# Pixabay MCP Server Development Guide
This guide explains how the Pixabay MCP Server was created and the steps taken to get it working.
**Created by [UnlockMCP](https://unlockmcp.com)** - Your guide to mastering Model Context Protocol implementations.
## Development Process
### Step 1: Project Planning and Structure
The first step was to analyze the requirements and plan the project structure:
1. **API Analysis**: Reviewed the Pixabay API documentation to understand:
- Available endpoints (images and videos)
- Required parameters and authentication
- Response formats and rate limits
- Error handling requirements
2. **MCP Server Architecture**: Planned the server structure:
- Tool definitions for search functionality
- Parameter validation and type safety
- Error handling and response formatting
### Step 2: Project Setup
Created the basic project structure:
```bash
mkdir pixabay-mcp-server
cd pixabay-mcp-server
```
### Step 3: Configuration Files
#### package.json
Set up the Node.js project with:
- TypeScript for type safety
- MCP SDK dependency
- node-fetch for HTTP requests
- Build and development scripts
#### tsconfig.json
Configured TypeScript with:
- ES2022 target for modern JavaScript features
- Strict type checking
- Module resolution for Node.js
- Output to dist/ directory
### Step 4: Core Implementation
#### Main Server File (`src/index.ts`)
**Key Components:**
1. **Configuration Management**:
```typescript
interface PixabayConfig {
apiKey: string;
baseUrl: string;
videosUrl: string;
}
```
2. **Parameter Interfaces**:
- `PixabaySearchParams` for image search
- `PixabayVideoSearchParams` for video search
- Type-safe parameter definitions
3. **MCP Server Setup**:
```typescript
this.server = new Server(
{
name: "pixabay-mcp-server",
version: "1.0.0",
},
{
capabilities: {
tools: {},
},
}
);
```
4. **Tool Definitions**:
- `search_images`: Comprehensive image search with filters
- `search_videos`: Video search functionality
- `get_image_by_id`: Individual image retrieval
- `get_video_by_id`: Individual video retrieval
5. **API Integration**:
- HTTP request handling with proper error management
- URL parameter construction
- JSON response parsing and formatting
### Step 5: Error Handling and Validation
Implemented robust error handling:
1. **Environment Variable Validation**:
```typescript
if (!this.config.apiKey) {
throw new Error("PIXABAY_API_KEY environment variable is required");
}
```
2. **HTTP Error Handling**:
```typescript
if (!response.ok) {
throw new Error(`Pixabay API error: ${response.status} ${response.statusText}`);
}
```
3. **Tool Execution Error Wrapping**:
- Catches and formats errors for MCP responses
- Provides meaningful error messages
### Step 6: Tool Schema Definition
Each tool includes comprehensive JSON schemas:
- **Input validation**: Parameter types, enums, and constraints
- **Documentation**: Descriptions for each parameter
- **Default values**: Sensible defaults for optional parameters
- **Constraints**: Min/max values, string length limits
Example schema structure:
```typescript
{
name: "search_images",
description: "Search for royalty-free images on Pixabay",
inputSchema: {
type: "object",
properties: {
q: {
type: "string",
description: "Search term (URL encoded). Max 100 characters.",
},
// ... more properties
},
},
}
```
### Step 7: API Integration Details
#### Authentication
- Uses API key from environment variables
- Includes key in all API requests
#### Request Construction
- URL parameter encoding
- Proper handling of optional parameters
- Type conversion for API compatibility
#### Response Processing
- JSON parsing and validation
- Error response handling
- Formatted output for MCP protocol
### Step 8: Testing and Validation
The server was designed with testing in mind:
1. **Type Safety**: TypeScript ensures compile-time validation
2. **Runtime Validation**: Parameter checking and API response validation
3. **Error Scenarios**: Comprehensive error handling for various failure modes
### Step 9: Documentation and Setup
Created comprehensive documentation:
1. **README.md**: User-facing documentation with setup instructions
2. **Development Guide**: This technical documentation
3. **Configuration Examples**: Claude Desktop integration examples
## Architecture Decisions
### Why TypeScript?
- Type safety for API parameters and responses
- Better IDE support and development experience
- Compile-time error checking
### Why node-fetch?
- Modern, Promise-based HTTP client
- Lightweight and well-maintained
- Compatible with Node.js and browser environments
### Why Separate Video/Image Methods?
- Different API endpoints with different parameters
- Type safety for endpoint-specific parameters
- Clear separation of concerns
### Parameter Handling Strategy
- Optional parameters with sensible defaults
- Comprehensive validation through JSON schemas
- Type-safe interfaces for all parameters
## Getting Started with Development
1. **Clone and Setup**:
```bash
git clone <repository>
cd pixabay-mcp-server
npm install
```
2. **Environment Setup**:
```bash
export PIXABAY_API_KEY="your-api-key"
```
3. **Development Mode**:
```bash
npm run dev
```
4. **Building**:
```bash
npm run build
```
5. **Testing Integration**:
- Add to Claude Desktop configuration
- Test with various search parameters
- Verify error handling
## Future Enhancements
Potential improvements to consider:
1. **Caching**: Implement response caching as required by Pixabay
2. **Rate Limiting**: Add client-side rate limiting
3. **Batch Operations**: Support for multiple simultaneous searches
4. **Image Processing**: Add image analysis capabilities
5. **Advanced Filters**: Additional search parameters and filters
## Troubleshooting Common Issues
1. **API Key Issues**: Ensure environment variable is set correctly
2. **Network Errors**: Check internet connection and Pixabay API status
3. **Rate Limiting**: Implement proper caching and request throttling
4. **Type Errors**: Ensure all dependencies are installed and up to date
This development guide provides a complete overview of how the Pixabay MCP Server was created and can be extended or modified for specific use cases.
