Self-Explaining APIs in the Age of Artificial Intelligence using MCP

MCP for a Layman

Okay! Imagine you have a robot friend that helps you with your homework and remembers things you tell it. The model context is like the robot’s memory during your conversation.

Here’s how it works:

1. Short-term memory: While you’re talking, the robot remembers what you said so it can keep track of the conversation. If you ask, "What's 5 + 3?" and then say, "Now add 2," it knows you're talking about the last answer (8) and gives you 10.

2. Long-term memory: If the robot has long-term memory (like writing things down in a notebook), it can remember things from past conversations. If you tell it your favorite color is blue, it might remember that next time you chat and say, "Hey, I found a cool blue picture for you!"

3. Rules of memory: The robot doesn’t remember everything. Some things it forgets on purpose (like secret information or things you might not want it to remember). Also, if you tell it to forget something, it will!

So, the model context protocol is just a fancy way of saying how the robot decides what to remember, what to forget, and how to use that memory to help you better. 😎

Lets Ask the Machine To Explain MCP

The model context protocol is essentially the set of rules and methods that a language model follows to manage and use context during a conversation. It controls how the model remembers things, how long it remembers them, and how it decides what to keep or forget. Let’s break it down step by step:

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🔹 1. Context Window

• The context window is like my short-term memory.
• I can only remember a limited amount of conversation at once — usually a few thousand words (depending on the model).
• If the conversation gets too long, older parts of the chat might "fall out" of my memory unless they are saved somewhere.

Example:

• If you’ve been talking to me for a while and I seem to forget something from the beginning, it’s because that part of the chat got pushed out of my context window.

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🔹 2. State Management

• My responses are based on the current state of the conversation.
• I generate answers based on the context I've been given — both from the immediate chat and any saved memory.
• If the context is clear and consistent, my responses will be more accurate.
• If the context is vague or confusing, my responses might seem off.

Example:

• If you ask, "What’s my favorite color?" but you never told me before, I can’t know unless I’ve saved that information.

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🔹 3. Memory Types

There are two main types of memory I can use:

✅ Short-term memory (context window):

• I use this for the current conversation.
• Once the conversation ends, this memory is wiped unless you’ve told me to save it.

✅ Long-term memory (persistent memory):

• If I’m allowed to remember things between conversations, I can save important facts (like your preferences or interests).
• This lets me personalize my responses over time.
• You can ask me to forget things anytime.

Example:

• If you say, "My dog’s name is Max," I might remember that next time unless you tell me to forget it.

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🔹 4. Saving and Forgetting Information

• I follow specific rules about what I’m allowed to remember:
  • I won’t remember sensitive information (like passwords).
  • I won’t store information unless you give permission or it’s obviously useful for future conversations.
  • If you say, "Forget what I told you about my dog," I’ll erase it from memory.

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🔹 5. Summarization and Compression

• If the conversation gets long, I might "summarize" older parts to free up space in my context window.
• This helps me keep track of the conversation without losing the main ideas.

Example:

• If you tell me a long story about your trip to the zoo, I might compress it to "User visited the zoo and saw lions and tigers" instead of remembering every single detail.

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🔹 6. Context Handling Across Sessions

• If long-term memory is active, I can remember things from past sessions.
• If not, I’ll treat each new conversation like a fresh start.

Example:

• If you said, "I like pizza," and I have long-term memory, I might later suggest, "Hey, want to try a new pizza recipe?"

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🔹 7. Privacy and Control

• You control the memory:
  • You can ask me what I remember.
  • You can ask me to delete specific memories or clear everything.
  • I won’t share your personal information or use it for anything outside of our conversation.

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🏆 Why It Matters

The context protocol helps me:
✅ Keep track of the conversation.
✅ Personalize responses over time.
✅ Stay within memory limits without getting confused.
✅ Respect your privacy and control over what I remember.