Unit 9 · Connect to external tools and data

Connect to an MCP server

You initialize one negotiated MCP session over the transport that fits your deployment. Streamable HTTP is the normal current choice for a remote server.

AxMCPClient8 focused minutesNot started

Unit example (nearest native match)

See the idea in context

AxMCPClient mcp = new AxMCPClient(new AxMCPStreamableHTTPTransport(endpoint), Map.of("namespace", "inventory"));
      AxMCPClient.CatalogSnapshot catalog = mcp.inspectCatalog();
AxGen program = new AxGen(Ax.s("request:string -> answer:string"), Map.of("mcp", mcp));
      mcp.close();

Create the transport
Streamable HTTP connects the client to the remote URL.
Create one client session
AxMCPClient owns negotiation and the protocol lifecycle.
Use a namespace
orders keeps discovered names clear when several servers are attached.

Run itIn your own project

// Gradle (build.gradle):
implementation 'dev.axllm:ax:22.0.4'
// Maven (pom.xml):
<dependency>
  <groupId>dev.axllm</groupId>
  <artifactId>ax</artifactId>
  <version>22.0.4</version>
</dependency>

import dev.axllm.ax.Ax;

var llm = Ax.ai("openai", Map.of("apiKey", System.getenv("OPENAI_API_KEY")));
var classify = Ax.ax("review:string -> sentiment:class \"positive, negative, neutral\"");

Set OPENAI_APIKEY in your environment before running provider-backed code.

In the ax repo

From a clone of the ax repo:

npm run example -- java src/examples/java/mcp/NativeMCPToolsExample.java

Active practice

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Answer 2 in a row to learn this · attempt 1

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See the idea in context

Show that you can use it

Source-backed follow-up