# SousChef Documentation
An AI-powered MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that provides comprehensive Chef-to-Ansible migration capabilities for enterprise infrastructure and application transformation.
[](https://pypi.org/project/mcp-souschef/)
[](https://www.python.org/downloads/)
[](https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT)
[](https://github.com/kpeacocke/souschef/tree/main/htmlcov)
## Overview
SousChef is a complete enterprise-grade migration platform with **32 primary MCP tools** organised across **9 major capability areas** to facilitate Chef-to-Ansible AWX/AAP migrations. From cookbook analysis to deployment pattern conversion, including Chef Habitat to containerised deployments, SousChef provides everything needed for a successful infrastructure automation migration.
!!! info "About Tool Counts"
**Why 32 tools in the documentation but more in the server?**
The MCP server actually provides **37 total tools** (35 public + 2 internal). This documentation focuses on the **32 primary user-facing tools** that cover the main migration capabilities. The remaining 5 are:
- **Low-level filesystem operations** (`_read_file_internal`, `_list_directory_internal`) - Used internally by other tools
- **Helper utilities** - Supporting functions for the main tools
- **Deprecated tools** - Maintained for backward compatibility
As a user, you'll primarily interact with the 32 documented tools. Your AI assistant may use the additional tools automatically when needed, but you don't need to know about them for successful migrations.
## Model Agnostic - Works with Any AI Model
**SousChef works with ANY AI model through the Model Context Protocol (MCP)**. The MCP architecture separates tools from models:
- :material-robot: **Red Hat AI** (Llama, IBM models)
- :material-chat: **Claude** (Anthropic)
- :material-openai: **GPT-4/GPT-3.5** (OpenAI)
- :material-github: **GitHub Copilot** (Microsoft/OpenAI)
- :material-server: **Local Models** (Ollama, llama.cpp, etc.)
- :material-domain: **Custom Enterprise Models**
!!! tip "How it works"
You choose your AI model provider in your MCP client. SousChef provides the Chef/Ansible expertise through 24 specialized tools. The model calls these tools to help with your migration.
## Core Capabilities
### :material-file-code: Chef Cookbook Analysis & Parsing
Complete cookbook introspection and analysis tools for understanding your Chef infrastructure.
[Learn more about parsing →](user-guide/mcp-tools.md#cookbook-analysis-parsing){ .md-button }
### :material-swap-horizontal: Chef-to-Ansible Conversion Engine
Advanced resource-to-task conversion with intelligent module selection and guard handling.
[Learn more about conversion →](user-guide/mcp-tools.md#resource-conversion){ .md-button }
### :material-check-circle: Validation & Testing
Comprehensive validation framework and InSpec integration for ensuring migration accuracy.
[Learn more about validation →](user-guide/mcp-tools.md#inspec-integration){ .md-button }
### :material-docker: Chef Habitat to Container Conversion
Modernise Habitat applications to containerised deployments with Docker and Compose.
[Learn more about Habitat conversion →](user-guide/mcp-tools.md#habitat){ .md-button }
### :material-web: Visual Migration Planning Interface
Interactive web-based interface for Chef-to-Ansible migration planning and visualisation.
[Learn more about the UI →](user-guide/ui.md){ .md-button }
## Quick Start
Get started with SousChef in minutes:
=== "Claude Desktop"
```bash
# Install from PyPI
pip install mcp-souschef
# Configure Claude Desktop (macOS)
cp config/claude-desktop.json ~/Library/Application\ Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
# Restart Claude and start using
# Ask: "What Chef migration tools are available?"
```
=== "VS Code + Copilot"
```bash
# Install from PyPI
pip install mcp-souschef
# Copy config to VS Code (macOS/Linux)
cp config/vscode-copilot.json ~/.config/Code/User/mcp.json
# Windows:
# copy config\vscode-copilot.json %APPDATA%\Code\User\mcp.json
# Reload VS Code, trust the server
# Use tools in Copilot Chat:
# "Analyze the cookbook at /path/to/cookbook"
pip install mcp-souschef
# Start using immediately
souschef-cli cookbook /path/to/cookbook
```
=== "Web UI"
**Launch the Visual Interface:**
```bash
# Using Poetry (development)
poetry run souschef ui
# Using pip (installed)
souschef ui
# Custom port
souschef ui --port 8080
```
**Features:**
- Interactive cookbook analysis with archive upload
- Real-time dependency visualisation
- Migration planning wizards
- Progress tracking and validation reports
[Learn more about the UI →](user-guide/ui.md){ .md-button }
[Get started →](getting-started/installation.md){ .md-button .md-button--primary }
## Enterprise Features
- :material-chart-line: **Migration Assessment & Reporting** - Automated complexity analysis and executive reports
- :material-rocket: **Modern Deployment Patterns** - Blue/green, canary releases, and cloud-native strategies
- :material-key: **Secrets Management** - Secure data bag to Ansible Vault conversion
- :material-speedometer: **Performance Profiling** - Identify bottlenecks and optimise large-scale migrations
## What's Next?
<div class="grid cards" markdown>
- :material-download:{ .lg .middle } __Installation__
---
Install SousChef and configure your MCP client
[:octicons-arrow-right-24: Get started](getting-started/installation.md)
- :material-lightning-bolt:{ .lg .middle } __Quick Start__
---
Start migrating Chef cookbooks in minutes
[:octicons-arrow-right-24: Quick start](getting-started/quick-start.md)
- :material-book-open-variant:{ .lg .middle } __User Guide__
---
Explore MCP tools and CLI usage
[:octicons-arrow-right-24: User guide](user-guide/mcp-tools.md)
- :material-map:{ .lg .middle } __Migration Guide__
---
Plan and execute your Chef-to-Ansible migration
[:octicons-arrow-right-24: Migration guide](migration-guide/overview.md)
</div>
## Community & Support
- :material-github: **GitHub**: [kpeacocke/souschef](https://github.com/kpeacocke/souschef)
- :material-bug: **Issues**: [Report a bug](https://github.com/kpeacocke/souschef/issues)
- :material-forum: **Discussions**: [GitHub Discussions](https://github.com/kpeacocke/souschef/discussions)
- :material-book: **Wiki**: [Documentation](https://github.com/kpeacocke/souschef/wiki)
---
**SousChef** - *Transforming infrastructure automation, one recipe at a time.* ✨
