How I Built and Manage My Entire Website Using Claude Desktop and MCP Servers: A 6-Hour Experiment That Changed Everything

What if I told you that you could build and manage an entire website using nothing but conversation? No coding skills, no WordPress struggles, no expensive developers. Just you, talking to an AI that turns your words into a living, breathing website. That's exactly what I did with Claude Desktop and MCP servers, and the results blew my mind.

The Spark That Started It All

It all started with a LinkedIn post. Someone mentioned they had "vibe coded" updates to their webpage, and something clicked. I thought, "Could I use Claude Desktop to build me an entire website?" I needed a website anyway, so why not turn it into an experiment?

The twist? I've never built a website before. I've tried WordPress – found it overwhelming. Attempted Wix – just didn't get it. The learning curve was always too steep for the time I had available. But what if I could just talk my website into existence?

Understanding MCP: The Universal Adapter for AI

Before we dive deeper, let me explain the magic behind this: Model Context Protocol (MCP). Developed by Anthropic (the makers of Claude), MCP is revolutionary because it allows Claude to do more than just answer questions – it lets Claude actually do things on your computer and online.

Think of MCP like those universal travel adapters you pack when visiting another country. On one side, you have your device's plug. On the other side, you have whatever plug fits the local outlet. MCP works the same way – it's the adapter that lets Claude plug into different systems:

• File systems on your computer
• GitHub for code management
• Databases for storing information
• APIs for connecting to services

The key difference? Instead of Claude just using its knowledge base or searching websites for information, MCP lets it actively create, modify, and manage files and services. It's the difference between having a consultant who gives advice and having an assistant who actually does the work.

My Simple (But Powerful) Tech Stack

Here's the beauty of this approach – the tech stack is surprisingly simple:

1. Claude Desktop: Downloaded and installed on my computer
2. Local File System MCP: Allows Claude to create and manage files on my computer
3. GitHub MCP: Connects Claude to my GitHub account
4. GitHub Pages: Free website hosting (I just bought the domain)

That's it. No complex server setups, no monthly hosting fees beyond the domain, no database management. The total cost? Just my Claude subscription and a domain name.

The process is elegantly simple: I tell Claude what I want, it writes the code, creates the files, pushes them to GitHub, and GitHub Pages automatically publishes the changes. It's like having a full development team that responds to natural language commands.

What Worked Better Than Expected

The most mind-blowing aspect? Claude's ability to understand intent and transform it into action. I'd say something like "Create a blog post about AI ethics," and Claude would:

• Write the content
• Format it properly with HTML
• Create the necessary files
• Update navigation menus
• Push everything to GitHub
• The website updates automatically

Watching this happen in real-time is nothing short of magical. What would normally require knowledge of HTML, CSS, JavaScript, Git commands, and deployment processes happens through simple conversation.

The speed is also remarkable. Traditional web development might take weeks or months. With this approach, I had a fully functional website live on the internet in just 6 hours.

The Challenges and How I Solved Them

Of course, it wasn't all smooth sailing. The main challenge I encountered was Claude's occasional tendency to overcomplicate things. Sometimes it would write elaborate code when a simple solution would do, which could cause issues.

The solution? Clear communication and oversight. I learned to:

• Be specific about what I wanted
• Ask for simple solutions first
• Review what Claude was creating
• Provide feedback and corrections

It's like managing any assistant – you need to provide clear direction and check the work, but the heavy lifting is done for you.

Real Results: What I Built in 6 Hours

In my first 6-hour session, Claude and I created:

• A professional homepage
• An about page
• A books showcase page
• A blog system
• A contact page
• Responsive design that works on all devices

This isn't just a static website – it's a dynamic, self-updating platform that provides real value to visitors. And I built it without writing a single line of code myself.

The Future of AI-Managed Websites

This experiment has opened my eyes to a new paradigm in web development and business operations. Claude Desktop isn't just managing my website – it's becoming the central hub for business functions:

• Email management: Reading, summarizing, and drafting responses
• Calendar coordination: Scheduling and updating appointments
• Document creation: Google Docs and Sheets on demand
• Content management: Blog posts, updates, and maintenance

For small businesses, solopreneurs, or anyone who needs an online presence without the technical overhead, this approach is revolutionary. It's like having an admin assistant, web developer, and content manager rolled into one – for less than $140 per month.

How You Can Try This Yourself

Ready to experiment with AI-powered web development? Here's your roadmap:

1. Download Claude Desktop (requires Claude Pro subscription)
2. Set up your first MCP server – start with the file system manager
3. Create a GitHub account if you don't have one
4. Connect the GitHub MCP to enable automatic deployment
5. Start small – maybe a simple landing page
6. Iterate and expand based on your needs

The key is to start simple and build up. Remember, you're not learning to code – you're learning to communicate what you want effectively. Your imagination truly is the limit.

Beyond Websites: The Bigger Picture

This experiment taught me something profound: we're entering an era where technical implementation is no longer the barrier to digital creation. The barrier is now imagination and clear communication.

What started as a website experiment has become a new way of working. Claude Desktop with MCP servers can handle tasks that would normally require multiple employees or expensive consultants. It's not about replacing human creativity or strategy – it's about removing the technical friction between idea and implementation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need any coding experience to use Claude Desktop with MCP servers?

No coding experience is required. The whole point of this approach is to use natural language to create and manage your website. If you can describe what you want, Claude can build it.

How much does it cost to run a website this way?

The main costs are your Claude Pro subscription (about $140/month) and a domain name (typically $10-20/year). GitHub Pages hosting is free, making this very cost-effective compared to traditional web development.

Can MCP servers work with platforms other than GitHub?

Yes! MCP is designed to be extensible. While I use GitHub in this example, MCP servers can connect to various platforms, databases, and services. The ecosystem is growing rapidly.

What happens if Claude makes a mistake or breaks something?

Since everything goes through Git version control, you can always revert to a previous version. It's actually safer than manual editing because every change is tracked and reversible.

Is this approach scalable for larger websites or businesses?

While this experiment focused on a personal/small business website, the principles scale well. For larger operations, you might need additional MCP servers or more sophisticated architectures, but the conversational interface remains powerful at any scale.

Want to explore more about AI and its practical applications? Check out my books on AI and chatbots or browse through our AI insights blog for more experiments and discoveries.