Arcade is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) runtime and framework designed to enable AI agents to securely connect to and execute actions across external APIs and systems. It functions as an infrastructure layer that handles agent authorization, tool execution, and lifecycle governance. The system manages complex authentication flows, such as OAuth 2.0, along with user-specific tokens and encrypted secrets. This architecture allows agents to operate on behalf of individual end-users with controlled permissions, rather than relying on broad service accounts.
The platform provides a Tool Development Kit (TDK), SDKs for Python and TypeScript, and a command-line interface (CLI) for building and managing custom tools and MCP servers. It features a registry for publishing and sharing tools and supports tool federation via MCP Gateways to consolidate services. Arcade integrates with various agent orchestration frameworks and offers flexible deployment options, including cloud, on-premises, and air-gapped environments. The framework also includes capabilities for evaluating tool-calling accuracy and managing access control.
