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Bridge

The StaticMCP Bridge is the critical component that enables standard MCP clients to seamlessly interact with static file-based context servers. Acting as a lightweight translation layer, the bridge converts real-time MCP requests into file system operations, making static pre-generated content appear as a fully dynamic MCP server.

Architecture Role​

The bridge serves as the interface between two worlds:

  • MCP Protocol Side: Handles standard MCP requests from AI models and applications via JSON-RPC over stdio, HTTP, or SSE
  • Static File Side: Translates requests into appropriate file paths and HTTP requests

This separation allows StaticMCP to leverage the full power of modern web infrastructure while maintaining complete compatibility with existing MCP tooling.

Transport Support​

StaticMCP bridges can implement any of the standard MCP transport mechanisms:

JSON-RPC over Stdio​

Traditional command-line bridges that communicate via standard input/output:

  • Ideal for development tools and local testing
  • Compatible with MCP Inspector and development environments
  • Simple process-based isolation and debugging

HTTP Transport​

RESTful bridges that expose MCP operations as HTTP endpoints:

  • Native web integration for browser-based clients
  • Standard HTTP status codes and headers
  • Easy integration with existing web infrastructure
  • Support for CORS and web security policies

Server-Sent Events (SSE)​

Real-time bridges using SSE for bi-directional communication:

  • Efficient for long-running connections
  • Built-in reconnection and error handling
  • Ideal for web applications requiring live updates
  • Lower latency than traditional HTTP polling

Core Responsibilities​

Protocol Translation​

The bridge's primary function is converting MCP operations into file system requests:

  • Resource Requests: Map resources/read calls to specific JSON files in the resources/ directory
  • Tool Calls: Transform tools/call requests into lookups in the tools/ hierarchy
  • Capability Discovery: Serve manifest information from the root mcp.json file

Request Routing​

Bridges implement intelligent routing logic to map complex requests to static files:

MCP Request: resources/read { uri: "file://README.md" }
↓
File Path: resources/README.md.json
↓
HTTP Request: GET https://cdn.example.com/resources/README.md.json

Error Handling​

Professional error handling ensures graceful degradation:

  • File Not Found: Convert 404 errors into appropriate MCP error responses
  • Network Issues: Handle connectivity problems with service unavailable errors
  • Invalid Content: Validate JSON responses and handle parsing errors

Caching Integration​

Bridges can implement sophisticated caching strategies:

  • Local Caching: Store frequently accessed files in memory or local storage
  • HTTP Caching: Respect and leverage standard HTTP cache headers
  • CDN Integration: Work seamlessly with content delivery networks

Implementation Approaches​

Standalone Servers​

Independent bridge applications that run as separate processes:

  • Stdio Bridges: Accept MCP requests via standard input/output for command-line tools
  • Streamable HTTP Servers: Provide single-endpoint HTTP bridges for modern web clients
  • Legacy HTTP+SSE Servers: Support deprecated dual-endpoint pattern for backward compatibility
  • Handle requests to static file hosts
  • Suitable for development and testing environments
  • Can be written in any programming language

Embedded Libraries​

Bridge functionality integrated directly into MCP client applications:

  • Eliminate network overhead between client and bridge
  • Enable advanced caching and optimization strategies
  • Provide tighter integration with application logic
  • Ideal for production deployments

Serverless Functions​

Cloud-hosted bridges deployed as serverless functions:

  • Automatically scale with demand
  • Integrate with cloud storage and CDN services
  • Provide geographic distribution for global applications
  • Reduce operational overhead

Proxy Services​

Bridge services that sit between multiple clients and static hosts:

  • Share cached content across multiple MCP clients
  • Implement advanced rate limiting and authentication
  • Provide monitoring and analytics capabilities
  • Support multi-tenant scenarios

Configuration Options​

Source Location​

Bridges support multiple source types for maximum flexibility:

  • Local File System: Direct access to local directories for development
  • HTTP/HTTPS URLs: Remote static hosting for production deployments
  • Cloud Storage: Integration with AWS S3, Google Cloud Storage, etc.
  • CDN Endpoints: Direct connection to content delivery networks

Performance Tuning​

  • Connection Pooling: Reuse HTTP connections for improved performance
  • Concurrent Requests: Handle multiple simultaneous requests efficiently
  • Timeout Configuration: Appropriate timeouts for different network conditions
  • Retry Logic: Intelligent retry strategies for transient failures

Security Features​

  • HTTPS Enforcement: Ensure secure communication with static hosts
  • Access Control: Implement authentication and authorization where needed
  • Input Validation: Sanitize requests to prevent security vulnerabilities
  • Rate Limiting: Protect against abuse and ensure fair resource usage

Types​

STDIO​

npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector staticmcp_stdio_bridge ./my-static-mcp/

Checkout stdio_bridge for more details

Fixed SSE​

On the hosting server, start the SSE server to host the StaticMCP files (which partially looses the benefit of it being static).

staticmcp_sse_fixed ./my-static-mcp/
staticmcp_sse_fixed https://staticmcp.com/mcp/

Checkout staticmcp_sse_bridge for more details.

Dynamic SSE​

Use a dynamic SSE bridge that takes in the url to the StaticMCP files as param.

https://bridge.staticmcp.com/sse?url=https://staticmcp.com/mcp/

Checkout staticmcp_sse_bridge for more details.

Standard Compliance​

StaticMCP bridges maintain strict compatibility with MCP specifications across all transport methods:

  • Protocol Versions: Support for current MCP protocol versions
  • Transport Flexibility: JSON-RPC over stdio, Streamable HTTP, or legacy HTTP+SSE transports
  • Message Format: Full compliance with MCP message schemas
  • Error Codes: Standard MCP error codes and message formats
  • Response Format: Exact adherence to MCP response schemas

This ensures that any MCP client can work with StaticMCP without modification, regardless of the chosen transport mechanism.

Extensions​

TBD