DIP2: Integration of DPSN with Model Context Protocol (MCP)

Author(s): Sanil Status: Draft Type: Standards Track Created: March 13, 2025 This proposal outlines the integration of the Decentralized Pub/Sub Network (DPSN) with the Model Context Protocol (MCP) to enhance data accessibility for AI agents and decentralized applications (dApps). By bridging DPSN’s push-based, real-time data streams with MCP’s standardized pull/push interface, we enable seamless consumption of decentralized data without requiring application-level code changes. This DIP introduces a modular MCP bridge to index and serve DPSN streams, facilitating broader adoption and interoperability within the DPSN ecosystem.

Motivation

DPSN provides a decentralized, high-throughput pub/sub system for real-time data streaming, but its push-based nature limits compatibility with pull-based AI agents and dApps prevalent in Web3. Developers face challenges adapting to new streams, often requiring code modifications that hinder scalability. The Model Context Protocol (MCP), with its ability to support both pull-based requests and push-based Server-Sent Events (SSE), offers a standardized solution. Integrating DPSN with MCP addresses these issues by:

• Enabling pull-based access to DPSN streams for broader compatibility.

• Allowing no-code addition of custom streams via configuration.

• Enhancing data querying and indexing for real-time applications.

Specification

Overview

The integration introduces an MCP Bridge that subscribes to DPSN streams, buffers data, and exposes it via MCP-compliant tools and SSE streams. This bridge will be implemented as a reusable component within the DPSN SDK.

Components

1. DPSN Stream Subscription

   • The MCP Bridge subscribes to specified DPSN topics (e.g., price_feed) using the DPSN SDK’s subscribe method.

   • Example: dpsn.subscribe("price_feed", callback).

2. Data Buffering

   • Incoming messages are stored in an in-memory buffer (e.g., Redis or local cache), configurable for size (e.g., last 100 messages) or time (e.g., 5-minute window).

   • Structure: { topic: string, messages: [{ data: any, timestamp: number }] }.

3. MCP Interface

   • Pull-Based Tools:

     • get_latest_message(topic: string): Returns the most recent message from the buffer.

     • get_messages_since(topic: string, since: number): Returns messages since a timestamp.

   • Push-Based SSE: Streams real-time updates via /events/topic endpoints.

   • Implementation: MCP server exposes RESTful API and SSE channels.

4. Configuration

   • Applications specify subscribed topics in a config file (e.g., JSON/YAML):json

     {
       "dpsn_streams": ["price_feed", "sensor_data"]
     }

Technical Requirements

• DPSN SDK: v1.0.0 or higher for stream subscription and publishing.

• MCP Server: Compatible with MCP v1.x, supporting REST and SSE.

• Latency: Sub-100ms end-to-end delivery from DPSN to MCP client.

• Scalability: Handle 10,000 concurrent subscribers per topic.

Rationale

This integration balances DPSN’s push-based efficiency with MCP’s pull/push flexibility, addressing the needs of diverse Web3 applications:

• Compatibility: Supports existing MCP-based agents without requiring them to adopt a pub/sub model natively.

• Simplicity: No-code stream additions reduce developer friction compared to manual API integrations.

• Performance: Buffering and indexing optimize data access while preserving DPSN’s low-latency strengths.

Alternatives considered:

• Direct MCP Subscriptions: Bypassing a bridge increases complexity for MCP clients; rejected for scalability concerns.

• Centralized Middleware: Conflicts with DPSN’s decentralized ethos; discarded.

Backwards Compatibility

This DIP introduces no breaking changes to existing DPSN implementations. Applications using DPSN directly remain unaffected, while those adopting the MCP bridge gain enhanced functionality. Legacy systems can opt out of MCP integration without disruption.

Test Cases

1. Stream Subscription: Subscribe to test_feed, publish 10 messages, verify MCP bridge buffers all 10.

2. Pull Access: Call get_latest_message("test_feed"), confirm latest message matches DPSN stream.

3. Push Access: Connect to SSE /events/test_feed, publish 5 messages, verify real-time delivery.

4. Custom Stream: Publish to new topic custom_feed, update config, confirm subscription without restart.

Implementation

Milestones

1. MCP Bridge Development: Build and test bridge component (ETA: March 20, 2025).

2. DPSN SDK Integration: Add MCP support to SDK (ETA: March 25, 2025).

3. Documentation & Release: Update DPSN docs with DIP-1 and sample code (ETA: March 30, 2025).

Reference Implementation

javascript

const { DPSNClient, MCPBridge } = require('dpsn-sdk');
const client = new DPSNClient();
const bridge = new MCPBridge(client);

bridge.subscribe(["price_feed"]);
bridge.startMcpServer({ port: 8080 });

// MCP Tool Example
bridge.addTool({
  name: "get_latest_message",
  execute: async (topic) => bridge.buffer[topic]?.slice(-1)[0]?.data
});

Security Considerations

• Data Integrity: DPSN’s decentralization ensures tamper-resistant streams; MCP bridge validates incoming data.

• Access Control: Optional authentication (e.g., API keys) for MCP endpoints to restrict sensitive streams.

• Denial of Service: Rate limiting on MCP server to mitigate flood attacks.