# Router Implementation Status
## ✅ Phase 1 Complete: Foundation & Infrastructure
**Date:** December 28, 2025
### What Was Implemented
#### 1. Tool Registry (`src/tools/registry.ts`)
- ✅ Complete tool categorization (59 tools → 7 categories)
- ✅ Direct tools list (12 high-frequency tools)
- ✅ Category lookup maps for O(1) access
- ✅ Tool search functionality
- ✅ Registry statistics and metadata
#### 2. Router Tools (`src/tools/router.ts`)
- ✅ `list_tool_categories` - Browse all categories
- ✅ `get_category_tools` - View tools in a category
- ✅ `execute_tool` - Execute any routed tool
- ✅ `search_tools` - Search tools by keyword
#### 3. Server Integration (`src/server.ts`)
- ✅ Router tools registered at server startup
- ✅ All tools remain functional (backwards compatible)
- ✅ Logging added for router pattern status
#### 4. Documentation
- ✅ `TOOL_INVENTORY.md` - Complete tool catalog
- ✅ `ROUTER_ARCHITECTURE.md` - Design specification
- ✅ `ROUTER_IMPLEMENTATION_STATUS.md` - This file
### Current State
**Status:** ✅ **Router Infrastructure Complete**
**Build:** ✅ Compiles successfully (`npm run build`)
**Tool Count:**
- Total Tools: 59 (ALL still registered and visible)
- Direct Tools: 12
- Routed Tools: 47
- Router Tools: 4
- **Currently Visible to Claude:** 63 tools (59 + 4 router)
**Token Impact:**
- **Current:** ~42K tokens (still showing all tools)
- **Target:** ~12K tokens (Phase 2 optimization)
- **Potential Savings:** ~30K tokens (71% reduction)
## 🔄 Phase 2: Token Optimization (Next Step)
### Objective
Hide routed tools from Claude's context while keeping them accessible via `execute_tool`.
### Two Approaches
#### Option A: Registration Filtering (Recommended)
Modify tool registration to conditionally register tools based on whether they're in the direct list.
**Changes needed:**
1. Update each `register*Tools` function to check `isDirectTool()`
2. Only call `server.tool()` for direct tools
3. Routed tools remain accessible via `execute_tool` calling `callKicadScript`
**Pros:**
- Clean separation
- True token savings
- No behavior changes
**Cons:**
- Requires modifying 9 tool files
#### Option B: MCP Filter (If Supported)
If MCP SDK supports tool filtering/hiding, use that instead.
**Pros:**
- No tool file changes
- Centralized control
**Cons:**
- May not be supported by SDK
- Needs investigation
### Implementation Plan for Phase 2
1. **Create Helper Function** (`src/tools/conditional-register.ts`)
```typescript
export function registerToolConditionally(
server: McpServer,
toolName: string,
definition: ToolDefinition,
handler: Function
) {
if (isDirectTool(toolName)) {
// Register with MCP (visible to Claude)
server.tool(toolName, definition, handler);
} else {
// Register handler for execute_tool (hidden from Claude)
registerToolHandler(toolName, handler);
}
}
```
2. **Update Tool Registration Functions**
Modify each `register*Tools` function to use conditional registration.
3. **Test**
- Verify direct tools work normally
- Verify routed tools work via `execute_tool`
- Verify token count reduction
4. **Measure Impact**
Count tools visible to Claude before/after.
## 📊 Categories & Distribution
| Category | Tools | Description |
|----------|-------|-------------|
| **board** | 9 | Board configuration, layers, zones, visualization |
| **component** | 8 | Advanced component operations |
| **export** | 8 | Manufacturing file generation |
| **drc** | 9 | Design rule checking & validation |
| **schematic** | 9 | Schematic editor operations |
| **library** | 4 | Footprint library access |
| **routing** | 3 | Advanced routing (vias, copper pours) |
| **TOTAL** | **47** | **Routed tools** |
| **direct** | **12** | **Always visible tools** |
| **router** | **4** | **Discovery tools** |
## 🧪 Testing the Router
### Test 1: List Categories
```
User: "What tool categories are available?"
Expected: Claude calls list_tool_categories
Result: Returns 7 categories with descriptions
```
### Test 2: Browse Category
```
User: "What export tools are available?"
Expected: Claude calls get_category_tools({ category: "export" })
Result: Returns 8 export tools
```
### Test 3: Search Tools
```
User: "How do I export gerber files?"
Expected: Claude calls search_tools({ query: "gerber" })
Result: Finds export_gerber in export category
```
### Test 4: Execute Tool
```
User: "Export gerbers to ./output"
Expected: Claude calls execute_tool({
tool_name: "export_gerber",
params: { outputDir: "./output" }
})
Result: Executes via router, returns gerber export result
```
## 📝 Benefits Achieved (Phase 1)
1. ✅ **Foundation Ready**: All infrastructure in place
2. ✅ **Organized**: 59 tools categorized into logical groups
3. ✅ **Discoverable**: Tools easily found via search/browse
4. ✅ **Backwards Compatible**: All existing tools still work
5. ✅ **Extensible**: Easy to add new tools and categories
6. ✅ **Documented**: Complete architecture and usage docs
## 🚀 Next Actions
1. **Optional: Complete Phase 2** (Token Optimization)
- Implement conditional registration
- Hide routed tools from context
- Achieve 71% token reduction
2. **Or: Ship Phase 1 As-Is**
- Router tools work perfectly now
- Users can discover and execute tools
- Optimization can be done later
- No breaking changes
## 📚 Related Files
- `src/tools/registry.ts` - Tool registry and categories
- `src/tools/router.ts` - Router tool implementations
- `src/server.ts` - Server integration
- `docs/TOOL_INVENTORY.md` - Complete tool list
- `docs/ROUTER_ARCHITECTURE.md` - Design specification
- `docs/mcp-router-guide.md` - Original implementation guide
## 💡 Usage Example
```typescript
// User: "I need to export gerber files"
// Claude's interaction:
// 1. Sees "export" and "gerber" keywords
// 2. Calls search_tools({ query: "gerber" })
// → Returns: { category: "export", tool: "export_gerber", ... }
// 3. Calls execute_tool({
// tool_name: "export_gerber",
// params: { outputDir: "./gerbers" }
// })
// → Executes and returns result
// 4. "I've exported your Gerber files to ./gerbers/"
```
## Status Summary
✅ **Router Pattern: IMPLEMENTED**
✅ **Build: PASSING**
✅ **Backwards Compatible: YES**
⏳ **Token Optimization: PENDING (Phase 2)**
The router infrastructure is complete and functional. The system now supports tool discovery and organized access to all 59 tools. Phase 2 optimization (hiding routed tools) can be implemented when ready for maximum token savings.
