This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Emmanuel Mumba
If you’ve been hanging around the dev community lately, you’ve probably noticed how often MCP (Model Context Protocol) comes up in conversations. It feels like everyone is experimenting with it whether for development workflows, database queries, or even design-to-code pipelines.
I’ve been keeping an eye on MCP throughout 2024, and now that we’re well into 2025, the ecosystem has exploded with new servers and integrations. What I love about MCP is how it standardizes the way different tools APIs, databases, cloud services connect with AI agents and developer workflows. Instead of hacking together custom integrations, you can now just “plug in” an MCP server and get to work.
In this roundup, I’ve pulled together some of the most practical and interesting MCP services you can use right now in 2025. I’ve grouped them into categories like development, databases, search, and cloud so you can jump straight to what matters most for your work.
Whether you’re building apps, managing projects, or experimenting with AI-powered workflows, there’s probably an MCP server here that will save you time (or spark your next idea).
Development and Code Management
1. GitHub MCP Server
- Function: Manages repositories, searches through files, and interacts with GitHub’s API.
- Highlight: Automatically generates dashboards summarizing PRs and Issues.
- Why it matters: For open-source maintainers and teams, this MCP reduces context-switching by giving AI direct access to your GitHub environment.
2. GitLab MCP Server
- Function: Provides project management and automates construction pipelines.
- Application scenario: Ideal for DevOps teams looking to optimize CI/CD workflows.
- Why it matters: GitLab users can seamlessly manage merges, builds, and deployments without manual juggling.
3. Apidog MCP Server
- Generate or modify code based on API specifications.
- Search through API spec content quickly and efficiently.
- Update DTOs or add comments automatically.
- Create MVC or other structured code directly from API data.
4. FastAPI-MCP
- Function: Converts FastAPI endpoints into AI-usable tools.
- Highlight: Automatically parses Swagger specifications.
- Why it matters: Developers can instantly expose backend APIs to their AI workflows.
Database Management
5. SQLite MCP Server
- Function: Executes lightweight SQL queries and supports visual data analysis.
- Scenario: Best for local datasets and small projects.
- Why it matters: Developers who don’t want heavy database infrastructure can still integrate structured querying.
6. PostgreSQL MCP Server
- Function: Read-only queries and pattern analysis.
- Security Feature: Uses RBAC (Role-Based Access Control) to manage permissions.
- Why it matters: Offers a secure, AI-friendly way to query one of the most widely used relational databases.
7. Qdrant MCP Server
- Function: Semantic search on vector databases.
- Scenario: Useful for similarity retrieval in knowledge bases.
- Why it matters: Perfect for AI-driven applications like chatbots, recommendation engines, and RAG pipelines.
File and Content Management
8. Filesystem MCP Server
- Function: Provides local file read, write, and management.
- Limitation: Requires Node.js environment.
- Why it matters: Gives AI direct control over files on your machine—great for automation tasks.
9. Google Drive MCP Server
- Function: Enables document format conversion and joint retrieval.
- Features: Converts .doc and .ppt files into HTML for easier indexing.
- Why it matters: Makes cloud-stored documents instantly searchable for AI models.
10. Figma MCP Server
- Function: Generates frontend code (React/Vue) directly from Figma designs.
- Output format: Production-ready UI components.
- Why it matters: This bridges the gap between designers and developers, reducing handoff friction.
Figma MCP Search Engines and Web Data
11. Brave Search MCP Server
- Function: Integrates Brave’s ad-free, privacy-first search engine.
- Filtering: Operates in privacy protection mode.
- Why it matters: Ideal for research workflows where unbiased results are critical.
12. Kagi MCP Server
- Function: Provides unbiased search results with a focus on academic content.
- Highlight: Prioritizes scholarly and research resources.
- Why it matters: Perfect for students, researchers, and technical professionals.
13. Tavily MCP Server
- Function: Multi-mode crawling for topic research.
- Depth: Supports vertical and industry-specific analysis.
- Why it matters: Helps AI agents collect domain-specific knowledge from across the web.
14. Firecrawl MCP Server
- Function: Performs dynamic crawling and intelligent data analysis.
- Scenario: Ideal for e-commerce competition monitoring and opinion analysis.
- Why it matters: Transforms web scraping into structured insights for businesses.
Collaboration and Project Management
15. Slack MCP Server
- Function: Automates bot management and message handling.
- Scenario: Generates daily summaries of conversations.
- Why it matters: Keeps teams updated without manually parsing Slack threads.
16. Jira MCP Server
- Function: Provides intelligent orchestration for agile dashboards.
- Plugin ecosystem: Integrates with Zapier for added automation.
- Why it matters: Streamlines sprint planning and task tracking.
Cloud Service Integrations
17. Cloudflare MCP Server
- Function: Manages edge computing resources.
- Supported services: Workers, KV, and R2.
- Why it matters: Essential for developers deploying globally distributed applications.
18. Alibaba Cloud MCP Zone
- Function: Integrates 30+ services including payments and maps.
- Features: Supports OCR and voice recognition.
- Why it matters: Expands AI agent functionality across enterprise-level services.
Other Useful Tools
19. Spotify MCP Server
- Function: Analyzes listening habits and builds smart playlists.
- Scenario: Generates mood-based or activity-based playlists.
- Why it matters: Shows how MCP isn’t just for devs—music lovers get AI-powered personalization too.
20. Fetch MCP Server
- Function: Simplifies webpage structures into clean Markdown.
- Output optimization: Converts HTML into AI-friendly formats.
- Why it matters: Provides models with readable content for training or retrieval.
Final Thoughts
The Model Context Protocol ecosystem is growing rapidly, with servers covering everything from coding to cloud management to entertainment. What’s impressive is the range: some MCP servers are practical for everyday dev workflows (GitHub, PostgreSQL, Trello), while others unlock entirely new experiences (Spotify, Qdrant, Figma).
For developers, researchers, and businesses, adopting MCP in 2025 means more automation, less context-switching, and smarter AI systems that can do real work. My advice: start with a couple of core servers that align with your stack GitHub + PostgreSQL if you’re a developer, or Google Drive + Trello if you’re a manager and then expand into specialized ones as your needs grow.
This content originally appeared on DEV Community and was authored by Emmanuel Mumba