Option A correctly treats the MCP server as a reusable integration boundary rather than application-specific code. Model Context Protocol separates capability providers from consuming Claude applications by exposing standardized tools, resources, and prompts through an MCP-compatible interface. A shared server therefore needs explicit capability definitions, an appropriate transport or communication pattern, and a deployment location reachable by its intended clients.

Anthropic’s MCP documentation distinguishes remote HTTP-based integrations from local/client-managed connections. For remotely shared services, the server must be reachable from the consuming environment; client-side MCP helpers additionally support broader MCP capabilities such as resources and prompts.

B unnecessarily couples the server design to the first consumer and encourages application-specific evolution of what should be a reusable service boundary. C prevents multi-application deployment because only local developer sessions could reach the service. D abandons MCP entirely and recreates duplicated integrations in every consuming application.

Thus, A provides the correct lifecycle: define the MCP contract, expose resources/tools/prompts appropriately, select the transport according to topology, deploy the service, and let multiple applications consume the standardized interface independently. Relevant Study Guide topics: MCP architecture, reusable services, tools, resources, prompts, transports, and deployment topology.

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