START BUILDING WEB / MCP

Template discovery.
Inside your AI workflow.

From a project brief to a considered starting point. Find templates, explore visual references and compare source evidence—without leaving the conversation.

Connect your clientExplore the capabilities
  • Project + visual discovery
  • Source-linked results
  • Remote MCP connection
YOUR NEXT PROJECTWorkflow example
You describe

A photography portfolio. Astro. A clean layout, large images, MIT license.

AI CLIENTSBW MCPCATALOG
tools/callrecommend_templatesmode "new-project"stack (exact) ["Astro"]license (SPDX) "MIT"
An informed choice, not just a link.

Project fit · source · license evidence · gaps

01 / CAPABILITIES

Less searching around.
More context for the decision.

A bridge between your agent and the published template library. Search for what the project needs, see what the interface looks like, and inspect the evidence before choosing.

Start with the project

Describe what you are building. Match purpose, stack and required capabilities, rather than collecting unrelated links.

Search what it looks like

Ask for a cream editorial layout or a dark dashboard. Search the screenshot index by visual description, with previews to inspect.

Keep the evidence attached

Keep source links, available license evidence, adoption notes and gaps in the same conversation. Unknown stays unknown.

02 / FROM QUESTION TO WORKFLOW

Three ways to move your project forward.

01

Choose a foundation

A stack name alone is not a project brief.

“Find Astro photography portfolios with a gallery and MIT license.”

Receive candidates with fit, source and evidence gaps. Inspect details before adopting.

recommend_templates → get_template
02

Find a visual direction

The right look is hard to express with framework filters.

“Cream background, left navigation, masonry photos and plenty of whitespace.”

Inspect screenshot matches as visual references. For a public reference URL, use an authorized background visual task.

search_visual_templates → get_template
03

Extend an existing project

A new template should solve a real gap.

“We already have search and favorites. Compare templates that could add a submission page.”

Specify existing capabilities, improvement goals and scope with integrate mode. Compare gains, effort and tradeoffs.

recommend_templates → compare_templates

03 / GET CONNECTED

One endpoint.
A clearer starting point.

Use an MCP client that supports Streamable HTTP and Bearer authentication. Connection credentials are authorized separately from your website account.

STREAMABLE HTTPhttps://startbuildingweb.com/mcp
  1. 1

    Obtain authorization

    Contact the service maintainer for a credential and confirm its permissions and expiry. Credentials are currently issued individually.

    Contact the maintainer
  2. 2

    Configure your client

    Set the HTTPS endpoint and Bearer header. Keep the token in your client’s environment and reload the connection.

  3. 3

    Discover, then ask

    Initialize the MCP connection and check tools/list. Describe your project or visual direction; inspect details and compare candidates before adoption.

.cursor/mcp.json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "startbuildingweb": {
      "url": "https://startbuildingweb.com/mcp",
      "headers": {
        "Authorization": "Bearer ${env:STARTBUILDINGWEB_MCP_TOKEN}"
      }
    }
  }
}

Set STARTBUILDINGWEB_MCP_TOKEN in the environment that launches Cursor, then reload MCP. The variable is a placeholder for your authorized credential; never commit the actual token.

Cursor configuration reference ↗MCP transport specification ↗

Direct HTTP clients send Authorization: Bearer <token>, Content-Type: application/json and Accept: application/json, text/event-stream. Use the MCP initialization handshake; this is not an anonymous REST search API.

04 / TOOL REFERENCE

The right tool for each question.

Core access requires templates:read. Reference-URL visual tasks also require visual:analyze. Discover the current tools and schemas using your own credential.

recommend_templatesRead-only discovery

Recommend for a project

Specify purpose, stack, required capabilities and license. Separate direct matches from adaptation alternatives. Currently up to 3 template families.

search_visual_templatesRead-only discovery

Search screenshots with words

Describe colors, typography and layout in English or Chinese to search the existing screenshot index. Defaults to 3, up to 6; stack and license filters available.

search_templatesRead-only discovery

Filter the catalog

Browse published templates by keywords, stack, use case and license. Up to 20 per page; continue with the returned pagination cursor.

get_templateRead-only discovery

Inspect a template

Inspect available source, preview, license evidence, adoption notes and verification gaps using a template ID from search results.

compare_templatesRead-only discovery

Compare on the same criteria

Compare 2–4 templates for project fit, evidence and integration gaps. Use candidates from the same catalog version.

start_visual_recommendationBackground visual task

Start from a reference website

Submit a public HTTPS webpage to create a private background screenshot and visual comparison task. Requires additional visual:analyze permission.

get_visual_recommendationBackground visual task

Read a visual task result

Use the same credential and returned jobId to read progress and results. Respect pollAfterMs. Requires visual:analyze permission.

Canonical filter names are available through the resource startbuildingweb://taxonomy

05 / FAQ

Before you connect.

Clear permissions. Explicit evidence. Decisions stay in your hands.

What is MCP, and why use this service?

Model Context Protocol is a shared way for AI clients to call tools and read data. This service brings Start Building Web’s template discovery, visual references and source evidence into that workflow, so you can investigate templates while discussing the project.

Can I connect by signing into the website?

No. MCP uses a separately authorized Bearer credential with its own permissions and expiry. Credentials are currently issued by the service maintainer; there is no public self-service token or OAuth signup flow. Contact the maintainer before configuring a client.

Which clients can connect?

Use an MCP client that supports remote Streamable HTTP and a Bearer Authorization header. This page includes a Cursor configuration example. Other clients use their own configuration format; confirm tool discovery after setup rather than relying on a saved configuration alone.

Does the service edit or install anything in my project?

Catalog, project and visual-description searches return information; they do not clone, install or overwrite your project. Reference-URL analysis creates a private background task. Your agent’s later installation or code changes are separate actions under your control.

Does a match prove the template has every feature?

No. Appearance does not prove business functionality, animation, deployment compatibility or working commands. Read violations, unknowns and verification status. Visual results cover the indexed subset and report coverage; similarity is a relative ranking, not a success percentage.

What if a call fails or finds no match?

Check credential expiry and permissions for 401/403. For 429, wait for Retry-After. Poll background tasks no faster than pollAfterMs. For changed catalogs, discover tools and search again. No-match or insufficient-evidence is a valid result: clarify requirements or inspect gaps instead of assuming constraints were relaxed.

Your next project starts with a better question.

Bring template discovery into the conversation where your project takes shape.

Get connectedBrowse the template library