DollhouseMCP

# Session Notes - October 4, 2025 (Morning) **Date**: October 4, 2025 **Time**: 11:55 AM - 2:00 PM (approximately 2 hours) **Focus**: Dollhouse Console - Comprehensive planning for meta-level project management system **Outcome**: ✅ Complete implementation plan created (1,900+ lines) --- ## Session Summary Created comprehensive implementation plan for **Dollhouse Console**, a new lightweight MCP server and script suite that provides meta-level project management on top of DollhouseMCP's memory system. The console addresses cognitive overload from managing 5+ domains (technical, business, marketing, experimental) by automatically synthesizing session notes and memories into actionable domain dashboards. **Key Innovation:** Voice-driven narrative interface + automated synthesis = "A more practical version of what a real Jarvis interaction tool would be" --- ## What Was Accomplished ### 1. Problem Definition ✅ **User Context:** - Working 6-12 hours/day on DollhouseMCP for 3 months straight - Managing 13 repositories across 5 major domains - Reaching cognitive limit: can't hold all project state in head anymore - Previous tools failed (Trello, Obsidian, GitHub Projects) due to manual maintenance burden **Core Insight:** User doesn't need better manual tools - needs **automated synthesis** of documentation already being created (session notes, memories). **What Works:** - ✅ Detailed session notes (250-450 lines, multiple per day) - ✅ Dual backup (Markdown + DollhouseMCP memories) - ✅ Voice-to-text narrative input (speech is primary interface) **What's Missing:** - ❌ Domain-level overview ("what's the state of the website?") - ❌ Cross-domain prioritization (notes are chronological, not priority-based) - ❌ Visual gestalt view (all context is linear text) - ❌ Prospective task management (idea capture, GitHub integration) ### 2. Architecture Design ✅ **Three-Layer Model:** 1. **DollhouseMCP Core** (exists) - Element management (personas, skills, memories, etc.) 2. **Dollhouse Console** (building) - Meta-level synthesis and task management 3. **Visualization Layer** (future) - Web dashboard, visual segmentation, interconnectivity **Key Decision:** Build as **separate lightweight MCP server**, not part of main mcp-server - Reason: Main server already bloated (41+ tools) - Benefit: Works across all MCP clients (Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Gemini CLI, Bolt) - Context overhead: <5K tokens (vs 15-25K for main server) **Repository Location:** `tools-internal/dollhouse-console/` - Start private in tools-internal - Iterate quickly - Later: decide commercialization path (open source vs proprietary) ### 3. Domain Structure ✅ **Five Core Domains:** 1. **technical-server** - mcp-server development (SonarCloud, PRs, releases) 2. **technical-other** - website, collection, experimental, IT infrastructure 3. **business-legal** - Incorporation, IP, investors, fundraising 4. **marketing-content** - YouTube, Reddit, LinkedIn, email, social 5. **research-experimental** - Patent research, experiments (private) **Domain Memory Format:** - Snapshot-based versioning (not concatenation) - New entries prepended to `entries[]` array - Each entry is complete state (not diff) - Latest entry (entries[0]) is current state - History preserved for trend analysis ### 4. Tool Specifications ✅ **9 Tools Total (5 retrospective + 4 prospective):** **Retrospective (Synthesis):** 1. `console_get_domain_context` - Get consolidated domain view 2. `console_update_domain` - Update domain from narrative input 3. `console_project_overview` - Cross-domain status dashboard 4. `console_weekly_review` - Synthesize week's work 5. `console_search_memories` - Search across all memories/session notes **Prospective (Task Management):** ⚡ Added after user feedback 6. `console_add_task` - Capture ideas/tasks with priority 7. `console_sync_github_issues` - Pull GitHub issues to domains 8. `console_create_github_issue` - Create issues from tasks 9. `console_update_task_priority` - Dynamic reprioritization **Critical Gap Identified:** Initial plan was too retrospective (status/synthesis only). User correctly identified need for prospective task management (idea capture, GitHub integration, priority setting). **Tool Design Pattern (Learning from Serena analysis):** - Comprehensive descriptions (~800 tokens each) - "When to use" / "When NOT to use" sections - Clear separation from main MCP server tools (`console_*` prefix) - Expected output token counts specified ### 5. Implementation Plan Document ✅ **Created:** `tools-internal/DOLLHOUSE_CONSOLE_IMPLEMENTATION_PLAN.md` **Size:** ~1,900 lines covering: - Executive summary - Problem statement - Architecture (3 layers) - Implementation strategy (3 phases) - Domain structure (5 domains) - Domain memory format (snapshot-based) - All 9 tool specifications with schemas - Repository structure - Configuration examples (Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Gemini) - Technical implementation details (parsers, aggregators, search) - Error handling & edge cases - Context window management - Success criteria - Additional considerations (7 sections) - Open questions - Related documents **Phases:** - **Phase 1:** Scripts (Week 1) - Node scripts callable via Bash - **Phase 1.5:** Task management (After basic scripts) - Add backlog, idea capture - **Phase 2:** MCP wrapper (When needed) - For Claude Desktop compatibility - **Phase 3:** Commercialization (Later) - Decide business model ### 6. User Feedback Integration ✅ **Iteration 1: Visual Interface** - **Feedback:** Web dashboard not "out of scope" - actually important - **User insight:** "A more practical version of what a real Jarvis interaction tool would be" - **Context:** All devices on Tailscale network = local web server accessible everywhere - **Visual needs:** Post-it note style cards, interconnectivity lines, well-formatted readable content - **Updated:** Promoted to Phase 2-3, added specific requirements **Iteration 2: Domain Descriptions** - **Feedback:** Descriptions are exemplars, not exhaustive - **Example:** IT work (email setup) belongs in technical-other but wasn't listed - **Updated:** Added note and expanded technical-other domain **Iteration 3: Documentation Structure** - **Feedback:** Need `docs/` folder for dollhouse-console itself - **Reason:** Will generate session notes during build, may commercialize later - **Updated:** Added `docs/{development,architecture,guides}` to repo structure **Iteration 4: Reference Document Ingestion** - **Feedback:** Beyond session notes, need to ingest research documents - **Examples:** Long-term memory architecture analysis, persona management comparisons - **Updated:** Added section on multi-source document synthesis - **Phased approach:** Session notes (Phase 1), research docs (Phase 2), unified registry (Phase 3) **Iteration 5: Memory Consolidation** - **Feedback:** Concept similar to human dreaming - consolidate memories over time - **Reference:** Serena memory comparison documents, meta-memories concept - **Updated:** Added weekly consolidation process with example YAML - **Benefit:** Reduces memory count, preserves high-value context, easier search **Iteration 6: GitFlow Guardian & SonarCloud** - **Feedback:** Apply same git workflow protections as mcp-server - **Question:** Does SonarCloud work on private repos? - **Answer:** Yes, with paid plan - **Updated:** Added setup steps, recommended from day 1 **Iteration 7: Templates & Generated Content** - **Feedback:** Need both YAML and Markdown templates - **Question:** Save historical views or always generate fresh? - **Decision:** Dynamic (domain context) + saved (weekly consolidated, retrospectives) - **Updated:** Added distinction and rationale **Iteration 8: Task Management & GitHub Integration** 🎯 - **Feedback:** "This looks more retrospective than prospective" - **Critical gap:** No way to capture ideas, manage tasks, or integrate with GitHub - **User need:** "I have an idea, add it to domain X as high priority" - **Updated:** Added 4 new tools (6-9), backlog schema, auto-mapping strategy, workflow examples - **Result:** Console now truly bidirectional (read + write) ### 7. Future Vision Clarified ✅ **LLM Agent Interface:** - Console becomes interface for task-driven agents - User views domains → selects tasks → agent proposes approach → user approves → agent executes - Results feed back into domain memories automatically - Scales user capacity without losing oversight **Visual Dashboard:** - Local web server (Tailscale accessible) - Post-it note style cards per domain - Interconnectivity visualization - Well-formatted, readable (accessibility important) **Memory Consolidation:** - Weekly synthesis (like human dreaming) - Extract high-value information from 10+ session notes - Generate smaller, denser consolidated memory - Link to source materials - Easier search, trend analysis --- ## Technical Decisions ### 1. Repository Location **Decision:** `tools-internal/dollhouse-console/` (not separate repo yet) **Rationale:** - Fast iteration without repo overhead - Private by default (tools-internal is private) - Easy to extract later when commercialization path clear ### 2. Implementation Approach **Decision:** Scripts first, MCP wrapper later **Rationale:** - Faster to build and test - Works immediately with Claude Code/Gemini CLI (via Bash) - MCP wrapper only needed for Claude Desktop - Can iterate on logic before committing to MCP protocol ### 3. Domain Memory Format **Decision:** Snapshot-based versioning (not diffs) **Rationale:** - Easier to read (each entry is complete state) - Simpler to implement (no merge logic) - Can query "what was state on date X?" - Trade-off: More redundancy, but YAML is small anyway ### 4. Tool Count & Scope **Decision:** 9 tools (started with 5, added 4 for task management) **Rationale:** - 5 retrospective tools: synthesis, reviews, search - 4 prospective tools: idea capture, GitHub integration, priority management - Total context: <5K tokens (vs 15-25K for main server) - Balanced: comprehensive but not bloated ### 5. GitHub Integration Strategy **Decision:** Bidirectional sync (console ↔ GitHub) **Rationale:** - Pull issues into console (sync to domains) - Create issues from console tasks - Auto-map by labels and keywords - Priority mapping (labels → P0-P3) - Maintains single source of truth (GitHub issues) while providing local synthesis --- ## Key Files Created ### Planning Documents - `tools-internal/DOLLHOUSE_CONSOLE_IMPLEMENTATION_PLAN.md` (1,900 lines) - Complete implementation guide - All 9 tool specifications - Architecture decisions - Phase-by-phase approach ### Session Notes - `active/mcp-server/docs/development/SESSION_NOTES_2025-10-04-MORNING-DOLLHOUSE-CONSOLE-PLANNING.md` (this file) --- ## Next Session Priorities ### Immediate (Next Session) 1. **Create repository structure** ```bash cd tools-internal mkdir -p dollhouse-console/{src/{core,scripts,utils,mcp},templates,docs,test} ``` 2. **Initialize TypeScript project** ```bash cd dollhouse-console npm init -y npm install --save-dev typescript @types/node npm install js-yaml glob ``` 3. **Create domain memory templates** - 5 YAML templates (one per domain) - Populate with current state from recent session notes - Place in `~/.dollhouse/portfolio/memories/` 4. **Build first script: `get-domain-context.ts`** - Memory parser - Domain aggregator - Output formatter - Test with existing memories ### Follow-up (Week 1) 1. Build remaining Phase 1 scripts (4 more) 2. Test workflow: - Morning: project-overview → priorities - End of session: update-domain → record state - Friday: weekly-review → plan next week 3. Iterate based on usage ### Future (Phase 1.5+) 1. Add task management (console_add_task, console_update_task_priority) 2. Build MCP wrapper (when Claude Desktop use case arises) 3. Add GitHub integration (sync issues, create issues) 4. Build web dashboard (visual interface) --- ## Key Learnings ### 1. Tool Design Philosophy **Learning:** Comprehensive tool descriptions (800 tokens) with "When to use / NOT to use" prevent LLM confusion **Source:** Serena analysis research (experimental-server docs) **Application:** All 9 console tools follow this pattern ### 2. Bidirectional Systems Win **Learning:** Retrospective-only tools (status, synthesis) miss half the value **User insight:** "This looks more retrospective than prospective" **Fix:** Added 4 task management tools for idea capture, priority management, GitHub integration **Result:** Console becomes active participant in workflow, not passive observer ### 3. Voice-First Design **Learning:** User's primary interface is speech-to-text narrative, not command-line **Implication:** Tools must be LLM-callable, not CLI-optimized **Design pattern:** User talks → LLM interprets → Tools execute → Results synthesized **Example:** "I just thought of X, add it to domain Y as high priority" works seamlessly ### 4. Visual Accessibility Matters **Learning:** User has reading disorder - well-formatted visual content > raw text **Requirement:** Markdown preview mode, post-it note cards, interconnectivity visualization **Technical solution:** Web dashboard (local server, Tailscale accessible) **User analogy:** "Like a real Jarvis interaction tool" ### 5. Memory Consolidation Mirrors Cognition **Learning:** Human-like memory consolidation (weekly synthesis) reduces cognitive load **Concept:** Read 10+ session notes → extract high-value info → generate consolidated memory **Benefit:** Fewer, denser files; easier search; preserves history; matches how humans think **Research reference:** Serena memory comparison, meta-memories concept ### 6. Start Private, Commercialize Later **Learning:** Don't commit to licensing/business model before validating it works **Strategy:** Build in tools-internal (private), iterate fast, decide later **Options:** Open source (MIT), proprietary (paid tool), hybrid (open core) **Timeline:** Decide after Phase 1 proves value for founder --- ## Context Window Usage **Session Context:** - Started: ~35K tokens (initial conversation) - Planning doc creation: ~31K tokens - User feedback iterations: ~40K tokens - Session notes: ~5K tokens - **Total used:** ~111K / 200K tokens (55%) - **Remaining:** 89K tokens **Planning Document Size:** - Lines: ~1,900 - Estimated tokens: ~30-35K (well within budget for implementation session) --- ## Quotes & Insights ### User Vision > "A more practical version of what a real Jarvis interaction tool would be" **Context:** Describing the future vision for console as interface for LLM agents with visual task management and automation. ### Critical Feedback > "This looks more retrospective than prospective... I didn't see much of capturing ideas, adding tasks, GitHub integration." **Impact:** Led to adding 4 new tools and backlog schema - transformed console from passive to active system. ### Workflow Preference > "I prefer, beyond any other interface, a speech-to-text interface that can interpret long form narrative voice communication rather than command structures." **Implication:** All tools must be LLM-callable via narrative input, not CLI-optimized. ### Visual Needs > "Having things visually segmented, like post-it notes, is not a bad way of going about it. Having lines of interconnectivity, also not a bad thing." **Result:** Web dashboard with post-it style cards and relationship visualization moved from "future" to Phase 2-3. --- ## Related Documents & Research ### Planning Documents - `tools-internal/DOLLHOUSE_CONSOLE_IMPLEMENTATION_PLAN.md` - Complete implementation guide ### Project Context - `/Users/mick/Developer/Organizations/DollhouseMCP/CLAUDE.md` - Organization overview - `active/mcp-server/CLAUDE.md` - Main server project context ### Research References - `active/experimental-server/docs/MEMORY_session-2025-10-02-serena-analysis.md` - Tool description patterns - Serena memory comparison documents (referenced but not read this session) - Meta-memories and consolidation concepts (referenced but not read this session) ### DollhouseMCP Memories Referenced - `project-context.yaml` (Sept 20) - Identified as stale during session - `dollhousemcp-fundraising-economics.yaml` (Oct 1) - Business context - Various session note memories from past week --- ## Statistics **Session Duration:** ~2 hours (11:55 AM - 2:00 PM) **Planning Document:** 1,900 lines, ~30-35K tokens **Tool Specifications:** 9 tools fully specified **Domain Contexts:** 5 domains defined **User Feedback Iterations:** 8 major refinements **Repository Structure:** Designed (26 files/directories) **Context Usage:** 111K / 200K tokens (55%) **Key Metrics:** - Started with 0 tools → Ended with 9 tools - Started with retrospective-only → Ended with bidirectional (read + write) - Started with vague concept → Ended with complete implementation roadmap --- ## Status ✅ **Planning:** Complete and comprehensive ✅ **Architecture:** Defined and validated ✅ **Tool Design:** All 9 tools fully specified ✅ **User Feedback:** Integrated (8 iterations) ⏳ **Implementation:** Ready to start (next session) **Confidence Level:** High - plan is thorough, user-validated, and actionable **Risk Areas:** - Memory parser complexity (multiple YAML formats) - GitHub auto-mapping accuracy (may need tuning) - Web dashboard scope (could expand rapidly) **Mitigation:** - Start with simple parsers, iterate - Allow user override on auto-mapping - Phase dashboard into v2 (scripts first) --- **Session Status:** COMPLETE ✅ **Handoff Quality:** Excellent - next session can start implementation immediately **Documentation:** Comprehensive planning doc + detailed session notes --- *Session completed: October 4, 2025 at 2:00 PM* *Next session: Begin Dollhouse Console implementation (Phase 1)*