MCP vs Tool Calling vs Skills
3 ways to extend an LLM — not interchangeable.
Tool Calling = Function
→ Model triggers APIs/code
Best: small, controlled setups
MCP = Protocol
→ Connect models to tools dynamically
Best: cross-app, scalable systems
Skills = Playbook
→ Instructions + workflows bundled
Best: complex, repeatable tasks
Mental model:
Tool → what
MCP → where
Skill → how
They’re not competitors.
They’re layers.
The mistake?
Forcing one to solve everything.
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