Case study

devtools2026

MCP Token Tracker

Token usage monitoring for Model Context Protocol interactions. Track costs, optimize prompts, and prevent budget overruns.

Building the tools that build the tools

Field notes

Role

Creator

Read order

Evidence first, then constraint → build → proof. Use the chapter rail to jump sections; orbit to adjacent work from the bottom of the case study.

DevTools Arsenal✦II-Class Star

📦OPEN SOURCE

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Evidence

System surface

No public screenshot on file—generative preview stands in for the visual layer.

Signature viewpreview

Story arc

How this shipped

Building the tools that build the toolsThree beats: what pressed against the work, how the stack answered, and what changed once it was live.

I · Constraint

The brief

MCP server interactions consume tokens without visibility. Developers discover cost overruns only after receiving bills.

II · Build

The craft

Built real-time token tracking with per-tool breakdowns, cost estimation, and budget alerts. Identifies expensive patterns for optimization.

III · Proof

What moved after launch

Real-time cost visibility prevents budget surprises. Per-tool breakdowns identify optimization opportunities. Budget alerts stop runaway costs.

Inventory

Stack & signals

MCPMonitoringNode.jsTypeScript

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