APIs Are Service Contracts, MCPs Are Intent Contracts

The text discusses the distinction between APIs and MCPs, emphasizing that the common belief that every SaaS vendor will own its MCP server, similar to APIs, is flawed. While APIs function as service contracts detailing how a system operates and interacts, MCPs serve as intent contracts, focusing on what users aim to accomplish rather than the system's capabilities. This misalignment leads to inefficient agents that struggle in production, as they perform tasks slowly and with higher error rates. The text argues that MCPs should be designed around intents rather than being tied to specific vendors, which often results in more efficient, accurate, and faster performance. It highlights that an effective MCP server spans multiple vendors' APIs and is shaped by specific business needs rather than the vendor's product structure. The piece concludes by asserting that vendors cannot provide intent contracts for workflows that are tailored to individual businesses, suggesting that tools like Arcade.dev are designed to address this gap by focusing on intent contracts instead of simply wrapping APIs.

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