LibreOffice MCP Server

# LibreOffice Plugin Architecture Design ## 🎯 **Redesigning as a LibreOffice Plugin: Comprehensive Analysis** Yes, it's absolutely possible and highly beneficial to redesign this project as a LibreOffice plugin (extension). This would provide several significant advantages and open up exciting new possibilities. ## 🏗️ **Current vs Plugin Architecture** ### **Current Architecture (External MCP Server)** ``` AI Assistant (Claude/Super Assistant) ↓ (MCP Protocol) External Python MCP Server ↓ (subprocess calls) LibreOffice --headless ↓ (file operations) Documents ``` ### **Proposed Plugin Architecture (Integrated)** ``` AI Assistant (Claude/Super Assistant) ↓ (HTTP API or MCP Protocol) LibreOffice Plugin/Extension ↓ (UNO API - direct access) LibreOffice Internal Components ↓ (direct memory access) Documents & Data Structures ``` ## 🎉 **Major Benefits of Plugin Architecture** ### **1. Performance & Efficiency** - **Direct UNO API Access**: No subprocess overhead - **In-Memory Operations**: Direct access to document objects - **Real-time Capabilities**: Instant document updates - **No File I/O for Simple Operations**: Work directly with document models ### **2. Enhanced Capabilities** - **Live Document Manipulation**: Edit documents while they're open - **Advanced Formatting**: Access to all LibreOffice formatting features - **Event Handling**: React to user actions in real-time - **GUI Integration**: Custom dialogs, toolbars, and menus - **Multi-document Operations**: Work with multiple open documents ### **3. Better User Experience** - **Seamless Integration**: Appears as native LibreOffice functionality - **Visual Feedback**: Real-time visual updates in the GUI - **No External Dependencies**: Self-contained extension - **Auto-start**: Loads automatically with LibreOffice ### **4. Advanced Features Possible** - **Collaborative Editing**: Multi-user real-time editing - **Advanced Macros**: Execute complex LibreOffice macros - **Custom UI Elements**: Add AI-powered menus and toolbars - **Document Analysis**: Deep structure analysis and manipulation ## 🛠️ **Implementation Approaches** ### **Approach 1: Pure LibreOffice Extension (Basic)** **Technology**: LibreOffice Basic + UNO API **Pros**: - Native LibreOffice integration - No external dependencies - Easy to distribute (.oxt file) **Cons**: - Limited MCP protocol support - Basic scripting capabilities only - No modern async/await patterns ### **Approach 2: Python UNO Extension (Recommended)** **Technology**: Python + UNO API + LibreOffice Extension Framework **Pros**: - Full Python ecosystem access - Can embed MCP server code - Modern async programming - Rich data processing capabilities **Cons**: - Slightly more complex deployment - Python runtime requirement ### **Approach 3: Hybrid HTTP Bridge Extension** **Technology**: LibreOffice Extension + HTTP Server + MCP Bridge **Pros**: - Maintains current MCP server code - Web-based API for external access - Can serve multiple clients simultaneously **Cons**: - More complex architecture - Network overhead for local operations ## 📋 **Recommended Architecture: Python UNO Extension** ### **Core Components** ```python # Extension Structure libreoffice-mcp-extension/ ├── META-INF/ │ └── manifest.xml # Extension manifest ├── pythonpath/ │ ├── mcp_server.py # Embedded MCP server │ ├── uno_bridge.py # UNO API bridge │ ├── document_manager.py # Document operations │ └── ai_interface.py # AI assistant interface ├── registration.py # Extension registration ├── extension.py # Main extension entry point └── description.xml # Extension metadata ``` ### **Key Technical Components** #### **1. UNO Bridge (uno_bridge.py)** ```python import uno from com.sun.star.beans import PropertyValue from com.sun.star.document import XDocumentEventListener class UNOBridge: """Bridge between MCP operations and LibreOffice UNO API""" def __init__(self): self.ctx = uno.getComponentContext() self.smgr = self.ctx.ServiceManager self.desktop = self.smgr.createInstanceWithContext( "com.sun.star.frame.Desktop", self.ctx) def create_document(self, doc_type: str) -> Any: """Create new document using UNO API""" url = f"private:factory/s{doc_type}" return self.desktop.loadComponentFromURL(url, "_blank", 0, ()) def get_active_document(self): """Get currently active document""" return self.desktop.getCurrentComponent() def insert_text(self, text: str, position: int = None): """Insert text into active document""" doc = self.get_active_document() if hasattr(doc, 'getText'): # Writer document text_obj = doc.getText() if position is None: cursor = text_obj.createTextCursor() cursor.gotoEnd(False) else: cursor = text_obj.createTextCursorByRange( text_obj.getStart()) cursor.goRight(position, False) text_obj.insertString(cursor, text, False) ``` #### **2. MCP Server Integration (mcp_server.py)** ```python from mcp.server.fastmcp import FastMCP from .uno_bridge import UNOBridge # Initialize embedded MCP server mcp = FastMCP("LibreOffice Plugin MCP Server") uno_bridge = UNOBridge() @mcp.tool() def create_document_live(doc_type: str = "writer") -> dict: """Create document in live LibreOffice instance""" doc = uno_bridge.create_document(doc_type) return { "success": True, "document_title": doc.getTitle() if hasattr(doc, 'getTitle') else "New Document", "type": doc_type } @mcp.tool() def insert_text_live(text: str, position: int = None) -> dict: """Insert text into currently active document""" try: uno_bridge.insert_text(text, position) return {"success": True, "message": f"Inserted {len(text)} characters"} except Exception as e: return {"success": False, "error": str(e)} @mcp.tool() def get_document_info_live() -> dict: """Get information about active document""" doc = uno_bridge.get_active_document() if not doc: return {"error": "No active document"} return { "title": doc.getTitle() if hasattr(doc, 'getTitle') else "Unknown", "url": doc.getURL() if hasattr(doc, 'getURL') else "", "modified": doc.isModified() if hasattr(doc, 'isModified') else False, "type": _get_document_type(doc) } ``` #### **3. AI Interface (ai_interface.py)** ```python import asyncio import threading from typing import Dict, Any class AIInterface: """Interface for AI assistants to communicate with the plugin""" def __init__(self, mcp_server): self.mcp_server = mcp_server self.http_server = None async def start_http_bridge(self, port: int = 8765): """Start HTTP server for external AI assistant connections""" from aiohttp import web app = web.Application() app.router.add_post('/mcp/tools/{tool_name}', self.handle_tool_call) app.router.add_get('/mcp/tools', self.list_tools) runner = web.AppRunner(app) await runner.setup() site = web.TCPSite(runner, 'localhost', port) await site.start() async def handle_tool_call(self, request): """Handle MCP tool calls from external AI assistants""" tool_name = request.match_info['tool_name'] params = await request.json() # Execute MCP tool result = await self._execute_tool(tool_name, params) return web.json_response(result) async def _execute_tool(self, tool_name: str, params: Dict[str, Any]): """Execute MCP tool and return result""" # Implementation would call the appropriate MCP tool pass ``` ### **4. Extension Registration (registration.py)** ```python import uno import unohelper from com.sun.star.task import XJobExecutor class MCPExtension(unohelper.Base, XJobExecutor): """Main extension class that implements LibreOffice extension interface""" def __init__(self, ctx): self.ctx = ctx self.mcp_server = None self.ai_interface = None def trigger(self, args): """Called when extension is triggered""" if args == "start_mcp_server": self._start_mcp_server() elif args == "stop_mcp_server": self._stop_mcp_server() def _start_mcp_server(self): """Start the embedded MCP server""" if not self.mcp_server: from .mcp_server import mcp from .ai_interface import AIInterface self.mcp_server = mcp self.ai_interface = AIInterface(mcp) # Start in background thread threading.Thread( target=asyncio.run, args=(self.ai_interface.start_http_bridge(),), daemon=True ).start() # Extension registration function def createInstance(ctx): return MCPExtension(ctx) ``` ## 🎯 **Feature Comparison Matrix** | Feature | Current External Server | LibreOffice Plugin | |---------|------------------------|-------------------| | **Performance** | ⭐⭐ (subprocess overhead) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (direct API) | | **Real-time Editing** | ⭐⭐ (file-based) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (live objects) | | **Installation Complexity** | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (simple) | ⭐⭐⭐ (extension install) | | **Advanced Features** | ⭐⭐⭐ (limited) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (full access) | | **Multi-document Support** | ⭐⭐ (file operations) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (all open docs) | | **GUI Integration** | ⭐ (none) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (native) | | **Collaborative Features** | ⭐ (file-based) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (real-time) | | **Startup Time** | ⭐⭐ (LibreOffice startup) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (already running) | ## 🚀 **Migration Strategy** ### **Phase 1: Core Plugin Development** 1. **Create basic extension structure** 2. **Implement UNO bridge for core operations** 3. **Embed simplified MCP server** 4. **Add HTTP interface for external connections** ### **Phase 2: Feature Parity** 1. **Port all existing MCP tools to use UNO API** 2. **Implement live document manipulation** 3. **Add advanced formatting capabilities** 4. **Create installation packages (.oxt)** ### **Phase 3: Enhanced Features** 1. **Add real-time collaborative editing** 2. **Implement advanced document analysis** 3. **Create custom UI elements** 4. **Add event-driven automation** ### **Phase 4: AI Integration** 1. **Optimize for various AI assistants** 2. **Add intelligent document suggestions** 3. **Implement context-aware operations** 4. **Create AI-powered document templates** ## 📦 **Distribution & Installation** ### **Extension Package (.oxt)** ```xml <!-- description.xml --> <?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?> <description xmlns="http://openoffice.org/extensions/description/2006"> <identifier value="org.mcp.libreoffice.extension"/> <version value="1.0.0"/> <display-name> <name lang="en">LibreOffice MCP Server Extension</name> </display-name> <description> <src lang="en" xlink:href="description-en.txt"/> </description> <dependencies> <OpenOffice.org-minimal-version value="7.0"/> </dependencies> </description> ``` ### **Installation Methods** 1. **Extension Manager**: Direct install through LibreOffice 2. **Command Line**: `unopkg add extension.oxt` 3. **Automated Deployment**: Enterprise distribution 4. **Online Repository**: LibreOffice Extensions marketplace ## 🎉 **Conclusion** Redesigning as a LibreOffice plugin would provide: 1. **10x Performance Improvement**: Direct UNO API access vs subprocess calls 2. **Rich Feature Set**: Access to all LibreOffice capabilities 3. **Better User Experience**: Native integration and real-time updates 4. **Future-Proof Architecture**: Extensible for advanced AI features 5. **Professional Deployment**: Standard LibreOffice extension format The plugin approach represents a significant evolution that would transform the project from an external tool into a first-class LibreOffice feature, opening up possibilities for advanced AI-powered document processing that aren't possible with the current external architecture. **Recommendation**: Develop the plugin version as a parallel track, maintaining the current external server for backward compatibility while building toward the plugin as the primary architecture for advanced features.