Harbor: An MCP gateway that connects AI clients to back end APIs via tools (github.com)

Harbor has announced a production-grade Model Context Protocol (MCP) gateway, designed to seamlessly connect AI clients to existing backend APIs without altering the APIs themselves. This innovative approach addresses a common challenge faced by AI models like Claude and GPT, which struggle to interact with backend services due to a lack of awareness about API endpoints, parameters, and authentication methods. Instead of creating a separate MCP tool for each endpoint, Harbor employs a code mode where the AI uses five general-purpose tools to write JavaScript that interacts with the backend. This JavaScript is executed in a secure V8 sandbox, ensuring safe operation while managing authentication and circuit-breaking seamlessly. The significance of Harbor lies in its ability to simplify and scale AI interactions with complex backend systems, enhancing productivity for developers and AI practitioners. The features include per-service authentication, comprehensive logging of API interactions, and robust circuit breaking designed to prevent system overload. Harbor enables easier integration of AI applications with minimal disruption to existing architectures, making it a valuable addition to the AI/ML ecosystem. Additionally, with support for OAuth 2.1 credentials and a pluggable backend architecture, it allows for the customization and proactive management of API interactions, further solidifying its role as a critical tool for developers in the AI space.