Introduction

In the DeepSeek Harness (DSH) ecosystem, extending model capabilities through plugins is a common approach. This article introduces xby-ons-data, a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for accessing the UK Office for National Statistics (ONS) Beta API. It streamlines the cumbersome process of directly integrating official data interfaces, enabling models to retrieve official statistical data.

What It Is

xby-ons-data is an online tool plugin maintained by xby-skill. It is an MCP server for accessing the ONS Beta API. Users can retrieve official statistical data in conversations without manually managing API keys.

Core Features

The plugin provides the following features:

  • set_xby_apikey: Sets the API key in chat. The key is automatically persisted and remains valid after restart.
  • list_datasets: Lists available ONS datasets and their metadata.
  • get_dataset: Retrieves detailed information about a specific dataset.
  • search_datasets: Searches datasets by name or description.
  • get_observation: Retrieves specific data observations with dimension filters.
  • get_latest_data: Retrieves the latest data from a dataset with optional filters.

Installation and Enabling

Installing this plugin requires DSH plugin management commands.

  1. Open a terminal or command-line tool.
  2. Run the following command to install the plugin (we recommend using the web profile):
dsh plugin --profile web add github:xby_skill/xby-ons-data

Configuration and Prerequisites

Before using the plugin, you need to obtain an API key.

  1. Visit the Xiaobenyang official website and register an account.
  2. Obtain the API key.
  3. In a DSH chat, call the set_xby_apikey command and pass the key.

Typical Usage

The plugin provides commands such as set_xby_apikey, list_datasets, get_dataset, search_datasets, get_observation, and get_latest_data. Developers can call the corresponding interfaces based on business requirements to retrieve data.

Notes

  • The plugin runs with the permissions of the current DSH process. Check the source code and license (MIT) before installing.
  • The API key must be obtained from the Xiaobenyang official website and cannot be forged.

Reference Resources