What is Mcp Haystack

mcp-haystack is an unofficial integration that connects Haystack with the Model Context Protocol (MCP), allowing applications to provide context to Large Language Models (LLMs) through a standardized protocol.

Use cases

Use cases include searching for artworks in the Rijksmuseum collection, retrieving detailed information about specific artworks, viewing images of artworks, and exploring user-created collections.

How to use

To use mcp-haystack, clone the repository, install the necessary packages using pip, and optionally run the provided Docker container for a complete environment. You can also run the demo notebook to interact with the Rijksmuseum API.

Key features

Key features include the ability to integrate MCP-compatible tools within Haystack pipelines, standardized interaction with external services and APIs, and a demo showcasing the use of MCP with the Rijksmuseum API.

Where to use

mcp-haystack can be used in fields that require context-aware applications, such as art and cultural heritage, where it can facilitate interactions with APIs related to artworks and collections.

MCP Haystack Integration

This repository provides an integration between Haystack and the Model Context Protocol (MCP). MCP is an open protocol that standardizes how applications provide context to LLMs, similar to how USB-C provides a standardized way to connect devices.

Overview

The MCP Haystack integration allows you to use MCP-compatible tools within Haystack pipelines. This enables your LLM applications to interact with external services and APIs through a standardized protocol, making it easier to build powerful, context-aware applications.

This integration includes a demo with the Rijksmuseum API, showcasing how to use MCP to search for artworks, get detailed information, and interact with the museum’s collection.

Installation

Install from Source

git clone https://github.com/oryx1729/mcp-haystack.git
cd mcp-haystack
pip install -e .

Docker

This repository includes a Dockerfile that sets up a complete environment with an MCP Server Demo.

Building the Docker Image

docker build -t mcp-haystack-demo .

Running the Docker Container

docker run -p 8888:8888 mcp-haystack-demo

Rijksmuseum Demo

This repository includes a demo notebook that showcases how to use the MCP Haystack integration with the Rijksmuseum API. The demo allows you to:

• Search for artworks in the Rijksmuseum collection
• Get detailed information about specific artworks
• View artwork images
• Explore collections created by Rijksstudio users
• Get a chronological timeline of an artist’s works

To run the demo:

1. Obtain a Rijksmuseum API key from the Rijksmuseum website
2. Run the Docker container or open the examples/rijksmuseum_demo.ipynb notebook