smart_mcp

btangonan/smart_mcp

3.2

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Smart MCP is a simple MCP server designed for creating reusable command shortcuts for Claude using a single tool.

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Smart MCP

SuperClaude-style global MCP framework for custom instruction shortcuts. Create reusable command shortcuts that work from ANY directory.

What is Smart MCP?

Smart MCP is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides:

  1. Slash Commands - Global /sm:* commands accessible from any directory
  2. Smart Tool - sm MCP tool for executing custom instruction shortcuts
  3. Hierarchical Configuration - Global defaults with project-specific overrides

Current Implementation

ComponentStatusLinesDescription
MCP Server✅ Production~100Python server with hierarchical shortcuts loading
/sm:refactor✅ Ready183 linesSurgical refactoring with golden-master testing
/sm:debug✅ Ready129 lines7-step systematic debugging process
/sm:audit✅ Ready204 lines8-stage repository assessment
/sm:introspect✅ Ready247 linesMeta-cognitive solution analysis

Latest Update: Fixed /sm:introspect synchronization bug - all 4 commands now fully global (2025-11-06)

Features

  • Global Architecture: Works from any directory once configured
  • Hierarchical Shortcuts: Global defaults + project-specific overrides
  • Single Tool Interface: All shortcuts accessible via one sm tool
  • Slash Commands: /sm:refactor, /sm:debug, /sm:audit, /sm:introspect work everywhere
  • JSON-Based Storage: Easy to read and edit shortcut definitions
  • Variable Substitution: Use {task}, {file}, {context}, or {target} placeholders
  • Extensible: Add global or project-specific shortcuts

Architecture

Dual-Interface System

Smart MCP uses a two-stage architecture combining Claude Code slash commands with an MCP server:

┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Stage 1: Slash Commands (.md files)         │
│ Location: ~/.claude/commands/sm/*.md       │
│ Purpose: Discovery, documentation, metadata │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────┘
                    ↓
┌─────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ Stage 2: MCP Server (shortcuts.json)        │
│ Location: ~/.claude/smart_mcp/shortcuts.json│
│ Purpose: Instruction storage, variables     │
└─────────────────────────────────────────────┘

File Structure

~/.claude/                           # Global SuperClaude configuration
├── smart_mcp/
│   └── shortcuts.json              # Global instruction storage (REQUIRED)
├── commands/sm/
│   ├── refactor.md                 # /sm:refactor interface (REQUIRED)
│   ├── debug.md                    # /sm:debug interface (REQUIRED)
│   ├── audit.md                    # /sm:audit interface (REQUIRED)
│   └── introspect.md               # /sm:introspect interface (REQUIRED)
├── MCP_SmartMCP.md                 # Integration documentation
└── CLAUDE.md                       # Global working contract

Project (Optional Override):
$CWD/shortcuts.json                 # Project-specific shortcuts

Synchronization Requirement

CRITICAL: Both components must be deployed together:

  • ✅ .md file in ~/.claude/commands/sm/ (interface)
  • ✅ Entry in ~/.claude/smart_mcp/shortcuts.json (implementation)

Missing either component will cause the command to fail.

Merge Strategy: Project-local shortcuts override global (like .gitignore)

Quick Start

Installation

  1. Install the MCP server:
git clone https://github.com/btangonan/smart_mcp.git
cd smart_mcp
./scripts/install.sh
  1. Configure Claude Desktop:
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "smart-mcp": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "python3",
      "args": ["/absolute/path/to/smart_mcp/smart_mcp.py"],
      "env": {}
    }
  }
}
  1. Restart Claude Desktop

Usage

Slash Commands (Global)
/sm:refactor auth.ts           # Surgical refactoring with testing
/sm:debug login-error          # 7-step debugging process
/sm:audit                      # Repository assessment
/sm:introspect                 # Meta-cognitive analysis
Smart Tool (Via MCP)
// In Claude Code conversations
sm { "shortcut": "refactor", "context": "auth.ts" }
sm { "shortcut": "debug", "context": "login-error" }

Available Commands

/sm:refactor

Purpose: Surgical refactoring with golden-master testing and fitness functions

Use When:

  • Need to improve code quality without changing behavior
  • Want systematic refactoring with safety validation
  • Reducing technical debt methodically

Key Features:

  • Pre/post behavior capture for safety
  • Fitness functions for quality metrics
  • Incremental improvements with validation

/sm:debug

Purpose: 7-step systematic debugging process

Use When:

  • Facing complex bugs or unexpected behavior
  • Need structured approach to problem-solving
  • Want to avoid debugging anti-patterns

Key Features:

  • Evidence-based hypothesis generation
  • Systematic root cause analysis
  • Solution validation framework

/sm:audit

Purpose: 8-stage comprehensive repository assessment

Use When:

  • Need to assess codebase health
  • Preparing for technical debt reduction
  • Evaluating project maturity

Key Features:

  • LOC discipline analysis
  • Validation coverage assessment
  • Secrets hygiene scanning
  • Maturity scoring (0-3 scale)

/sm:introspect

Purpose: Meta-cognitive analysis for solution soundness evaluation

Use When:

  • Unsure if solving the RIGHT problem
  • Need to validate approach before implementation
  • Want to detect cognitive biases

Key Features:

  • Naive-agent perspective reset
  • Alternative hypothesis generation (min 3)
  • Cognitive bias detection
  • Soundness scoring with recommendations

Configuration

Global Shortcuts

Located at ~/.claude/smart_mcp/shortcuts.json:

{
  "shortcuts": {
    "refactor": {
      "description": "Surgical refactoring with golden-master testing",
      "instruction": "..."
    },
    "debug": {
      "description": "7-step debugging process",
      "instruction": "..."
    },
    "audit": {
      "description": "Repository assessment",
      "instruction": "..."
    },
    "introspect": {
      "description": "Meta-cognitive analysis",
      "instruction": "..."
    }
  }
}

Project-Specific Shortcuts

Create shortcuts.json in your project directory:

{
  "shortcuts": {
    "deploy": {
      "description": "Deploy to staging",
      "instruction": "Deploy {target} to staging environment with pre-flight checks"
    },
    "refactor": {
      "description": "Custom refactor for this project",
      "instruction": "Project-specific refactoring rules..."
    }
  }
}

Merge Behavior:

  • deploy - Available only in this project (new shortcut)
  • refactor - Uses project version (overrides global)
  • debug, audit, introspect - Use global versions (no override)

Management Scripts

Backup Global Files

./scripts/backup.sh              # Copy ~/.claude/ → global/
./scripts/backup.sh --commit     # Backup and auto-commit
./scripts/backup.sh --dry-run    # Preview changes

Install Global Files

./scripts/install.sh             # Copy global/ → ~/.claude/
./scripts/install.sh --force     # Overwrite without prompt
./scripts/install.sh --dry-run   # Preview installation

Sync and Check Status

./scripts/sync.sh                # Check sync status
./scripts/sync.sh --to-global    # Force ~/.claude/ → global/
./scripts/sync.sh --to-claude    # Force global/ → ~/.claude/

Documentation

  • - Complete system overview for new agents
  • - Detailed installation and setup guide
  • - Technical architecture details

Troubleshooting

Slash commands not appearing

Problem: /sm:refactor shows "command not found"

Solution:

# Verify files exist
ls ~/.claude/commands/sm/

# Should show: audit.md, debug.md, introspect.md, refactor.md
# If missing, run: ./scripts/install.sh

MCP tool not available

Problem: sm tool returns "No such tool available"

Solution:

  1. Check Claude Desktop config has correct absolute path to smart_mcp.py
  2. Restart Claude Desktop completely
  3. Start new Claude Code session
  4. If still failing, check MCP server logs

Shortcuts not loading

Problem: sm tool works but returns empty or old shortcuts

Solution:

# Verify shortcuts.json exists
cat ~/.claude/smart_mcp/shortcuts.json

# Check for JSON syntax errors
python3 -m json.tool ~/.claude/smart_mcp/shortcuts.json

# If corrupted, restore from repo
./scripts/install.sh --force

Chroma MCP race condition

Problem: First Chroma call fails with "No such tool available"

Solution: This is handled automatically by global CLAUDE.md Session Lifecycle rules - waits 2 seconds and retries once. If persists, verify Chroma MCP server is configured in Claude Desktop.

Development

Project Structure

smart_mcp/
├── smart_mcp.py               # MCP server with hierarchical loading
├── shortcuts.json             # Example/override shortcuts
├── CLAUDE.md                  # Project-specific contract
├── README.md                  # This file
├── .claude/
│   └── commands/sm/           # Reference commands (deprecated)
├── global/                    # Version-controlled global files
│   ├── CLAUDE.md              # Global SuperClaude framework
│   ├── commands/sm/           # Canonical slash commands
│   ├── smart_mcp/shortcuts.json
│   └── MCP_SmartMCP.md
├── scripts/                   # Management scripts
│   ├── install.sh
│   ├── backup.sh
│   └── sync.sh
├── docs/                      # Documentation
└── archive/                   # Obsolete planning documents

Adding New Slash Commands

IMPORTANT: Both .md file AND shortcuts.json entry are required. Missing either breaks the command.

Step-by-Step Process:

  1. Create .md file: global/commands/sm/commandname.md

    ---
name: commandname
description: "Brief one-line description"
category: gitignored
complexity: basic|intermediate|advanced
mcp-servers: [sequential, chroma]
personas: [architect, auditor]
---

# Documentation sections
# See existing commands for template

## Invocation
This command executes: `Use the sm tool with shortcut='commandname' and context='$ARGS'`

  2. Add to shortcuts.json: global/smart_mcp/shortcuts.json

    {
  "shortcuts": {
    "commandname": {
      "description": "Same as .md description",
      "instruction": "Full instruction framework with {task} {context} placeholders"
    }
  }
}

  3. Deploy: ./scripts/install.sh (copies to ~/.claude/)

  4. Verify:

    ls ~/.claude/commands/sm/commandname.md
grep "commandname" ~/.claude/smart_mcp/shortcuts.json

# CRITICAL: Test from outside repo to verify global deployment
cd /tmp && /sm:commandname test

  5. Commit: ./scripts/backup.sh --commit

Project-Local Shortcut (override global):

  1. Create shortcuts.json in project directory
  2. Add shortcuts (same format as global)
  3. Project shortcuts override global (hierarchical merge)

Creating Slash Commands

  1. Create markdown file in ~/.claude/commands/sm/
  2. Add YAML frontmatter:
---
tags: project, gitignored
---
  1. Write command instructions
  2. Optionally add to shortcuts.json for sm tool access

Benefits

✅ Global Accessibility - Commands work from ANY directory ✅ SuperClaude Integration - Follows /sc:* command pattern ✅ Hierarchical Config - Global defaults + project overrides ✅ Version Controlled - Global files backed up in repo ✅ Zero Duplication - No copying commands to every project ✅ Extensible - Easy to add custom shortcuts ✅ Maintainable - Clear separation of global vs project config

Limitations

  1. Absolute Paths Required - Claude Desktop config needs absolute path to smart_mcp.py
  2. Restart Required - Claude Desktop restart needed for config/shortcut changes
  3. JSON Validation - Invalid JSON in shortcuts.json fails silently
  4. No Hot Reload - Shortcut changes require new Claude Code session

Contributing

  1. Fork the repository
  2. Create feature branch
  3. Make changes
  4. Test with ./scripts/install.sh --dry-run
  5. Backup and commit: ./scripts/backup.sh --commit
  6. Submit pull request

License

MIT License - See LICENSE file for details

Credits

Built with the SuperClaude framework pattern for global Claude Code configuration.

Changelog

2025-10-23

  • Added Chroma MCP race condition fix to global CLAUDE.md
  • Cleaned up documentation structure
  • Archived obsolete planning documents
  • Updated README to reflect actual implementation

2025-10-19

  • Added /sm:introspect command for meta-cognitive analysis
  • Enhanced global file management with backup/sync scripts

2025-10-17

  • Transformed to global SuperClaude-style framework
  • Implemented hierarchical shortcuts loading
  • Created global slash commands (/sm:refactor, /sm:debug, /sm:audit)
  • Added comprehensive documentation

2025-10-16

  • Initial project creation
  • Basic MCP server implementation
  • Project-local slash commands