One more comment: MCP SDKs have advanced quite a bit and I was able to get
an Airflow MCP Server working with just the following code block. I was
successfully able to pause/unpause a DAG from Claude and other MCP client
as an example. So as much as possible we should utilize higher level
abstraction like FastMCP which allows creating client from OpenAPI spec
<https://gofastmcp.com/servers/openapi#openapi-integration>:
import os
import httpx
from fastmcp import FastMCP
token = os.environ.get("AF_ACCESS_TOKEN")
client = httpx.AsyncClient(
base_url="http://localhost:28080";,
headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {token}"},
)
openapi_spec = httpx.get("http://localhost:28080/openapi.json";).json()
mcp = FastMCP.from_openapi(
openapi_spec=openapi_spec,
client=client,
name="Airflow 3.0 API Server"
)
if __name__ == "__main__":
mcp.run()
On Thu, 29 May 2025 at 20:32, Avi <a...@astronomer.io.invalid> wrote:
> @Shahar -- Yes. Definitely. Feel free to reachout if you need anything.
>
> I totally agree, it to live as a separate repo.
>
> - Avi
>
> On Thu, May 29, 2025 at 12:50 PM Kaxil Naik <kaxiln...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> > @Shahar -- Absolutely, I think you are driving it with this email. So I
> > think you can lead it from here and whoever wants to join can co-lead or
> > join in development.
> >
> > Please feel free to drive :)
> >
> > On Thu, 29 May 2025 at 17:07, Aaron Dantley <aarondant...@gmail.com>
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Hey All!
> > >
> > > I’d be grateful to be included in the AIP discussions to help if
> possible
> > > too! Like Shahar, I’ve never worked on any of these items so it’d be
> > great
> > > to see how work gets assigned and goes through a whole development
> cycle!
> > >
> > > Looking forward to it!
> > > Aaron
> > >
> > > On Thu, May 29, 2025 at 7:32 AM Shahar Epstein <sha...@apache.org>
> > wrote:
> > >
> > > > If it's ok, I would like to lead the AIP effort (or at least
> co-lead),
> > as
> > > > I've never written an AIP before. I could start drafting it during
> the
> > > next
> > > > week.
> > > > Avi - please let me know if it works for you.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Shahar
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > On Thu, May 29, 2025, 13:09 Kaxil Naik <kaxiln...@gmail.com> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > Yes separate repo, please and we would need someone to lead this
> > effort
> > > > on
> > > > > the proposal & development too. Avi - you are probably well
> equipped
> > to
> > > > > lead it and I am sure more folks like Aaraon would be eager to work
> > on
> > > > its
> > > > > development and on-going maintenance.
> > > > >
> > > > > Regards,
> > > > > Kaxil
> > > > >
> > > > > On Thu, 29 May 2025 at 15:25, Jarek Potiuk <ja...@potiuk.com>
> wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > > Yep. Having MCP is cool and drawing our implementation from
> > > experiences
> > > > > and
> > > > > > usage of other MCP servers out there is even cooler (especially
> > that
> > > we
> > > > > can
> > > > > > have some insights how people already use them with Airflow) - if
> > we
> > > > can
> > > > > > bring together a few of those, put some nice, relevant Airflow
> > > prompts.
> > > > > > Ideally we could have some examples of how MCP can be used taken
> > from
> > > > > those
> > > > > > who are using airflow (the debugging example by Avi is cool)
> > > > > >
> > > > > > I am not sure implementing it as provider is really "the way"
> > though
> > > -
> > > > I
> > > > > > would rather see `apache-airflow-mcp" separate repo - it's so
> > > different
> > > > > and
> > > > > > distinct from airflow it does not really require any of Airflow
> > > > internals
> > > > > > and code to be implemented - it makes very little sense to be the
> > > part
> > > > of
> > > > > > airflow "workspace" where we would develop it together with
> > airflow -
> > > > > > because if it will talk over the REST api, all we need is the
> > > `client`
> > > > > that
> > > > > > might be just a dependency. And there is even no reason for MCP
> and
> > > > > airflow
> > > > > > to be installed and developed together (that's the main reason
> why
> > we
> > > > > want
> > > > > > providers to be kept in monorepo.
> > > > > >
> > > > > > J.
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > On Thu, May 29, 2025 at 8:37 AM Amogh Desai <
> > > amoghdesai....@gmail.com>
> > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > >
> > > > > > > Seems like a promising area to invest in given the benefits it
> > can
> > > > > > provide
> > > > > > > to
> > > > > > > the users as mentioned by Shahar and Abhishek.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Abhishek also has a promising talk submitted which i am looking
> > > > forward
> > > > > > to
> > > > > > > this year at the summit.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > In any case, this seems to be one of the first of the very few
> > > > > > > implementations of trying
> > > > > > > to integrate Airflow officially / unofficially with an MCP
> > server.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Thanks & Regards,
> > > > > > > Amogh Desai
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > On Thu, May 29, 2025 at 2:56 AM Aaron Dantley <
> > > > aarondant...@gmail.com>
> > > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Hey!
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > I also think this is a great idea!
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Would it be possible to be included in the development
> process?
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Sorry I’m new to this group, but would appreciate any
> > suggestions
> > > > on
> > > > > > how
> > > > > > > to
> > > > > > > > contribute to the MCP server development!
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Regards!
> > > > > > > > Aaron
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > On Wed, May 28, 2025 at 2:57 PM Avi
> <a...@astronomer.io.invalid
> > >
> > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Nice to see the idea to incorporate an official MCP server
> > for
> > > > > > > > > Airflow. It's been really magical to see what a simple LLM
> > can
> > > do
> > > > > > with
> > > > > > > an
> > > > > > > > > Airflow MCP server built just from APIs.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > A few things that I noticed in my experience:
> > > > > > > > > - The number of tools that the OpenAPI spec generates is
> > quite
> > > > > huge.
> > > > > > > Most
> > > > > > > > > tools (*Claude, VS Code with GitHub Copilot, Cursor,
> > Windsurf*)
> > > > > which
> > > > > > > > uses
> > > > > > > > > mcp-client limits it to a number of 100 tools. (*The
> > read-only
> > > > mode
> > > > > > > > creates
> > > > > > > > > less tools in comparison*.)
> > > > > > > > > - MCP server are just not tools. There are other things as
> > > well,
> > > > > like
> > > > > > > > > resources and prompts. Prompts are super helpful in case of
> > > > > debugging
> > > > > > > for
> > > > > > > > > example. It is a way of teaching LLM about Airflow. Say I
> > want
> > > to
> > > > > > have
> > > > > > > a
> > > > > > > > > failing task investigated. A prompt can be helpful in
> letting
> > > LLM
> > > > > > know
> > > > > > > a
> > > > > > > > > step-by-step process of carrying out the investigation.
> > > > > > > > > - Where do you run the MCP server? I wouldn't want my
> laptop
> > to
> > > > do
> > > > > > the
> > > > > > > > > heavy processing, which would want us to go for the SSE
> > instead
> > > > of
> > > > > > > stdio.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > This is why I chose two different path of using mcp server
> > with
> > > > > > > airflow,
> > > > > > > > > which I intend to talk about at the summit.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > 1. AI-Augmented Airflow - This helped me add a chat
> interface
> > > > > inside
> > > > > > > > > Airflow using a plugin to talk to an Airflow instance (read
> > > only
> > > > > > mode).
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > 2. Airflow-Powered AI - Experimenting with this has been
> > > totally
> > > > > > > magical,
> > > > > > > > > how powerful AI can become when it has access to airflow.
> > > Also, a
> > > > > > > > directory
> > > > > > > > > structure to maintain the DAGs, and it can write DAGs on
> the
> > > > fly. I
> > > > > > > > totally
> > > > > > > > > see a need where LLMs eventually will need a scheduler,
> > > although
> > > > a
> > > > > > > > complete
> > > > > > > > > airflow just for an LLM might seem a bit overkill to the
> rest
> > > of
> > > > > the
> > > > > > > > > community.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > I chose to build this on top of open API is because that
> was
> > > the
> > > > > only
> > > > > > > way
> > > > > > > > > to get proper RBAC enabled.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > I have so many points to discuss. Would love to hear from
> the
> > > > > > community
> > > > > > > > and
> > > > > > > > > then take it forward.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > Thanks,
> > > > > > > > > Avi
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > On Wed, May 28, 2025 at 6:32 PM Aritra Basu <
> > > > > > aritrabasu1...@gmail.com>
> > > > > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > I definitely think there's potential to interact with an
> > > > airflow
> > > > > > MCP
> > > > > > > > > > server. Though I think I'd be interested to see how many
> > and
> > > > how
> > > > > > > > > frequently
> > > > > > > > > > people are making use of MCP servers in the wild before
> > > > investing
> > > > > > > > effort
> > > > > > > > > in
> > > > > > > > > > building and maintaining one for airflow. I'm sure the
> data
> > > is
> > > > > > > > available
> > > > > > > > > > out there, just needs finding.
> > > > > > > > > > --
> > > > > > > > > > Regards,
> > > > > > > > > > Aritra Basu
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > On Wed, 28 May 2025, 11:18 pm Julian LaNeve,
> > > > > > > > > <jul...@astronomer.io.invalid
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > I think this would be interesting now that the
> Streamable
> > > > HTTP
> > > > > > > spec <
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
> https://modelcontextprotocol.io/specification/2025-03-26/basic/transports>
> > > > > > > > > > > is out. I think in theory we could publish this first
> as
> > an
> > > > > > Airflow
> > > > > > > > > > > provider that installs a plugin to expose an MCP
> > endpoint,
> > > > as a
> > > > > > > PoC -
> > > > > > > > > > this
> > > > > > > > > > > becomes a much nicer experience than a local stdio one.
> > > > > > > > > > > --
> > > > > > > > > > > Julian LaNeve
> > > > > > > > > > > CTO
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > Email: jul...@astronomer.io
> > > > > > > > > > > <mailto:jul...@astronomer.io>Mobile: 330 509 5792
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > On May 28, 2025, at 1:25 PM, Shahar Epstein <
> > > > > sha...@apache.org
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > wrote:
> > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > Dear community,
> > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > Following the thread on Slack [1], initiated by Jason
> > > > > Sebastian
> > > > > > > > > Kusuma,
> > > > > > > > > > > I'd
> > > > > > > > > > > > like to start an effort to officially support MCP in
> > > > > Airflow's
> > > > > > > > > > codebase.
> > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > *Some background *
> > > > > > > > > > > > Model Context Protocol (MCP) is an open standard,
> > > > open-source
> > > > > > > > > framework
> > > > > > > > > > > > that standardizes the way AI models like LLM
> integrate
> > > and
> > > > > > share
> > > > > > > > data
> > > > > > > > > > > with
> > > > > > > > > > > > external tools, systems and data sources. Think of it
> > as
> > > a
> > > > > > "USB-C
> > > > > > > > for
> > > > > > > > > > > AI" -
> > > > > > > > > > > > a universal connector that simplifies and
> standardizes
> > AI
> > > > > > > > > > integrations. A
> > > > > > > > > > > > notable example of an MCP server is GitHub's official
> > > > > > > > implementation
> > > > > > > > > > > [3], which
> > > > > > > > > > > > allows LLMs such as Claude, Copilot, and OpenAI (or:
> > "MCP
> > > > > > > clients")
> > > > > > > > > to
> > > > > > > > > > > > fetch pull request details, analyze code changes, and
> > > > > generate
> > > > > > > > review
> > > > > > > > > > > > summaries.
> > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > *How could an MCP server be useful in Airflow?*
> > > > > > > > > > > > Imagine the possibilities when LLMs can seamlessly
> > > interact
> > > > > > with
> > > > > > > > > > > Airflow’s
> > > > > > > > > > > > API: triggering DAGs using natural language,
> retrieving
> > > DAG
> > > > > run
> > > > > > > > > > history,
> > > > > > > > > > > > enabling smart debugging, and more. This kind of
> > > > integration
> > > > > > > opens
> > > > > > > > > the
> > > > > > > > > > > door
> > > > > > > > > > > > to a more intuitive, conversational interface for
> > > workflow
> > > > > > > > > > orchestration.
> > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > *Why do we need to support it officially?*
> > > > > > > > > > > > Quid pro quo - LLMs become an integral part of the
> > modern
> > > > > > > > development
> > > > > > > > > > > > experience, while Airflow evolves into the go-to for
> > > > > > > orchestrating
> > > > > > > > AI
> > > > > > > > > > > > workflows. By officially supporting it, we’ll enable
> > > > multiple
> > > > > > > users
> > > > > > > > > to
> > > > > > > > > > > > interact with Airflow through their LLMs,
> streamlining
> > > > > > automation
> > > > > > > > and
> > > > > > > > > > > > improving accessibility across diverse workflows. All
> > of
> > > > that
> > > > > > is
> > > > > > > > > viable
> > > > > > > > > > > > with relatively small development effort (see next
> > > > > paragraph).
> > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > *How should it be implemented?*
> > > > > > > > > > > > As of today, there have been several implementations
> of
> > > MCP
> > > > > > > servers
> > > > > > > > > for
> > > > > > > > > > > > Airflow API, the most visible one [4] made by
> Abhishek
> > > > Bhakat
> > > > > > > from
> > > > > > > > > > > > Astronomer.
> > > > > > > > > > > > The efforts of implementing it and maintaining it in
> > our
> > > > > > codebase
> > > > > > > > > > > shouldn't
> > > > > > > > > > > > be too cumbersome (at least in theory), as we could
> > > utilize
> > > > > > > > packages
> > > > > > > > > > like
> > > > > > > > > > > > fastmcp to auto-generate the server using the
> existing
> > > > > OpenAPI
> > > > > > > > specs.
> > > > > > > > > > I'd
> > > > > > > > > > > > be very happy if Abhishek could share his experience
> in
> > > > this
> > > > > > > > thread.
> > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > *Where else could we utilize MCP?*
> > > > > > > > > > > > Beyond the scope of the public API, I could also
> > imagine
> > > > > using
> > > > > > it
> > > > > > > > to
> > > > > > > > > > > > communicate with Breeze.
> > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > *How do we proceed from here?*
> > > > > > > > > > > > Feel free to share your thoughts here in this
> > discussion.
> > > > > > > > > > > > If there are no objections, I'll be happy to start
> > > working
> > > > on
> > > > > > an
> > > > > > > > AIP.
> > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > Sincerely,
> > > > > > > > > > > > Shahar Epstein
> > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > > > *References:*
> > > > > > > > > > > > [1] Slack discussion,
> > > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > >
> > https://apache-airflow.slack.com/archives/C06K9Q5G2UA/p1746121916951569
> > > > > > > > > > > > [2] Introducing the model context protocol,
> > > > > > > > > > > >
> https://www.anthropic.com/news/model-context-protocol
> > > > > > > > > > > > [3] GitHub Official MCP server,
> > > > > > > > > > > https://github.com/github/github-mcp-server
> > > > > > > > > > > > [4] Unofficial MCP Server made by Abhishek Hakat,
> > > > > > > > > > > > https://github.com/abhishekbhakat/airflow-mcp-server
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > >
> >
>
