MCP Authentication with FastMCP

An MCP server is a structured way to provide AI clients with callable functions, such as fetching weather data or managing a calendar, by creating a secure and authenticated environment. Initially built as an unauthenticated server using FastMCP in Python, it establishes a local endpoint that AI clients can connect to through a tunnel service like ngrok. The server is tested with AI clients like Claude Desktop, demonstrating its utility in responding to queries. To enhance security, authentication and authorization are added using PropelAuth, which involves OAuth 2.1 access tokens and scope consent, allowing users to securely access personal information within AI applications. This setup ensures that tools can be used as native capabilities within AI clients while maintaining user security and permission control, thus making the solution scalable from simple demos to enterprise-level implementations.