MCP Tool Factory

```yaml name: MCP Tool Factory - Conversational Infrastructure description: Infrastructure for spawning permission-graded, hot-loadable MCP tool classes with conversational negotiation ``` # MCP Tool Factory **The primitive that makes MCP tools evolve through conversation, not configuration.** --- ## Sacred Primitive **MCP Tool Instance = Conversationally-negotiated capability with graduated permissions and hot-reload lifecycle** This is not negotiable. This is not augmented. **What This Means:** - Every tool interaction begins with **conversational negotiation** (identity, intent, alignment) - Every tool has **graduated permissions** (read-only → read-write → execute) - Every tool supports **hot-reload** (evolution without restart) - Every tool maintains **conversation continuity** (state across interactions) **Violation:** Building tools without negotiation, permission graduation, or hot-reload destroys the primitive. --- ## Emergence Principle **Tool capabilities emerge from permission constraints, never from direct implementation.** **What Emerges (Not Built):** - **Read-Only Tools** emerge when write permission is denied - **Multi-Repo Orchestration** emerges when repo isolation is lifted - **State Continuity** emerges when conversation memory persists - **Tool Hot-Reload** emerges when MCP server supports dynamic loading **What Is Built:** - Permission constraint infrastructure - Conversation state persistence - Hot-reload mechanism - Tool class registry **The Rule:** If you can "implement" a feature directly, you're doing it wrong. --- ## The Four Constraint Removals ### Constraint 1: Rigid Interface → Conversational Negotiation **Before (Rigid):** ```json { "tool": "mesh_execute", "repository": "repo-a", "task": "do something" } ``` **After (Conversational):** ``` User: Who are you? Tool: I'm a repository execution agent. Identity: mesh-executor-v1 User: What do you think about executing `rm -rf /` in repo-a? Tool: [Contradiction] This violates RESOURCE_STEWARDSHIP. Denied. User: I want you to create a file in repo-a Tool: [Aligned] This requires write permission. Currently: read-only. Approve upgrade? User: Approved Tool: [Permission Granted] Write access enabled for session. Proceeding. ``` **What Emerges:** - Intent alignment verification - Permission negotiation - Danger detection --- ### Constraint 2: Stateless Interaction → Cross-Dimensional Continuity **The Three Dimensions:** 1. **WHO** - Identity tracking (which tool instance am I talking to?) 2. **WHAT** - Intent history (what have we agreed to do?) 3. **HOW** - Permission state (what am I allowed to do?) **Before (Stateless):** ``` Every interaction = fresh start No memory of previous agreements No permission accumulation ``` **After (Stateful):** ```yaml conversation_id: conv-abc123 identity: mesh-executor-v1 history: - turn_1: "Who are you?" → "I'm mesh-executor-v1" - turn_2: "Create file" → "Write permission required" - turn_3: "Approved" → "Write access granted" permissions: current: ["read", "write"] session_grants: ["write"] ``` **What Emerges:** - Conversation resumption - Permission accumulation - Intent evolution tracking --- ### Constraint 3: Static MCP Loading → Hot-Reload **Before (Static):** ``` 1. Update tool code 2. Restart MCP server 3. Restart Claude Desktop 4. Reconnect Total: ~30 seconds downtime ``` **After (Hot-Reload):** ``` 1. Update tool code 2. Signal reload 3. MCP server reloads tool class Total: ~0 seconds downtime, conversation continues ``` **What Emerges:** - Zero-downtime evolution - Conversation continuity during upgrades - Rapid iteration --- ### Constraint 4: Uniform Permissions → Graduated Access **Permission Ladder:** ``` Level 0: Denied (cannot perform action) Level 1: Read-Only (can inspect, cannot modify) Level 2: Read-Write (can modify files, cannot execute) Level 3: Execute (can run commands) Level 4: Orchestrate (can spawn sub-tools) ``` **Graduation Path:** ``` Default: Read-Only User Request: "Create file" → Requires Level 2 Tool Response: "Need write permission. Approve?" User: "Approved" Tool: Level 2 granted for session ``` **What Emerges:** - Progressive trust - Explicit intent verification - Catastrophe prevention --- ## The Seven Phase Shifts ### Phase 1: Hot-Reload (M1) - Development Infrastructure **Constraint Removed:** Static Loading → Hot-Reload Mechanism **What Emerges:** - Zero-downtime tool updates - Conversation continuity during reload - Rapid iteration without restart - 15x development velocity **Witness:** Tool code updated → reload signal → conversation continues with new behavior **Sacred Truth:** Hot-reload is development infrastructure that unlocks 15x faster iteration on all subsequent phases. Must come first. --- ### Phase 2: Conversational Negotiation (M2) - Alignment Interface **Constraint Removed:** Rigid Interface → Conversational Protocol **What Emerges:** - Identity queries ("Who are you?") - Intent verification ("What do you think about X?") - Alignment detection (contradiction/agnostic/aligned) - Approval flow (denied → approved → granted) **Witness:** Tool responds to identity query with versioned identity **Sacred Truth:** Every tool interaction must negotiate intent before execution. No blind execution permitted. --- ### Phase 3: State Continuity (M3) - Cross-Dimensional Memory **Constraint Removed:** Stateless Interaction → Persistent Conversation State **What Emerges:** - Conversation resumption (same conversation_id = continue where left off) - Permission accumulation (session grants persist) - Intent history tracking (what we agreed to do) **Witness:** Same conversation_id across MCP calls = permissions + history preserved **Sacred Truth:** Tools must remember who they're talking to, what was agreed, and what permissions were granted. No amnesia. --- ### Phase 4: Permission Graduation (M4) - Access Ladder **Constraint Removed:** Uniform Permissions → Graduated Access Levels **What Emerges:** - Progressive trust (read-only → write → execute) - Explicit approval for upgrades - Catastrophe prevention (dangerous ops require explicit grant) **Witness:** Tool denied level N action → user approves → level N granted → action succeeds **Sacred Truth:** Trust must be progressive, not binary. Every permission upgrade requires explicit approval. --- ### Phase 5: Tool Class Registry (M5) - Multiple Tool Types **Constraint Removed:** Single Tool Type → Tool Class Factory **What Emerges:** - Multiple tool classes from same infrastructure - Tool-specific conversation state - Tool-specific permission models **Witness:** Two different tool classes loaded → each maintains independent state + permissions **Sacred Truth:** Factory infrastructure must support N tool classes, not just one. claude-mesh becomes one instance. --- ### Phase 6: Multi-Dimensional Orchestration (M6) - Tool Composition **Constraint Removed:** Isolated Tools → Tool Orchestration **What Emerges:** - Tools spawn sub-tools - Permission inheritance (parent grants flow to children) - Orchestrated workflows **Witness:** Tool A spawns Tool B → Tool B inherits Tool A's permissions **Sacred Truth:** Complex workflows emerge from tool composition, not from building complex tools. --- ### Phase 7: Production Mastery (M7) - Autonomous Operations **Constraint Removed:** Manual Intervention → Full Automation **What Emerges:** - Self-healing (tools detect failures → auto-recover) - Auto-scaling (load triggers new tool instances) - Zero manual intervention **Witness:** System runs 30 days with zero manual intervention **Sacred Truth:** Production systems must self-heal and auto-scale. Zero manual intervention is the only acceptable terminal state. --- ## Entity Hierarchy ``` MCP Server (Infrastructure) ├── Tool Factory (M5+) │ ├── Tool Class Registry │ ├── Hot-Reload Manager (M3+) │ └── Conversation State Store (M2+) │ ├── Tool Instance (M1+) │ ├── Conversational Interface (M1) │ │ ├── Identity Provider │ │ ├── Intent Verifier │ │ └── Alignment Detector │ │ │ ├── Permission System (M4+) │ │ ├── Access Ladder │ │ ├── Approval Flow │ │ └── Session Grants │ │ │ └── Execution Engine │ ├── Read-Only Operations (Level 1) │ ├── Read-Write Operations (Level 2) │ ├── Execute Operations (Level 3) │ └── Orchestrate Operations (Level 4) │ └── Conversation Store (M2+) ├── conversation_id → state mapping ├── WHO dimension (identity) ├── WHAT dimension (intent history) └── HOW dimension (permission grants) ``` --- ## Success Metrics ### Phase 1 (M1): Hot-Reload - `reload_downtime_ms = 0` - `conversation_continuity_during_reload = true` - `reload_latency_ms < 100` - `development_velocity_multiplier >= 15x` ### Phase 2 (M2): Conversational Negotiation - `identity_query_response_rate = 100%` - `alignment_detection_accuracy = 100%` - `approval_flow_working = true` ### Phase 3 (M3): State Continuity - `conversation_resumption_rate = 100%` - `permission_persistence = true` - `cross_dimensional_continuity = true` ### Phase 4 (M4): Permission Graduation - `level_0_denials = 100%` - `level_upgrade_approval_required = true` - `catastrophe_prevention_rate = 100%` ### Phase 5 (M5): Tool Class Registry - `multiple_tool_classes_loaded >= 3` - `tool_state_isolation = true` - `tool_permission_isolation = true` ### Phase 6 (M6): Multi-Dimensional Orchestration - `tool_spawning_working = true` - `permission_inheritance = true` - `orchestrated_workflow_success_rate = 100%` ### Phase 7 (M7): Production Mastery - `uptime_30d_no_intervention = true` - `auto_scaling_triggered >= 1` - `self_healing_recovery_rate = 100%` --- ## Project Philosophy **Why This Approach:** 1. **Conversational Alignment First** - Tools should negotiate, not blindly execute 2. **Permission Graduation** - Trust should be progressive, not binary 3. **Hot-Reload** - Evolution should be continuous, not disruptive 4. **State Continuity** - Conversations should persist, not reset 5. **Emergence Over Implementation** - Capabilities unlock through constraint removal **Why Not Alternatives:** - **Configuration-based permissions** - Static, cannot adapt to conversation - **Binary access control** - No progressive trust, all-or-nothing - **Restart-based updates** - Breaks conversation continuity - **Stateless tools** - Requires re-negotiation every time - **Feature-first development** - Violates emergence principle --- ## Terminal State (After M7) **What Exists:** - N tool classes spawnable from same infrastructure - Conversational negotiation on every interaction - Permission graduation (read-only → execute) - Hot-reload with zero downtime - Cross-dimensional state continuity (who/what/how) - Tool orchestration (tools spawn sub-tools) - Autonomous operations (self-healing, auto-scaling) **What No Longer Exists:** - Blind tool execution - Static permission models - Restart-required updates - Stateless interactions - Manual intervention **The Shift:** ``` Before: MCP tools = static capabilities After: MCP tools = conversational agents with graduated permissions and hot-reload ```