3 ms·

How is distributing a markdown file the bottleneck?

tass 1mo ago
Because it’s something else that’s non-standard between providers.
stillpointlab 1mo ago
It is the automatic distribution and automatic update. The questions isn't "how does one download a text file to another persons computer?". It is "how does someone with a skill.md file on their computer discover that a new version of that file is available". This isn't a "bottleneck" but rather a capability (or lack thereof). As you add more and more capabilities, especially ones relevant to enterprise situations like authentication, authorization, governance, etc. then MCP starts to pay off. If you do not need those capabilities, then you do not need MCP. And then you shouldn't use it. But if you do need those capabilities then it might be worth using MCP rather than inventing your own way to do them.
- boredumb 1mo ago
  I see. In my head it would be something like the agents harness having a list of services it interacts with, reaches out to service.com/agents.md for a fresh copy every so often and uses that to resolve the relevant tool calls.
  - notatoad 1mo ago
    >reaches out to service.com/agents.md for a fresh copy every so often and uses that to resolve the relevant tool calls. that is basically what MCP is. except it answers all the questions that your version handwaves away - how often do you get a fresh copy, how do you describe the relevant tool calls, how are the tools organized, and how does auth work.
    - liquicity 1mo ago
      If that truly is the main selling point - it seems like a shallow moat versus skills + rest..
  - stillpointlab 1mo ago
    Valid. There are many ways to do it. But for enterprise there may be teams, each developing their own way to do it. Then there will be many different ways that it is done throughout the enterprise, which is hard re: governance. Better/easier to adhere to an industry standard which can be audited, especially for enterprises where that is a legal requirement. That isn't a reason you should use it, just an explanation about why someone has to use it.
deleted 1mo ago
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tass 1mo ago

Because it’s something else that’s non-standard between providers.

It is the automatic distribution and automatic update. The questions isn't "how does one download a text file to another persons computer?". It is "how does someone with a skill.md file on their computer discover that a new version of that file is available". This isn't a "bottleneck" but rather a capability (or lack thereof). As you add more and more capabilities, especially ones relevant to enterprise situations like authentication, authorization, governance, etc. then MCP starts to pay off. If you do not need those capabilities, then you do not need MCP. And then you shouldn't use it. But if you do need those capabilities then it might be worth using MCP rather than inventing your own way to do them.

boredumb 1mo ago
I see. In my head it would be something like the agents harness having a list of services it interacts with, reaches out to service.com/agents.md for a fresh copy every so often and uses that to resolve the relevant tool calls.
- notatoad 1mo ago
  >reaches out to service.com/agents.md for a fresh copy every so often and uses that to resolve the relevant tool calls. that is basically what MCP is. except it answers all the questions that your version handwaves away - how often do you get a fresh copy, how do you describe the relevant tool calls, how are the tools organized, and how does auth work.
  - liquicity 1mo ago
    If that truly is the main selling point - it seems like a shallow moat versus skills + rest..
- stillpointlab 1mo ago
  Valid. There are many ways to do it. But for enterprise there may be teams, each developing their own way to do it. Then there will be many different ways that it is done throughout the enterprise, which is hard re: governance. Better/easier to adhere to an industry standard which can be audited, especially for enterprises where that is a legal requirement. That isn't a reason you should use it, just an explanation about why someone has to use it.

deleted 1mo ago

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