How to Gracefully Manage 200+ Tools on a Single MCP Server
Disastrous-Shoe7122 · reddit · 2026-08-10
Addressing context limits and degraded selection accuracy with massive tool lists in MCP (Model Context Protocol), a developer shared practical strategies for managing 200+ tools.
Key strategies include:
- Per-user filtering: Middleware dynamically trims the tool list based on the user's actually connected services (e.g., Shopify, GA4), preventing sessions from hitting limits.
- Runtime catalog loading: The server fetches the tool catalog from the backend on startup and dynamically registers JSON Schemas, requiring no server redeployment for new tools.
- Live updates: Utilizing the tools/listchanged protocol, existing MCP sessions receive new tools in real-time when a new source is connected via the web app, without needing a reconnect.
Additionally, tools carry MCP annotations like readOnlyHint, ensuring agents are properly gated when executing high-risk actions like refunds.
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