apollo-mcp-server

---
name: apollo-mcp-server
description: >
license: MIT
---

# Apollo MCP Server Guide

Apollo MCP Server exposes GraphQL operations as MCP tools, enabling AI agents to interact with GraphQL APIs through the Model Context Protocol.

## Quick Start

### Step 1: Install

```bash
# Linux / MacOS
curl -sSL https://mcp.apollo.dev/download/nix/latest | sh

# Windows
iwr 'https://mcp.apollo.dev/download/win/latest' | iex
```

### Step 2: Configure

Create `config.yaml` in your project root:

```yaml
# config.yaml
transport:
  type: streamable_http
schema:
  source: local
  path: ./schema.graphql
operations:
  source: local
  paths:
    - ./operations/
introspection:
  introspect:
    enabled: true
  search:
    enabled: true
  validate:
    enabled: true
  execute:
    enabled: true
```

Start the server:
```bash
apollo-mcp-server ./config.yaml
```

The MCP endpoint is available at `http://127.0.0.1:8000/mcp` (streamable_http defaults: address `127.0.0.1`, port `8000`). The GraphQL endpoint defaults to `http://localhost:4000/` — override with the `endpoint` key if your API runs elsewhere.

### Step 3: Connect

Add to your MCP client configuration:

**Streamable HTTP (recommended):**

Claude Desktop (`claude_desktop_config.json`):
```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "graphql-api": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["mcp-remote", "http://127.0.0.1:8000/mcp"]
    }
  }
}
```

Claude Code:
```bash
claude mcp add graphql-api -- npx mcp-remote http://127.0.0.1:8000/mcp
```

**Stdio (client launches the server directly):**

Claude Desktop (`claude_desktop_config.json`) or Claude Code (`.mcp.json`):
```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "graphql-api": {
      "command": "./apollo-mcp-server",
      "args": ["./config.yaml"]
    }
  }
}
```

## Built-in Tools

Apollo MCP Server provides four introspection tools:

| Tool | Purpose | When to Use |
|------|---------|-------------|
| `introspect` | Explore schema types in detail | Need type definitions, fields, relationships |
| `search` | Find types in schema | Looking for specific types or fields |
| `validate` | Check operation validity | Before executing operations |
| `execute` | Run ad-hoc GraphQL operations | Testing or one-off queries |

## Defining Custom Tools

MCP tools are created from GraphQL operations. Three methods:

### 1. Operation Files (Recommended)

```yaml
operations:
  source: local
  paths:
    - ./operations/
```

Each file must contain exactly one operation. Each named operation becomes an MCP tool.

```graphql
# operations/GetUser.graphql
query GetUser($id: ID!) {
  user(id: $id) {
    id
    name
    email
  }
}
```

```graphql
# operations/CreateUser.graphql
mutation CreateUser($input: CreateUserInput!) {
  createUser(input: $input) {
    id
    name
  }
}
```

### 2. Operation Collections

```yaml
operations:
  source: collection
  id: your-collection-id
```

Use GraphOS Studio to manage operations collaboratively.

### 3. Persisted Queries

```yaml
operations:
  source: manifest
  path: ./persisted-query-manifest.json
```

For production environments with pre-approved operations.

## Reference Files

Detailed documentation for specific topics:

- [Tools](references/tools.md) - Introspection tools and minify notation
- [Configuration](references/configuration.md) - All configuration options
- [Troubleshooting](references/troubleshooting.md) - Common issues and solutions

## Key Rules

### Security

- **Never expose sensitive operations** without authentication
- Use `headers` configuration for API keys and tokens
- Disable introspection tools in production (they are disabled by default)
- Set `overrides.mutation_mode: explicit` to require confirmation for mutations

### Authentication

```yaml
# Static header
headers:
  Authorization: "Bearer ${env.API_TOKEN}"

# Dynamic header forwarding
forward_headers:
  - x-forwarded-token

# OAuth (streamable_http transport)
transport:
  type: streamable_http
  auth:
    servers:
      - https://auth.example.com/.well-known/openid-configuration
    audiences:
      - https://api.example.com
```

### Token Optimization

Enable minification to reduce token usage:

```yaml
introspection:
  introspect:
    minify: true
  search:
    minify: true
```

Minified output uses compact notation:
- **T** = type, **I** = input, **E** = enum
- **s** = String, **i** = Int, **b** = Boolean, **f** = Float, **d** = ID
- **!** = required, **[]** = list

### Mutations

Control mutation behavior via the `overrides` section:

```yaml
overrides:
  mutation_mode: all       # Execute mutations directly
  # mutation_mode: explicit  # Require explicit confirmation
  # mutation_mode: none      # Block all mutations (default)
```

## Common Patterns

### GraphOS Cloud Schema

```yaml
# schema.source defaults to uplink — can be omitted when graphos is configured
graphos:
  apollo_key: ${env.APOLLO_KEY}
  apollo_graph_ref: my-graph@production
```

### Local Development

```yaml
transport:
  type: streamable_http
schema:
  source: local
  path: ./schema.graphql
introspection:
  introspect:
    enabled: true
  search:
    enabled: true
  validate:
    enabled: true
  execute:
    enabled: true
overrides:
  mutation_mode: all
```

### Production Setup

```yaml
transport:
  type: streamable_http
endpoint: https://api.production.com/graphql
operations:
  source: manifest
  path: ./persisted-query-manifest.json
graphos:
  apollo_key: ${env.APOLLO_KEY}
  apollo_graph_ref: ${env.APOLLO_GRAPH_REF}
headers:
  Authorization: "Bearer ${env.API_TOKEN}"
health_check:
  enabled: true
```

### Docker

```yaml
transport:
  type: streamable_http
  address: 0.0.0.0
  port: 8000
endpoint: ${env.GRAPHQL_ENDPOINT}
graphos:
  apollo_key: ${env.APOLLO_KEY}
  apollo_graph_ref: ${env.APOLLO_GRAPH_REF}
health_check:
  enabled: true
```

## Ground Rules

- ALWAYS configure authentication before exposing to AI agents
- ALWAYS use `mutation_mode: explicit` or `mutation_mode: none` in shared environments
- NEVER expose introspection tools with write access to production data
- PREFER operation files over ad-hoc execute for predictable behavior
- PREFER streamable_http transport for remote and multi-client deployments
- USE stdio only when the MCP client launches the server process directly
- USE GraphOS Studio collections for team collaboration