing REST API over MCP.
Good fit when
- A service has an OpenAPI V3 spec and you want to connect it to an agent
- You need to limit endpoints by path pattern and method
- You do not want to hand-write a separate MCP wrapper
Not a fit when
- The API has no OpenAPI V3 spec
- You need a vendor's official MCP server rather than a generic gateway
Example request
Bring up MCP Link for this OpenAPI spec and keep only the GET endpointsLimitations
It works only with an OpenAPI V3 spec, and tool coverage depends on the quality of that spec. Authorization to the target API is set by a header format, and you supply the keys yourself. The gateway proxies calls, so it can change data in external systems if the endpoints allow it. The project has not been updated for a while, and some listed improvements are marked as plans.
How to disable. Stop the local server and remove its entry from your MCP client config.
MCP
- Transport
- sse, http
- Authentication
- not required
Security check
- Proxies calls to external APIs, including ones that change data
- Requires supplying authorization keys for the target service
README in short
The README explains that MCP Link automatically converts a REST API with an OpenAPI V3 spec into an MCP server without changing the source. Installation is via git clone and go mod download, and it runs with go run main.go serve and a port. URL parameters set the spec, the API base URL, the auth header format and path filters. It lists examples for popular services and a link to the hosted version. MIT licensed.
FAQ
How do I limit the endpoints?
With a path filter: patterns like +/path/** include and -/path/** exclude, and you can scope by method, for example +/users/*:GET.
Is there an online version?
Yes, the authors offer a hosted variant for a quick test without local setup.
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Reference MCP servers
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Official reference MCP servers: Filesystem, Fetch, Git, Memory, Sequential Thinking, Time and Everything