Alpaca + mcp-agent: Complete MCP Integration

Alpaca is a MCP server that Trading stocks and options, analyzing data, and building strategies using plain English through Alpaca's MCP server integration..

When integrated with mcp-agent, you can:

• Access Alpaca functionality through mcp-agent

This guide provides step-by-step instructions to set up Alpaca in mcp-agent, including configuration, examples, and troubleshooting.

What You'll Achieve

After completing this setup:

• Alpaca will be fully integrated and operational
• You can use Alpaca tools directly in mcp-agent
• All Alpaca capabilities will be available for your workflows

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have:

• mcp-agent installed and configured
• Compatible operating system (Python 3.9+, pip Installation, uv Installation, Temporal (Optional))

Installation

Step 1: Install Alpaca

Configuration

Step 2: Configure mcp-agent

1. Open mcp-agent settings
2. Navigate to MCP server configuration
3. Add Alpaca server with appropriate settings
4. Save and restart if needed

Examples

Once configured, you can use Alpaca in mcp-agent:

Testing Your Setup

1. Launch mcp-agent
2. Verify Alpaca is available in the tools list
3. Test basic Alpaca functionality

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Import Error - Module Not Found

Symptoms: ModuleNotFoundError: No module named mcp_agent, Import fails

Cause: mcp-agent not installed or wrong Python environment

Solution:

• Verify installation: pip show mcp-agent
• Ensure using correct Python environment/virtualenv
• Reinstall: pip install --upgrade mcp-agent
• Check Python version is 3.9 or higher

MCP Server Connection Failures

Symptoms: Server not starting, Connection timeout, Tool execution errors

Cause: Invalid MCP server configuration or missing dependencies

Solution:

• Verify npx is installed and accessible (required for stdio servers)
• Check MCP server package name and arguments are correct
• Test server independently: npx -y @modelcontextprotocol/server-filesystem /path
• Review agent logs for detailed error messages
• Ensure required environment variables are set

LLM API Authentication Errors

Symptoms: 401 Unauthorized, API key invalid, Provider authentication failed

Cause: Missing or incorrect API keys for LLM provider

Solution:

• Set environment variables: ANTHROPIC_API_KEY, OPENAI_API_KEY, etc.
• Verify API key is valid and has correct permissions
• Check API key format matches provider requirements
• Pass api_key parameter explicitly in Agent initialization

Workflow Execution Failures

Symptoms: Workflow hangs, Timeout errors, Incomplete results

Cause: Workflow pattern misconfiguration or task complexity

Solution:

• Increase timeout values for long-running tasks
• Break complex workflows into smaller steps
• Verify all workflow dependencies are available
• Check Temporal backend is running (for production deployments)
• Review workflow logs for specific error messages

Temporal Backend Connection Issues

Symptoms: Cannot connect to Temporal, Workflow registration fails, Worker errors

Cause: Temporal server not running or misconfigured

Solution:

• Verify Temporal server is running: temporal server health
• Check Temporal connection settings (host, port, namespace)
• Ensure Temporal workers are registered correctly
• Review Temporal server logs for connection errors
• Start local Temporal dev server: temporal server start-dev

Performance Issues with Large Workflows

Symptoms: Slow execution, High memory usage, Timeout errors

Cause: Inefficient workflow design or resource constraints

Solution:

• Use map-reduce pattern for parallelizable tasks
• Implement batching for large data processing
• Enable Temporal backend for better resource management
• Monitor agent memory usage and optimize task size
• Consider streaming responses for large outputs

Alpaca not appearing in mcp-agent

Symptoms: Server not listed, Tools not available

Cause: Configuration or installation issue

Solution:

• Verify configuration syntax
• Check Alpaca installation
• Restart mcp-agent
• Check logs for error messages

Next Steps

Now that Alpaca is integrated with mcp-agent:

• Explore all Alpaca capabilities through mcp-agent
• Check out other MCP servers that work with mcp-agent
• Join the MCP community for tips and support
• Consider contributing to Alpaca development

Need Help?

• Search for Alpaca documentation
• Check the mcp-agent MCP guide
• Join the MCP community discussions