Less is More: 4 design patterns for building better MCP servers

The Model Context Protocol (MCP) for AI agent tool connectivity can lead to tool hallucination and high token costs when too many tools are exposed. To solve this, a "Less is More" principle is proposed to minimize context window usage while maximizing the delivery of relevant information. Four specific design patterns are detailed to achieve this: Semantic Search for dynamic tool retrieval, Workflow-Based Design for creating atomic operations, Code Mode for generating executable programs, and Progressive Discovery for guiding agents to find tools in stages. Each pattern offers a different strategy for managing tool complexity, reducing token consumption, and improving the reliability of AI agents.