MCP Energy Server

# MCP vs Web API - Deployment Comparison Choose the right deployment option for your needs. ## 📊 Quick Comparison | Feature | MCP Server (server.py) | Web API (server_web.py) | |---------|----------------------|------------------------| | **Use Case** | Claude Desktop integration | Public API, web apps, mobile apps | | **Access** | Local only | Internet accessible | | **Protocol** | MCP (stdio) | HTTP REST API | | **Deployment** | Local machine | Cloud (Render, Heroku, AWS, etc.) | | **Cost** | Free (local) | Free tier available on Render | | **Setup Time** | 5 minutes | 10-15 minutes | | **Best For** | Personal use with Claude | Sharing data, production apps | ## 🎯 When to Use MCP Server Choose `server.py` (MCP mode) if you: ✅ Want to use the data within Claude Desktop ✅ Need quick local setup ✅ Don't need internet access to data ✅ Prefer privacy (data stays local) ✅ Use Claude as your primary interface **Advantages:** - Direct Claude integration - No cloud setup needed - Zero hosting costs - Private and secure - Fast response times **Limitations:** - Only accessible locally - Requires Claude Desktop - Can't share with others - No web/mobile apps **Setup:** ```bash # Install pip install -e . # Configure Claude Desktop # Add to claude_desktop_config.json # Use # Just ask Claude questions! ``` See [QUICKSTART.md](QUICKSTART.md) for complete setup. ## 🌐 When to Use Web API Choose `server_web.py` (Web API mode) if you: ✅ Want to access data from anywhere ✅ Need to build web/mobile applications ✅ Want to share data with others ✅ Need a public API endpoint ✅ Want to integrate with other services **Advantages:** - Accessible from anywhere - Works with any programming language - Can build web/mobile apps - Share with team/public - Interactive API documentation - Professional REST API **Limitations:** - Requires cloud deployment - May have hosting costs (free tier available) - Setup slightly more complex - Internet required **Setup:** ```bash # Local testing python server_web.py # Visit http://localhost:10000/docs # Deploy to Render.com # Push to GitHub → Connect to Render → Deploy ``` See [RENDER_DEPLOYMENT.md](RENDER_DEPLOYMENT.md) for complete setup. ## 🔄 Can I Use Both? **Yes!** The project includes both options: ```bash # For Claude Desktop python server.py # For web API python server_web.py ``` You can even run them simultaneously on different ports! ## 📋 Detailed Comparison ### MCP Server (server.py) **Architecture:** ``` Claude Desktop ←→ MCP Protocol (stdio) ←→ server.py ←→ EIA API ``` **Example Usage:** ``` User: "What's California's electricity generation?" Claude: [Uses MCP tool] → server.py → EIA API → Response ``` **Files Needed:** - `server.py` - `requirements.txt` (mcp, httpx) - Claude Desktop config **Deployment:** - Local machine only - Configure in Claude Desktop settings - No server management needed --- ### Web API (server_web.py) **Architecture:** ``` Any Client ←→ HTTP REST API ←→ server_web.py ←→ EIA API ↑ (Browser, Python, JS, Mobile App, etc.) ``` **Example Usage:** ```python import requests response = requests.post( "https://your-api.onrender.com/electricity", json={"frequency": "monthly"} ) data = response.json() ``` **Files Needed:** - `server_web.py` - `requirements.txt` (fastapi, uvicorn, httpx) - `render.yaml` (for Render.com) - `Procfile` (optional) **Deployment:** - Render.com (recommended) - Heroku - AWS/GCP/Azure - Any Python hosting ## 🎓 Use Case Examples ### Example 1: Personal Research **Scenario:** You want to analyze energy data for a research paper. **Best Choice:** MCP Server **Why:** Quick setup, use Claude directly for analysis, no need to share ```bash Setup: 5 minutes Usage: "Claude, analyze California's solar trends" Cost: $0 ``` --- ### Example 2: Team Dashboard **Scenario:** Build a web dashboard for your team to monitor energy data. **Best Choice:** Web API **Why:** Accessible to whole team, can build custom UI, shareable ```bash Setup: 15 minutes (deploy to Render) Usage: Fetch data via REST API, display in dashboard Cost: $0 (free tier) or $7/month (no sleep) ``` --- ### Example 3: Mobile App **Scenario:** Create a mobile app showing renewable energy stats. **Best Choice:** Web API **Why:** Mobile apps can't use MCP, need HTTP API ```bash Setup: 15 minutes Usage: App calls API endpoints Cost: $0-$7/month ``` --- ### Example 4: Research + Sharing **Scenario:** Do research with Claude, then share findings via web. **Best Choice:** Both! **Why:** Use MCP for research, deploy web API for sharing ```bash # Research phase python server.py # Use with Claude # Sharing phase python server_web.py # Deploy to Render ``` ## 💡 Recommendations ### For Beginners **Start with:** MCP Server **Why:** Easier setup, immediate use with Claude ### For Developers **Start with:** Web API **Why:** More flexible, easier to integrate with other tools ### For Production **Use:** Web API **Why:** Scalable, professional, accessible ### For Both **Deploy:** MCP locally + Web API on Render **Why:** Best of both worlds! ## 🚀 Migration Path Start simple, scale as needed: ``` 1. Local MCP Server (5 min) ↓ 2. Test locally with Claude ↓ 3. Deploy Web API to Render (15 min) ↓ 4. Build applications using the API ↓ 5. Scale as needed (upgrade Render plan) ``` ## 📝 Decision Matrix Answer these questions: 1. **Do you only use Claude?** → Yes: MCP Server → No: Web API 2. **Need to share with others?** → Yes: Web API → No: MCP Server 3. **Building an app?** → Yes: Web API → No: Either 4. **Have 5 minutes or 15 minutes?** → 5 min: MCP Server → 15 min: Web API 5. **Want it on the internet?** → Yes: Web API → No: MCP Server ## 🎉 Summary **Choose MCP Server if:** - Personal use with Claude ✅ - Quick setup ✅ - No sharing needed ✅ - Privacy important ✅ **Choose Web API if:** - Need public access ✅ - Building applications ✅ - Team collaboration ✅ - Want REST API ✅ **Choose Both if:** - Want maximum flexibility ✅ - Different use cases ✅ - No reason not to! ✅ --- **Still unsure?** Start with MCP Server (easier), then add Web API later if needed! ## 📚 Next Steps ### For MCP Server: 1. Read [QUICKSTART.md](QUICKSTART.md) 2. Configure Claude Desktop 3. Start asking questions! ### For Web API: 1. Read [RENDER_DEPLOYMENT.md](RENDER_DEPLOYMENT.md) 2. Push to GitHub 3. Deploy to Render 4. Use the API! ### For Both: 1. Set up MCP Server first 2. Then deploy Web API 3. Enjoy both! 🎊