modelcontextprotocol · tzolov · Feb 20, 2026 · Feb 20, 2026 · Feb 20, 2026
diff --git a/.github/dependabot.yml b/.github/dependabot.yml
@@ -0,0 +1,22 @@
+version: 2
+updates:
+    - package-ecosystem: 'github-actions'
+      directory: '/'
+      schedule:
+          interval: monthly
+    - package-ecosystem: 'maven'
+      directory: '/'
+      schedule:
+          interval: monthly
+      open-pull-requests-limit: 10
+      ignore:
+          # Freeze production dependencies of mcp-core
+          - dependency-name: 'org.slf4j:slf4j-api'
+          - dependency-name: 'com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-annotations'
+          - dependency-name: 'tools.jackson.core:jackson-databind'
+          - dependency-name: 'io.projectreactor:reactor-bom'
+          - dependency-name: 'io.projectreactor:reactor-core'
+          - dependency-name: 'jakarta.servlet:jakarta.servlet-api'
+          # mcp-json-jackson2 and mcp-json-jackson3 dependencies
+          - dependency-name: 'com.fasterxml.jackson.core:jackson-databind'
+          - dependency-name: 'com.networknt:json-schema-validator'
diff --git a/DEPENDENCY_POLICY.md b/DEPENDENCY_POLICY.md
@@ -0,0 +1,26 @@
+# Dependency Policy
+
+As a library consumed by downstream projects, the MCP Java SDK takes a conservative approach to dependency updates. Dependencies are kept stable unless there is a specific reason to update, such as a security vulnerability, a bug fix, or a need for new functionality.
+
+## Update Triggers
+
+Dependencies are updated when:
+
+- A **security vulnerability** is disclosed (via GitHub security alerts).
+- A bug in a dependency directly affects the SDK.
+- A new dependency feature is needed for SDK development.
+- A dependency drops support for a Java version the SDK still targets.
+
+Routine version bumps without a clear motivation are avoided to minimize churn for downstream consumers.
+
+## What We Don't Do
+
+The SDK does not run scheduled version bumps for production Maven dependencies. Updating a dependency can force downstream consumers to adopt that update transitively, which can be disruptive for projects with strict dependency policies.
+
+Dependencies are only updated when there is a concrete reason, not simply because a newer version is available.
+
+## Automated Tooling
+
+- **GitHub security updates** are enabled at the repository level and automatically open pull requests for Maven packages with known vulnerabilities. This is a GitHub repo setting, separate from the `dependabot.yml` configuration.
+- **GitHub Actions versions** are kept up to date via Dependabot on a monthly schedule (see `.github/dependabot.yml`).
+- **Maven dependencies** are monitored via Dependabot on a monthly schedule for non-production updates only (see `.github/dependabot.yml`).
diff --git a/ROADMAP.md b/ROADMAP.md
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+# Roadmap
+
+## Spec Implementation Tracking
+
+The SDK tracks implementation of MCP spec components via GitHub Projects, with a dedicated project board for each spec revision. For example, see the [2025-11-25 spec revision board](https://github.com/orgs/modelcontextprotocol/projects/26/views/1).
+
+## Current Focus Areas
+
+### 2025-11-25 Spec Implementation
+
+The Java SDK is actively implementing the [2025-11-25 MCP specification revision](https://github.com/orgs/modelcontextprotocol/projects/26/views/1).
+
+Key features in this revision include:
+
+- **Tasks**: Experimental support for tracking durable requests with polling and deferred result retrieval
+- **Tool calling in sampling**: Support for `tools` and `toolChoice` parameters
+- **URL mode elicitation**: Client-side URL elicitation requests
+- **Icons metadata**: Servers can expose icons for tools, resources, resource templates, and prompts
+- **Enhanced schemas**: JSON Schema 2020-12 as default, improved enum support, default values for elicitation
+- **Security improvements**: Updated security best practices, enhanced authorization flows, enabling OAuth integrations
+
+See the full [changelog](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/specification/2025-11-25/changelog) for details.
+
+### Tier 1 SDK Support
+
+Once we catch up on the most recent MCP specification revision we aim to fully support all the upcoming specification features on the day of its release.
+
+### v1.x Development
+
+The Java SDK is currently in active development as v1.x, following a recent stable 1.0.0 release. The SDK provides:
+
+- MCP protocol implementation
+- Synchronous and asynchronous programming models
+- Multiple transport options (STDIO, HTTP/SSE, Servlet)
+- Pluggable JSON serialization (Jackson 2 and Jackson 3)
+
+Development is tracked via [GitHub Issues](https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/java-sdk/issues) and [GitHub Projects](https://github.com/orgs/modelcontextprotocol/projects).
+
+### Future Versions
+
+Major version updates will align with MCP specification changes and breaking API changes as needed. The SDK is designed to evolve with the Java ecosystem, including:
+
+- Virtual Threads and Structured Concurrency support
+- Additional transport implementations
+- Performance optimizations
diff --git a/VERSIONING.md b/VERSIONING.md
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+# Versioning Policy
+
+The MCP Java SDK (`io.modelcontextprotocol.sdk`) follows [Semantic Versioning 2.0.0](https://semver.org/).
+
+## Version Format
+
+`MAJOR.MINOR.PATCH`
+
+- **MAJOR**: Incremented for breaking changes (see below).
+- **MINOR**: Incremented for new features that are backward-compatible.
+- **PATCH**: Incremented for backward-compatible bug fixes.
+
+## What Constitutes a Breaking Change
+
+The following changes are considered breaking and require a major version bump:
+
+- Removing or renaming a public API (class, interface, method, or constant).
+- Changing the signature of a public method in a way that breaks existing callers (removing parameters, changing required/optional status, changing types).
+- Removing or renaming a public interface method or field.
+- Changing the behavior of an existing API in a way that breaks documented contracts.
+- Dropping support for a Java LTS version.
+- Removing support for a transport type.
+- Changes to the MCP protocol version that require client/server code changes.
+- Removing a module from the SDK.
+
+The following are **not** considered breaking:
+
+- Adding new methods with default implementations to interfaces.
+- Adding new public APIs, classes, interfaces, or methods.
+- Adding new optional parameters to existing methods (through method overloading).
+- Bug fixes that correct behavior to match documented intent.
+- Internal refactoring that does not affect the public API.
+- Adding support for new MCP spec features.
+- Changes to test dependencies or build tooling.
+- Adding new modules to the SDK.
+
+## How Breaking Changes Are Communicated
+
+1. **Changelog**: All breaking changes are documented in the GitHub release notes with migration instructions.
+2. **Deprecation**: When feasible, APIs are deprecated for at least one minor release before removal using `@Deprecated` annotations, which surface warnings through Java tooling and IDEs.
+3. **Migration guide**: Major version releases include a migration guide describing what changed and how to update.
+4. **PR labels**: Pull requests containing breaking changes are labeled with `breaking change`.
+
+## Maven Coordinates
+
+All SDK modules share the same version number and are released together. The BOM (`mcp-bom`) provides dependency management for all SDK modules to ensure version consistency.