Explainers
MCP, context windows, and what changes when your AI has a database.
- What is MCP (Model Context Protocol)?
MCP is an open protocol that lets an AI assistant use outside tools and data: a server lists the tools it offers (with their arguments and descriptions), and the assistant...
- What is the difference between an MCP server and an API?
An API is made for programs that already know how to call it; an MCP server is made for an AI to discover and use by itself. It describes each tool in words (what it does, what...
- What is a context window and why does it limit data analysis?
The context window is how much text a model can hold at once: the conversation, files and tool results together. A large table doesn't fit, and what does fit crowds out...
- What is the difference between giving AI a file and giving it a database?
A file is read: the assistant takes in as much as fits and reasons over that. A database is queried: the assistant asks questions and the database computes the answers over...
- Is it safe to let AI query my data?
It can be, if access is controlled: give the assistant a key with only the role it needs (Read can't change anything), limit the key to known addresses and an expiry date, and...
- How do I give an AI read-only access to data?
Give it an API key with the Read role. In mcpdata, a Read key can list, describe and query tables and run saved views, and every tool that writes (tables, views, reports,...