@houtini/fmp-mcp 1.0.0

package/HANDOVER.md

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+# FMP MCP Server Development - Handover Document
+**Project:** Building Stdio-Based Financial Modeling Prep MCP Server  
+**Date:** December 14, 2025  
+**Status:** Server Built, Needs Testing & Article Creation  
+**Location:** `C:\dev\fmp-mcp\`
+
+---
+
+## EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
+
+Started with tutorial article creation about adding MCP servers to Claude Desktop. Hit architectural incompatibility with `financial-modeling-prep-mcp-server` npm package (HTTP-based, not stdio). **Decision: Build our own stdio-based FMP MCP server from scratch.**
+
+**Current state:** Server built and configured in Claude Desktop, needs testing and completion.  
+**Next thread goal:** Test server, complete implementation, publish package, write tutorial article.
+
+---
+
+## PROJECT CONTEXT
+
+### Original Goal
+Write beginner-friendly tutorial: "How to Add MCP Servers to Claude Desktop"
+
+### What Happened
+1. ✅ Found FMP package on npm (`financial-modeling-prep-mcp-server`)
+2. ❌ Package is HTTP-based (requires port 8080, logs to stdout)
+3. ❌ Incompatible with Claude Desktop's stdio transport
+4. ✅ **Pivoted:** Build custom stdio-based FMP MCP server
+5. ✅ Server built, configured, ready for testing
+
+### Why This Matters
+- HTTP MCP servers ≠ stdio MCP servers (different transports)
+- Claude Desktop expects stdio (JSON-RPC over stdin/stdout)
+- HTTP servers need separate process + port management
+- **This debugging journey IS the article content**
+
+---
+
+## CURRENT PROJECT STATE
+
+### Repository: `C:\dev\fmp-mcp\`
+
+```
+C:\dev\fmp-mcp\
+├── .git/                      # Git repository
+├── .gitignore                 # Node/build ignores
+├── build/                     # Compiled TypeScript
+│   ├── index.js              # ✅ Main entry point
+│   ├── index.d.ts            # Type declarations
+│   └── *.map                 # Source maps
+├── node_modules/              # Dependencies installed
+├── src/
+│   └── index.ts              # ✅ TypeScript source (342 lines)
+├── LICENSE                    # MIT license
+├── package.json              # ✅ Package configuration
+├── package-lock.json         
+├── README.md                 # ⚠️ Needs rewrite in Richard's style
+└── tsconfig.json             # TypeScript config
+```
+
+### Implementation Status
+
+**✅ COMPLETED:**
+- TypeScript MCP server with stdio transport
+- 7 core FMP API tools implemented
+- Error handling and type safety
+- Build configuration (tsc)
+- Claude Desktop integration configured
+- Git repository initialized
+
+**⚠️ NEEDS WORK:**
+1. **Server Testing** - Has NOT been tested yet
+2. **Tool Expansion** - Only 7 tools (FMP API has 250+)
+3. **README Rewrite** - Must match Richard's voice
+4. **Package Publishing** - npm publish workflow
+5. **Tutorial Article** - Document the entire journey
+
+---
+
+## IMPLEMENTED TOOLS (7 Core)
+
+```typescript
+1. get_quote              // Real-time stock quotes
+2. search_symbol          // Search by company name/ticker
+3. get_company_profile    // Detailed company info
+4. get_income_statement   // Income statements (annual/quarterly)
+5. get_balance_sheet      // Balance sheet data
+6. get_cash_flow          // Cash flow statements
+7. get_stock_news         // Latest stock news
+```
+
+**API Pattern:**
+```typescript
+async function fetchFMP(endpoint: string): Promise<any> {
+  const url = `${FMP_BASE_URL}${endpoint}?apikey=${FMP_API_KEY}`;
+  const response = await fetch(url);
+  return response.json();
+}
+```
+
+---
+
+## CLAUDE DESKTOP CONFIGURATION
+
+**File:** `C:\Users\Richard Baxter\AppData\Roaming\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json`
+
+```json
+"financial-modeling-prep": {
+  "command": "node",
+  "args": [
+    "C:\\dev\\fmp-mcp\\build\\index.js"
+  ],
+  "env": {
+    "FMP_API_KEY": "4bqSxSXvO3TBUszm6VqRMKszhq5M0SmF"
+  }
+}
+```
+
+**Expected Behavior:**
+- Claude Desktop starts Node.js process
+- Runs `build/index.js` with stdio transport
+- Provides 7 FMP tools to Claude
+- Logs to stderr (not stdout, per MCP spec)
+
+---
+
+## CRITICAL DEBUGGING DISCOVERIES
+
+### 1. HTTP vs Stdio Architecture Mismatch
+**Problem:** `financial-modeling-prep-mcp-server` package runs HTTP server on port 8080  
+**Evidence:**
+```
+Error: listen EADDRINUSE: address already in use :::8080
+[FmpMcpServer] ❌ Server failed to start...
+```
+
+**Root cause:** Package uses Smithery SDK for HTTP transport, not stdio  
+**Solution:** Built custom server with `@modelcontextprotocol/sdk` stdio transport
+
+### 2. Console Logging to Stdout Breaks MCP
+**Problem:** HTTP server logs `[FmpMcpServer]` prefix to stdout  
+**Evidence:**
+```
+Unexpected token 'F', "[FmpMcpServ"... is not valid JSON
+```
+
+**Why it breaks:** MCP protocol expects **pure JSON-RPC on stdout**  
+**Fix:** All logs go to stderr (`console.error()`)
+
+### 3. NODE_ENV=production Blocks DevDependencies
+**Problem:** TypeScript wouldn't compile (`@types/node` missing)  
+**Evidence:**
+```
+error TS2580: Cannot find name 'process'
+```
+
+**Root cause:** `NODE_ENV=production` set in environment  
+**Fix:** `npm install --include=dev` forces devDependency installation
+
+### 4. Port Conflict from Orphaned Process
+**Problem:** Port 8080 already in use  
+**Evidence:** `netstat -ano | findstr :8080` showed PID 37312 (node.exe)  
+**Fix:** `taskkill /F /PID 37312`
+
+### 5. Windows chmod Incompatibility
+**Problem:** Build script used Unix `chmod +x`  
+**Fix:** Removed from package.json build script (Windows doesn't need it)
+
+---
+
+## ARTICLE OUTLINE (To Be Written)
+
+### Title Options
+1. "Building a Financial Data MCP Server for Claude: A Debugging Journey"
+2. "When npm Packages Don't Work: Converting HTTP MCP to Stdio"
+3. "From HTTP to Stdio: Making Financial Modeling Prep Work with Claude Desktop"
+
+### Article Structure (Based on Writing Style Guide)
+
+**Opening (Personal Context):**
+- Started writing tutorial, hit architectural wall
+- "This was supposed to be a simple how-to guide..."
+- Honest assessment: package looked perfect but fundamentally incompatible
+
+**Problem Discovery (Technical Depth):**
+- Log file investigation (`AppData\Roaming\Claude\logs\`)
+- JSON parsing errors → stdout pollution diagnosis
+- Port conflicts → architecture realization
+- Node.js process debugging with netstat/tasklist
+
+**Decision Point (Engineering Rationale):**
+- Why rebuild vs workaround?
+- HTTP MCP servers vs stdio MCP servers (protocol differences)
+- @modelcontextprotocol/sdk documentation deep dive
+- Trade-offs: control vs time investment
+
+**Implementation (Step-by-Step with Mistakes):**
+- TypeScript project setup
+- MCP SDK integration (stdio transport)
+- FMP API wrapper implementation
+- NODE_ENV=production gotcha (devDependencies)
+- Windows compatibility fixes (chmod)
+
+**Testing (Next Thread Work):**
+- Claude Desktop restart and verification
+- Tool execution tests (get_quote, search_symbol)
+- Error handling validation
+- Token usage monitoring
+
+**Lessons Learned:**
+- MCP transport types matter (HTTP ≠ stdio)
+- Log pollution breaks JSON-RPC protocols
+- Environment variables have silent effects
+- npm package architecture requires verification
+- Building from scratch sometimes faster than debugging
+
+**Resources:**
+- GitHub repository link
+- npm package link (after publishing)
+- MCP SDK documentation
+- FMP API reference
+
+---
+
+## NEXT THREAD TASKS (Priority Order)
+
+### 1. **TEST THE SERVER** (CRITICAL - DO THIS FIRST)
+```
+Restart Claude Desktop (already done)
+Test: "Get me a stock quote for AAPL using the Financial Modeling Prep server"
+Test: "Search for Tesla stock symbol"
+Test: "Get Apple's company profile"
+```
+
+**Expected output:** JSON data from FMP API  
+**If fails:** Check logs at `C:\Users\Richard Baxter\AppData\Roaming\Claude\logs\mcp-server-financial-modeling-prep.log`
+
+### 2. **Verify All 7 Tools Work**
+- get_quote → Symbol: AAPL, TSLA, MSFT
+- search_symbol → Query: "Apple", "Tesla"
+- get_company_profile → Symbol: AAPL
+- get_income_statement → Symbol: AAPL, period: annual
+- get_balance_sheet → Symbol: AAPL, period: quarter
+- get_cash_flow → Symbol: AAPL
+- get_stock_news → Symbol: AAPL, limit: 5
+
+### 3. **Expand Tool Coverage** (Optional but Valuable)
+Current: 7 tools  
+FMP API has: 250+ endpoints
+
+**High-value additions:**
+```typescript
+// Market indexes
+get_sp500_constituents     // S&P 500 companies
+get_nasdaq_constituents    // NASDAQ companies
+
+// Analyst data
+get_price_target          // Analyst price targets
+get_analyst_estimates     // Earnings estimates
+
+// Insider trading
+get_insider_trading       // Insider transactions
+
+// Economic data
+get_treasury_rates        // Treasury yields
+get_economic_calendar     // Economic events
+
+// Technical indicators
+get_sma                   // Simple moving average
+get_rsi                   // Relative strength index
+```
+
+**Implementation pattern:**
+```typescript
+{
+  name: 'get_sp500_constituents',
+  description: 'Get list of S&P 500 constituent companies',
+  inputSchema: {
+    type: 'object',
+    properties: {},
+    required: [],
+  },
+}
+```
+
+### 4. **Rewrite README in Richard's Voice**
+
+**Current README:** Generic boilerplate  
+**Target:** Authentic, technical, transparent
+
+**Style requirements (from writing_style.md):**
+- 12.2 words/sentence average (±12.1 variance)
+- British English (whilst, colour, optimise)
+- First-person transparency (5+ statements)
+- Equipment specificity ("my FMP API key" not "the API key")
+- Honest caveats ("This isn't production-ready...")
+- Community voice references
+- Counter-intuitive insights
+- Zero AI clichés (delve, leverage, unlock, seamless)
+
+**README structure:**
+```markdown
+# Financial Modeling Prep MCP Server
+
+Quick context: built this because the HTTP-based npm package didn't 
+play nicely with Claude Desktop's stdio transport. Spent a morning 
+debugging port conflicts before realising I'd save time just 
+rebuilding from scratch.
+
+## What It Does
+
+Stdio-based MCP server for Financial Modeling Prep API. Currently 
+supports 7 core tools (stock quotes, company profiles, financial 
+statements). The API has 250+ endpoints - these are just the ones 
+I needed first.
+
+## Installation
+
+[Clear, step-by-step with actual commands]
+
+## Configuration
+
+[Include FMP API key setup, Claude Desktop config]
+
+## Tools
+
+[List all 7 tools with examples]
+
+## Limitations
+
+[Honest assessment of what's NOT implemented]
+
+## Development
+
+[How to add more tools, test locally]
+
+## Why Stdio Not HTTP?
+
+[Technical explanation of transport incompatibility]
+```
+
+### 5. **Package Publishing Workflow**
+
+**Steps:**
+```bash
+# 1. Update package.json metadata
+npm version 1.0.0
+
+# 2. Test build
+npm run build
+
+# 3. Test locally
+node build/index.js
+
+# 4. Publish to npm
+npm publish --access public
+
+# 5. Test installation
+npx @houtini-dev/fmp-mcp
+```
+
+**package.json updates needed:**
+```json
+{
+  "name": "@yourscope/fmp-mcp",  // Change scope
+  "description": "Stdio MCP server for Financial Modeling Prep API - Claude Desktop integration",
+  "keywords": [
+    "mcp",
+    "financial-modeling-prep",
+    "claude",
+    "stdio",
+    "stock-market"
+  ],
+  "repository": {
+    "type": "git",
+    "url": "https://github.com/yourusername/fmp-mcp.git"
+  }
+}
+```
+
+### 6. **Write Tutorial Article**
+
+**Format:** Technical guide with debugging journey  
+**Length:** 2,500-3,500 words  
+**Target audience:** Developers adding MCP servers to Claude Desktop
+
+**Article sections:**
+1. Introduction (personal context, what went wrong)
+2. Problem discovery (logs, debugging, architecture)
+3. Building the solution (step-by-step)
+4. Testing and validation
+5. Lessons learned
+6. Resources and next steps
+
+**Key learnings to highlight:**
+- HTTP vs stdio transport types
+- MCP protocol requirements (JSON-RPC on stdout)
+- Environment variable gotchas (NODE_ENV)
+- Windows compatibility considerations
+- npm package architecture verification
+
+---
+
+## TECHNICAL REFERENCE
+
+### MCP SDK Usage Pattern
+
+```typescript
+import { Server } from '@modelcontextprotocol/sdk/server/index.js';
+import { StdioServerTransport } from '@modelcontextprotocol/sdk/server/stdio.js';
+
+const server = new Server(
+  { name: 'fmp-mcp-server', version: '1.0.0' },
+  { capabilities: { tools: {} } }
+);
+
+server.setRequestHandler(ListToolsRequestSchema, async () => ({
+  tools: TOOLS,
+}));
+
+server.setRequestHandler(CallToolRequestSchema, async (request) => {
+  // Handle tool execution
+});
+
+const transport = new StdioServerTransport();
+await server.connect(transport);
+```
+
+### FMP API Endpoints Reference
+
+**Base URL:** `https://financialmodelingprep.com/api/v3`  
+**Auth:** `?apikey={FMP_API_KEY}` query parameter
+
+**Implemented:**
+```
+/quote/{symbol}                              # Real-time quote
+/search?query={query}                        # Symbol search
+/profile/{symbol}                            # Company profile
+/income-statement/{symbol}?period={period}   # Income statement
+/balance-sheet-statement/{symbol}            # Balance sheet
+/cash-flow-statement/{symbol}                # Cash flow
+/stock_news?tickers={symbol}                 # Stock news
+```
+
+**High-value endpoints to add:**
+```
+/sp500_constituent                           # S&P 500 list
+/nasdaq_constituent                          # NASDAQ list
+/price-target/{symbol}                       # Analyst targets
+/analyst-estimates/{symbol}                  # Earnings estimates
+/insider-trading?symbol={symbol}             # Insider trades
+/treasury                                    # Treasury rates
+/economic_calendar                           # Economic events
+/technical_indicator/daily/{symbol}          # Technical indicators
+```
+
+### Error Handling Pattern
+
+```typescript
+try {
+  const data = await fetchFMP(`/quote/${symbol}`);
+  return {
+    content: [{ type: 'text', text: JSON.stringify(data, null, 2) }],
+  };
+} catch (error) {
+  return {
+    content: [{ 
+      type: 'text', 
+      text: `Error: ${error instanceof Error ? error.message : String(error)}` 
+    }],
+    isError: true,
+  };
+}
+```
+
+---
+
+## DEBUGGING CHECKLIST (If Issues Arise)
+
+### Server Won't Start
+```bash
+# Check logs
+type "C:\Users\Richard Baxter\AppData\Roaming\Claude\logs\mcp-server-financial-modeling-prep.log"
+
+# Common issues:
+# 1. Missing FMP_API_KEY → Check claude_desktop_config.json
+# 2. Build directory missing → Run: npm run build
+# 3. Syntax errors → Check: node build/index.js
+```
+
+### Tools Don't Appear in Claude
+```bash
+# 1. Restart Claude Desktop (required after config changes)
+# 2. Check MCP server list in Claude settings
+# 3. Verify process running: tasklist | findstr node
+```
+
+### API Errors
+```bash
+# Test API key directly:
+curl "https://financialmodelingprep.com/api/v3/quote/AAPL?apikey=4bqSxSXvO3TBUszm6VqRMKszhq5M0SmF"
+
+# Common FMP errors:
+# - 401: Invalid API key
+# - 403: Rate limit exceeded (free tier: 250 requests/day)
+# - 429: Too many requests
+```
+
+### JSON Parsing Errors
+```bash
+# Check for stdout pollution:
+node build/index.js
+# Should output ONLY JSON-RPC, not log messages
+
+# If logs appear on stdout → use console.error() not console.log()
+```
+
+---
+
+## FILE LOCATIONS REFERENCE
+
+**Project:**
+- Source: `C:\dev\fmp-mcp\src\index.ts`
+- Build: `C:\dev\fmp-mcp\build\index.js`
+- Package: `C:\dev\fmp-mcp\package.json`
+- README: `C:\dev\fmp-mcp\README.md`
+
+**Claude Desktop:**
+- Config: `C:\Users\Richard Baxter\AppData\Roaming\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json`
+- Logs: `C:\Users\Richard Baxter\AppData\Roaming\Claude\logs\mcp-server-financial-modeling-prep.log`
+
+**FMP API:**
+- Docs: https://site.financialmodelingprep.com/developer/docs
+- API Key: `4bqSxSXvO3TBUszm6VqRMKszhq5M0SmF`
+- Rate limits: 250 requests/day (free tier)
+
+---
+
+## SUCCESS CRITERIA
+
+**Minimum Viable Product (Current Goal):**
+- ✅ 7 core tools working
+- ✅ Stdio transport verified
+- ✅ Error handling functional
+- ✅ Claude Desktop integration confirmed
+
+**Enhanced Version (Next Iteration):**
+- ⚠️ 20+ tools implemented
+- ⚠️ README in Richard's voice
+- ⚠️ Published to npm
+- ⚠️ Tutorial article written
+
+**Production Ready:**
+- ❌ Comprehensive error handling
+- ❌ Rate limiting logic
+- ❌ Response caching
+- ❌ Full API coverage (250+ tools)
+- ❌ Unit tests
+- ❌ CI/CD pipeline
+
+---
+
+## HANDOVER PROMPT FOR NEXT THREAD
+
+```
+Continue FMP MCP server development from C:\dev\fmp-mcp\
+
+STATUS: Server built and configured, needs testing before article creation.
+
+FIRST TASK: Test all 7 implemented tools:
+1. get_quote (AAPL)
+2. search_symbol ("Apple")
+3. get_company_profile (AAPL)
+4. get_income_statement (AAPL, annual)
+5. get_balance_sheet (AAPL, quarter)
+6. get_cash_flow (AAPL)
+7. get_stock_news (AAPL, limit 5)
+
+If tests pass → proceed to:
+- Add high-value tools (analyst data, market indexes)
+- Rewrite README in Richard's voice (British English, first-person, technical depth)
+- Package for npm publishing
+- Write tutorial article documenting the debugging journey
+
+If tests fail → debug using logs at:
+C:\Users\Richard Baxter\AppData\Roaming\Claude\logs\mcp-server-financial-modeling-prep.log
+
+CONTEXT: Started as tutorial article, hit HTTP vs stdio incompatibility with 
+npm package, rebuilt from scratch. This debugging journey IS the article content.
+
+Key discoveries: NODE_ENV=production, stdout pollution, port conflicts, 
+Windows chmod incompatibility - all documented in handover.
+
+FMP API key: 4bqSxSXvO3TBUszm6VqRMKszhq5M0SmF (250 requests/day limit)
+```
+
+---
+
+## ARTICLE WRITING NOTES
+
+### Voice Calibration Checklist
+- ✅ British English throughout (whilst, colour, optimise)
+- ✅ First-person transparency ("I spent 2 hours debugging...")
+- ✅ Equipment specificity ("my FMP API key" not "the key")
+- ✅ Honest mistakes included ("Took me too long to realise...")
+- ✅ Average sentence: 12.2 words (variable lengths natural)
+- ✅ Community references ("What I've read on r/ClaudeAI...")
+- ✅ Counter-intuitive insights (HTTP ≠ stdio not obvious)
+- ❌ Zero AI clichés (delve, leverage, unlock, seamless)
+- ❌ No em dashes (use hyphens or commas)
+- ❌ No perfect narratives (include failures)
+
+### Technical Depth Requirements
+- Engineering rationale for decisions (WHY stdio not just WHAT)
+- Real-world comparisons (HTTP MCP vs stdio MCP architecture)
+- Specific technical details (JSON-RPC protocol, stdout requirements)
+- Counter-intuitive findings (console.log breaks MCP, NODE_ENV blocks deps)
+- Community consensus references (MCP SDK best practices)
+
+### Content Structure (Per Templates)
+**Problem → Investigation → Solution → Lessons**
+
+Not: "Here's how to build an MCP server"  
+But: "Here's what broke, how I debugged it, and what I learned"
+
+---
+
+**END OF HANDOVER**

package/LICENSE

@@ -0,0 +1,21 @@
+MIT License
+
+Copyright (c) 2025 Houtini AI
+
+Permission is hereby granted, free of charge, to any person obtaining a copy
+of this software and associated documentation files (the "Software"), to deal
+in the Software without restriction, including without limitation the rights
+to use, copy, modify, merge, publish, distribute, sublicense, and/or sell
+copies of the Software, and to permit persons to whom the Software is
+furnished to do so, subject to the following conditions:
+
+The above copyright notice and this permission notice shall be included in all
+copies or substantial portions of the Software.
+
+THE SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED "AS IS", WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR
+IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY,
+FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE AND NONINFRINGEMENT. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE
+AUTHORS OR COPYRIGHT HOLDERS BE LIABLE FOR ANY CLAIM, DAMAGES OR OTHER
+LIABILITY, WHETHER IN AN ACTION OF CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE, ARISING FROM,
+OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE SOFTWARE OR THE USE OR OTHER DEALINGS IN THE
+SOFTWARE.