You know how to build client apps—but where do client developers fit in the new world of ChatGPT and MCP? If you’ve used GraphQL before, it turns out your knowledge translates directly. This talk demonstrates how to build MCP apps using Apollo Client’s new open source AI apps integration along with the open source Apollo MCP server with patterns you already use:
- Fragment colocation → Tool design: Structure MCP tools as component data requirements
- Query optimization → Tool call patterns: Minimize LLM roundtrips with the same performance thinking
- Type safety → Tool schemas: Apply GraphQL’s type discipline to MCP definitions
A live demo builds an MCP app querying a GraphQL API, showing how best practices from GraphQL client development apply to MCP apps.
This talk has been presented at React Advanced 2026, check out the latest edition of this React Conference.
























