Skip to content

Module 3: MCP, ACP & Agent-to-Agent Communication

Welcome to Module 3 of the Agentic AI Nano-Degree! This module covers the cutting-edge protocols that enable modern agent communication and coordination.

MCP overview

Module Overview

In this module, you'll master three revolutionary protocols that are reshaping how AI agents communicate, operate, and collaborate:

  • Model Context Protocol (MCP) - Standardized integration with external systems
  • Agent Communication Protocol (ACP) - Local-first agent coordination
  • Agent-to-Agent (A2A) Protocol - Cross-organizational agent communication

Learning Paths

Choose your path based on your learning goals and time availability:

Focus: Understanding concepts and architecture

Activities: Read core concepts, examine examples

Ideal for: Decision makers, architects, overview learners

Focus: Guided implementation and analysis

Activities: Follow tutorials, analyze code examples

Ideal for: Developers, technical leads, hands-on learners

Focus: Complete implementation and customization

Activities: Build systems, extend examples, create solutions

Ideal for: Senior engineers, architects, specialists

Prerequisites

Required Knowledge: - Completed Modules 1 (Agent Frameworks) and 2 (RAG Architecture) - Intermediate Python programming - Understanding of HTTP/REST APIs - Familiarity with JSON-RPC protocols

Recommended Setup: - Python 3.11+ - Node.js 18+ (for TypeScript development) - Docker (for production deployment) - VS Code with relevant extensions

Session Structure

Week 1: MCP Fundamentals & Implementation

  • Session 0: Introduction to MCP, ACP, and A2A
  • Session 1: Building Your First MCP Server
  • Session 2: File System MCP Server
  • Session 3: LangChain MCP Integration
  • Session 4: Production MCP Deployment
  • Session 5: Secure MCP Server

Week 2: ACP & A2A Agent Communication

  • Session 6: Agent Communication Protocol (ACP) Fundamentals
  • Session 7: Agent-to-Agent Communication (A2A)
  • Session 8: Advanced Agent Workflows
  • Session 9: Production Agent Deployment

Quick Start

Ready to dive into agent communication protocols? Choose your starting point:

Learning Outcomes

By completing this module, you will be able to:

Technical Skills

  1. Design and implement MCP servers with tools, resources, and prompts
  2. Create MCP clients that integrate with multiple frameworks
  3. Implement ACP coordination for local agent orchestration
  4. Enable A2A protocol for cross-platform agent communication
  5. Deploy distributed agent systems to cloud and edge platforms
  6. Secure agent communications with proper authentication

Architectural Understanding

  1. Differentiate between MCP, ACP, and A2A use cases and environments
  2. Design interoperable agent ecosystems for various deployment scenarios
  3. Implement proper separation of concerns between protocols and agents
  4. Plan for scalability and fault tolerance in distributed systems

Industry Readiness

  1. Follow protocol specifications and industry best practices
  2. Debug multi-agent communication issues effectively
  3. Monitor and maintain production agent systems
  4. Evaluate architectural trade-offs for different use cases

Assessment Structure

Each session includes: - Multiple Choice Tests - Verify conceptual understanding - Hands-on Exercises - Practice implementation skills - Code Examples - Study working implementations

  1. 🔬 Optional Deep Dive Modules
  2. Advanced enterprise patterns
  3. Production considerations
  4. Workflow orchestration features

Development Environment

Required Software

# Python environment
python3.11+
pip install fastmcp langchain-mcp-adapters

# Node.js (for TypeScript development)
node18+
npm install @modelcontextprotocol/sdk

# Cloud tools (optional)
docker
  • IDE: VS Code with MCP extensions
  • API Testing: Postman or curl
  • Monitoring: Prometheus + Grafana
  • Version Control: Git with GitHub/GitLab

Progress Tracking

Track your progress through the module:

  • Session 0: Protocol Introduction ⏱️ Time: varies by path
  • Session 1: Basic MCP Server ⏱️ Time: varies by path
  • Session 2: FileSystem MCP ⏱️ Time: varies by path
  • Session 3: LangChain Integration ⏱️ Time: varies by path
  • Session 4: Production MCP ⏱️ Time: varies by path
  • Session 5: Secure MCP ⏱️ Time: varies by path
  • Session 6: ACP Fundamentals ⏱️ Time: varies by path
  • Session 7: A2A Communication ⏱️ Time: varies by path
  • Session 8: Advanced Workflows ⏱️ Time: varies by path
  • Session 9: Production Deployment ⏱️ Time: varies by path

Previous Module

← Module 2: RAG Architecture

Next Steps

After completing this module, you'll have mastered the complete stack of modern agent communication protocols and be ready to build sophisticated multi-agent systems for production environments.

Ready to master agent communication protocols? Choose your learning path and begin your journey into the future of AI agent systems!

Begin Session 0 → View Module Curriculum →