Implement MCP protocol to allow modern AI systems to interract with SignalK

[navado]

Feature request

Implement MCP resources and corresponding prompts as part of SignalK

What is MCP

Model Context Protocol (MCP) is the modern approach to interoperability with LLM based AI systems.

Why?

Exposing MCP endpoints will allow smart systems like HomeAssistent to use SignalK in complex AI based workflows, allowing among others efficient smart boat voice and text interfaces, semantic automations, etc.

[tkurki]

I looked into this a little. As far as I understand it this is not unlike OpenAPI descriptions of the server's "application programming interface": what the program can do.

The Getting Started MCP examples seem to communicate via stdin/out, whereas Signal K's key feature is the APIs and the unified data model.

We already have OpenAPI descriptions of some of the server's capabilities and the plan is to move in that direction, one example being Autopilot API. Have you looked into the available proxies between MCP and OpenAPI, like https://glama.ai/mcp/servers/mk0h35rdwy ?

I did not quite get the Home Assistant part of your intro to this, afaik HA does not have AI capabilities, but I've only used it for trivial home automation, so that may be wrong.

This kind of addition really needs somebody interested in this particular aspect. I am happy to provide assistance and throw ideas around, if somebody steps up.

[mairas]

Wouldn't it be better to be implemented as a plugin, in any case? It's hardly a core server feature.