How Directus MCP Transforms Content Management on MikeMade

I've written before about building a live chat system with Directus and OpenAI and creating Chrome extensions that bridge platforms. But there's something even more powerful happening behind the scenes: Directus MCP (Model Context Protocol) is revolutionizing how I manage content on MikeMade.

What is MCP?

MCP stands for Model Context Protocol — an open standard that lets AI assistants connect directly to external tools and data sources. Think of it as giving AI models a universal interface to interact with your systems in real-time.

When Directus added native MCP support, it changed everything. Now AI assistants can read from Directus, create content, manage collections, and even trigger flows — all through natural language commands.

Why MCP Matters for MikeMade

On MikeMade, I use Directus as the CMS for everything: blog posts, projects, pages, chat conversations, push campaigns, and more. Before MCP, if I wanted to create a blog post, I'd either:

1. Log into the Directus admin panel and fill out forms manually
2. Write code to use the Directus SDK
3. Build custom scripts for repetitive tasks

With MCP, I can just ask an AI assistant: "Create a draft blog post about Directus MCP, reference my existing posts, and attach this image." And it happens. The AI has direct access to my Directus instance, understands my content structure, and can perform complex operations in seconds.

Real-World Use Cases

Content Creation Workflow

When I'm writing a blog post, MCP enables a seamless workflow:

1. Research — The AI can query my existing posts to understand my writing style and topics
2. Draft Creation — It creates the post with proper fields, categories, and relationships
3. Image Management — Attaches images, sets up galleries, and manages file relationships
4. SEO Setup — Creates SEO records with proper metadata
5. Campaign Creation — Sets up push notification campaigns automatically

All of this happens in one conversation, without me switching between tools or writing code.

Schema Management

MCP isn't just for content — it's powerful for schema management too. When I needed to add new fields to collections or create relationships, I could describe what I wanted and the AI would make the changes directly in Directus. No more manual field creation or relationship setup.

Data Queries and Analysis

The AI can query my Directus collections to answer questions like:

• "What blog posts have I written about Directus?"
• "Show me all conversations from the last week"
• "What's the most popular category?"

This makes content analysis and decision-making much faster.

How It Works

MCP connects AI assistants to Directus through a secure server. The connection respects all Directus permissions, so the AI can only do what I'm allowed to do. It's like having a smart assistant that knows my entire content structure and can manipulate it safely.

The protocol handles:

• Authentication — Uses Directus tokens with proper permissions
• Schema Understanding — The AI knows my collections, fields, and relationships
• Operations — Can read, create, update items, manage files, trigger flows
• Error Handling — Gracefully handles missing data or permission issues

The Technical Stack

On MikeMade, MCP integrates with:

• Directus — The CMS and backend
• SvelteKit — The front-end framework
• AI Assistants — Connected via MCP to interact with Directus
• Existing Systems — Chat, push notifications, blog posts, all accessible through MCP

What This Means for Content Management

MCP transforms content management from a manual, repetitive process into a conversational workflow. Instead of:

1. Opening Directus admin
2. Navigating to the right collection
3. Filling out forms
4. Managing relationships
5. Setting up related content

I can just describe what I want, and it happens. This is especially powerful for:

• Bulk Operations — Creating multiple related items at once
• Complex Relationships — Setting up multi-level relationships automatically
• Content Migration — Moving or restructuring content
• Campaign Management — Creating campaigns with proper scheduling and targeting

The Future of Content Management

MCP represents a shift toward AI-assisted content management. It's not about replacing human creativity or decision-making — it's about removing the friction between ideas and execution.

When I want to write a blog post, I shouldn't have to think about which fields to fill, which collections to update, or which relationships to create. I should just describe the content, and the system should handle the rest.

That's what MCP enables. It's the bridge between natural language and structured data, between ideas and implementation.

Try It Yourself

If you're using Directus, MCP support is built-in starting with version 11.12. Enable it in Settings → AI → Model Context Protocol, and connect your AI assistant. You'll need:

• A Directus instance (version 11.12+)
• An AI client that supports MCP (like Claude Desktop or Cursor)
• A Directus token with appropriate permissions

Once connected, you can start managing content through conversation. It's like having a content management assistant that never sleeps and knows your entire system.

Conclusion

Directus MCP isn't just a feature — it's a fundamental shift in how we interact with content management systems. On MikeMade, it's enabling workflows that would have been impossible or extremely time-consuming before.

From creating blog posts to managing campaigns, from querying data to updating schemas, MCP makes everything conversational. And that's the future of content management: less clicking, more creating.

-Mike

Built with: Directus, MCP (Model Context Protocol), AI Assistants