CodeBrain
Provides integration with Ollama's local LLM inference server, allowing the MCP server to generate code, explain code, and polish text using locally-run models like Qwen2.5-Coder.
Click on "Install Server".
Wait a few minutes for the server to deploy. Once ready, it will show a "Started" state.
In the chat, type
@followed by the MCP server name and your instructions, e.g., "@CodeBraingenerate 10 React button components with different styles"
That's it! The server will respond to your query, and you can continue using it as needed.
Here is a step-by-step guide with screenshots.
CodeBrain
An MCP server that lets Claude Code offload bulk work to a local LLM running on your own hardware.
What this is (and isn't)
Is: A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that Claude Code registers as a sub-agent backend. When a session includes the kind of task a 14B local coder model handles well — generating 50 event templates, polishing 20 React components, drafting boilerplate — Claude Code calls into CodeBrain instead of spending its own output tokens. The local model does the bulk draft, Claude reviews and applies.
Is not: A Claude replacement. The reasoning, architecture decisions, debugging, and anything where "close enough" isn't good enough stays with Claude. CodeBrain is a Claude-offloader, not a Claude-competitor.
Why: Large-volume content and polish work burns through Claude's context and rate limits fast. A local model you can run unlimited costs nothing extra per call and keeps the high-value context free for the hard parts of the session.
Related MCP server: ollama-mcp
Status
Phases 1–4 complete, Phase 5 deferred. Nine tools exposed, .brain/context.md passthrough live, per-file brain summaries scanner, verifier loop, consensus decoding. MCP integration verified in a real Claude Code session. Phase 5 (RAG) was explicitly scoped as "only if needed" and current use doesn't show cross-file search as a bottleneck, so it stays deferred.
How it works
Claude Code session CodeBrain MCP server Local machine
───────────────────── stdio ─────────────────── ─────────────
Claude delegates a ────────► codebrain_generate() ────► Ollama HTTP
bulk / polish task codebrain_explain() (localhost:11434)
codebrain_status() │
▼
Qwen2.5-Coder 14B
(GPU)
Claude reviews, ◄──────── tool result string ◄──── streamed response
applies, or pushes backNine tools are exposed today:
Tool | When Claude would reach for it |
| Bulk content, boilerplate, repetitive transformations, first drafts |
| N prompts with one shared system message, serial execution, index-stable errors so one failure doesn't abort the batch |
| Targeted transform over existing text — shorten, rephrase, translate, tighten. Auto-retries on no-op output. |
| Quick read-only explanations without burning Claude context |
| Generation with deterministic verifier loop: word-count / regex-schema checks, tightened-instruction retry on violation |
| N candidates + judge call → best single output. Use on high-variance tasks. |
| One-shot repo onboarding: detects stack, writes |
| Generate or refresh one |
| Walk + scan a tree; hash-gated, per-file failures don't abort the batch |
| Check which models are installed locally |
The use_brain flag on generation tools automatically prepends .brain/context.md from the current working directory to the system prompt, so project-specific context travels with every call without Claude having to pass it manually.
Requirements
Python 3.11+
Ollama — download for your OS. Tested with Ollama on Windows native, talking over
localhost:11434.A coder model pulled locally:
ollama pull qwen2.5-coder:14b~9 GB download. Fits in 12 GB VRAM at Q5. Other models work too (DeepSeek-Coder, Qwen3 if available) — set via
CODEBRAIN_MODELenv var.Claude Code CLI on the machine that will call the server (obviously).
Install
git clone <this repo> CodeBrain
cd CodeBrain
python -m venv .venv
.venv\Scripts\activate # on Windows
# source .venv/bin/activate # on macOS / Linux
pip install -e .Configure Claude Code
Add CodeBrain to your Claude Code MCP config. On Windows, that's usually ~/.claude.json (adjust path to where you cloned):
{
"mcpServers": {
"codebrain": {
"command": "C:\\Users\\YOU\\Desktop\\CodeBrain\\.venv\\Scripts\\python.exe",
"args": ["-m", "codebrain"]
}
}
}Restart any Claude Code session — the five codebrain_* tools should now appear in the available-tools list.
Keep brain files in sync automatically
Once you've run codebrain_init on a repo and scanned it with codebrain_scan_repo, you probably want brain files to refresh automatically whenever Claude edits source. Two pieces wire that up:
1. Project CLAUDE.md snippet — tell Claude to read brain files before opening source:
## Brain files
This repo has per-file `.brain` summaries next to each source file.
Before reading a full source file, read its `<path>.brain` sibling first.
Only open the source when the brain file is insufficient for the task.2. PostToolUse hook — regenerate the brain after every Edit/Write.
Add to .claude/settings.json in the repo root:
{
"hooks": {
"PostToolUse": [
{
"matcher": "Edit|Write",
"hooks": [
{
"type": "command",
"command": "python -c \"import asyncio, json, sys; from codebrain.brain_scanner import scan_file; d = json.load(sys.stdin); p = d.get('tool_input', {}).get('file_path'); p and p.endswith(('.py', '.ts', '.tsx', '.js', '.jsx', '.java', '.go', '.rs')) and print(asyncio.run(scan_file(p)))\""
}
]
}
]
}
}The hook inspects the edited path, skips non-source files via the extension filter, and kicks off a scan. Hash-gated: unchanged files don't hit Qwen.
Sanity check
Inside a Claude Code session, ask Claude:
Call
codebrain_statusand tell me what's installed.
If Ollama is running and the model is pulled, you'll get back qwen2.5-coder:14b in the list.
Configuration
Environment variables read by the backend:
Variable | Default | What it does |
|
| Point at a remote Ollama (e.g., an inference box on your LAN) |
|
| Switch to any model you've pulled |
|
| Seconds to wait for a single generation |
Project structure
CodeBrain/
├── codebrain/
│ ├── __init__.py
│ ├── __main__.py # `python -m codebrain` entry
│ ├── backend.py # Ollama HTTP client
│ ├── server.py # FastMCP server + tool definitions
│ ├── brain_scanner.py # scan_file / scan_repo + hash gate
│ ├── brain_init.py # one-shot .brain/context.md seeding
│ ├── verifier.py # deterministic output checks
│ └── prompts/
│ └── brain_few_shot.md # few-shot for brain-file generation
├── tests/ # 96 unit + integration tests
├── .spec/
│ ├── CURRENT.md # phase state
│ └── brain-file-format.md # brain-file format v1
├── pyproject.toml
├── LICENSE
└── README.mdRoadmap
Phase 1 — scaffold ✓
Ollama HTTP client with error handling
FastMCP server with stdio transport
Three core tools:
generate,explain,statusDocumented setup + Claude Code config
Verified in a real Claude Code session
Phase 2 — batch & context ✓
codebrain_batch_generatefor mass content with one shared system prompt, index-stable errorscodebrain_polishfor targeted transforms (shorten / rephrase / translate) instead of regeneration.brain/context.mdpassthrough — cwd project context auto-prepended to every generation callDogfood: coding tasks solid, text-transform tasks revealed real limits (informs Phase 3)
Phase 2.5 — brain system ✓
Per-file <source>.brain summaries sit next to each source file. Claude reads the brain first and only opens the source when the brain is insufficient.
codebrain_scan_file(path, force)— generate or refresh one brain filecodebrain_scan_repo(root, force, extensions, exclude_dirs)— bulk walk + scancodebrain_init(root, force)— seed.brain/context.mdwith stack detectionHash-gated regeneration (SHA256) — idempotent reruns
Programmatic frontmatter — deterministic
source,source_hash,model; Qwen only writes the five sectionsDefense-in-depth validation: fence-strip, skip-empty-sources (<10 chars), section-presence/order, retry-on-invalid
CLAUDE.md convention + PostToolUse hook snippet in this README
Phase 3 — VERIFIER loop ✓
Dogfood showed the local model drifts on text transforms. The verifier catches no-ops, length violations, and schema misses deterministically before they reach Claude.
detect_noop— whitespace-normalised equality check (auto-retries insidecodebrain_polish)check_word_count(min_words, max_words)— bounded-window gatecheck_regex_schema(pattern)— structured-output checkcodebrain_generate_verified(prompt, min_words, max_words, must_match, max_retries)— loop with tightened retry instructions, returns[codebrain warning] ...if verification fails after retries
Phase 4 — consensus decoding ✓
codebrain_consensus_generate(prompt, n)— generate N candidates (clamped to [2,5]), Qwen picks the best verbatim. N+1 inference calls, tightens quality on high-variance tasks.Multi-pass skeleton→logic→edges→polish: deferred (low measured value; individual tools already compose).
Phase 5 — RAG (deferred — not a bottleneck)
Brain files already act as an index; cross-file RAG only makes sense if future use actually shows that indexing is the blocker. No current signal for it, so not built.
License
MIT — see LICENSE.
Available Tools
10 toolscodebrain_batch_generateA
Run several generation prompts in sequence and return all results.
One shared system prompt applies to every item. Prompts are processed
serially (Ollama serialises on a single GPU anyway). A failure on one
prompt is captured inline as [codebrain error] ... at that index, so
the whole batch never aborts.
Returns a single string with per-item delimiters:
--- [0] ---
<result for prompts[0]>
--- [1] ---
<result for prompts[1]>Args:
prompts: List of prompts to run with the same system message.
system: Optional shared system message.
use_brain: If true, prepend .brain/context.md from cwd to the system prompt.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| prompts | Yes | ||
| system | No | ||
| use_brain | No |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| result | Yes |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
With no annotations, the description fully covers behavioral traits: serial processing, inline error handling without aborting, shared system prompt, effect of use_brain parameter, and the exact output format with delimiters. This is comprehensive.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
The description is concise (~150 words), front-loaded with the purpose, and well-structured with bullet points and an example of the output. Every sentence adds value without redundancy.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
Given the tool's complexity (batch processing, error handling, output format), the description covers all necessary aspects: parameters, behavior, failure mode, and return structure. There are no gaps.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
Schema description coverage is 0%, so the description must explain parameters. It does so effectively: prompts as list of strings, system as optional shared message, and use_brain as flag to prepend a context file. This adds significant meaning beyond the schema's minimal metadata.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
The description clearly states the tool's purpose: running several generation prompts in sequence and returning all results. It effectively distinguishes itself from siblings by emphasizing batch processing and serial execution.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
The description explains the shared system prompt and serial processing but lacks explicit guidance on when to use this tool versus alternatives like codebrain_generate (single) or codebrain_consensus_generate. It implies usage scenarios but does not state when-not-to-use or name specific alternatives.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
codebrain_consensus_generateA
Generate N candidates, let Qwen pick the best, return the winner.
Runs prompt N times (serial — Ollama serialises on single GPU anyway),
then does one additional call where Qwen is shown all candidates and
asked to return the best one verbatim. Useful for high-variance tasks
where a single shot drifts but majority-vote style sampling tightens
quality at the cost of N+1 inference calls.
Args:
prompt: The task description or content request.
system: Optional system message to steer tone / format / constraints.
n: Number of candidates to generate (default 3, clamped to [2, 5]).
use_brain: If true, prepend .brain/context.md to the system prompt.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| prompt | Yes | ||
| system | No | ||
| n | No | ||
| use_brain | No |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| result | Yes |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
With no annotations, the description fully discloses behavior: serial execution, N+1 calls, Qwen selecting the best, clamping of n to [2,5], and use_brain prepending context. It does not cover error handling, but the core behavioral traits are clearly stated.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
The description is well-structured with a summary sentence, explanation, and Args block. It is slightly verbose but every sentence adds value. It earns a 4 for being clear and organized without excess.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
Given the existence of an output schema (not shown), the description does not need to detail return values. It covers the process, parameter usage, and typical use case. The description provides sufficient context for the tool's operation.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
Schema coverage is 0%, but the description includes an Args section explaining each parameter: prompt (required), system (optional steering), n (default and clamping), and use_brain (context prepending). This adds full meaning beyond the bare schema.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
The description clearly states the tool generates N candidates and lets Qwen pick the best, returning the winner. It distinguishes itself from single-shot generation by noting it is for high-variance tasks, making the purpose specific and distinct from siblings like codebrain_generate.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
The description explicitly advises using this tool for high-variance tasks where a single shot drifts, and mentions the cost of N+1 inference calls. While it does not list all alternatives, it provides clear context for when to use it, earning a high score.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
codebrain_explainA
Ask the local model to explain a snippet of code (read-only, no generation).
Useful for getting quick, token-free explanations without consuming Claude's context budget on understanding-only tasks.
Args: code: The code snippet to explain. question: The specific question to answer about the code.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| code | Yes | ||
| question | No | What does this do? |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| result | Yes |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
No annotations provided, so description carries full burden. It discloses 'read-only, no generation' and mentions 'local model', but lacks details on failure modes, required permissions, or other behavioral traits.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
The description is compact: two sentences plus an Args block. Every line adds value with no redundancy.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
Given the tool's simplicity (2 params, output schema exists), the description covers purpose and usage adequately. Parameter details are minimal but sufficient for basic use.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
Schema coverage is 0%, so description must compensate. It provides basic descriptions for 'code' and 'question', but lacks format, constraints, or examples, so it adds minimal value beyond the schema.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
The description explicitly states 'explain a snippet of code' and distinguishes from siblings with 'read-only, no generation', directly contrasting with the generation tools like codebrain_generate.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
It clearly indicates when to use: 'for getting quick, token-free explanations without consuming Claude’s context budget on understanding-only tasks.' It implies alternatives by stating 'no generation', but does not explicitly name siblings or exclusions.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
codebrain_generateA
Delegate a generation task to the local Qwen-Coder model via Ollama.
Use this for bulk or routine work where a 14B local model is good enough: generating event templates, headlines, company descriptions, UI polish drafts, boilerplate, or repetitive transformations. The response is returned as raw text — review before applying.
Args:
prompt: The task description or content request.
system: Optional system message to steer tone / format / constraints.
use_brain: If true, prepend .brain/context.md from cwd to the system prompt.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| prompt | Yes | ||
| system | No | ||
| use_brain | No |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| result | Yes |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
With no annotations provided, the description carries full burden. It discloses that the response is raw text and advises reviewing before applying. It also explains the optional system message and use_brain flag, offering good insight into tool behavior without omissions.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
The description is concise (approx. 100 words), front-loaded with purpose, and structured as a brief intro followed by parameter explanations. Every sentence adds value without redundancy, making it easy for an agent to parse quickly.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
Given the tool's complexity and the presence of an output schema (though not shown), the description covers the core aspects: what it does, when to use it, parameters, and output nature. It omits potential limitations (e.g., model capabilities) but is generally sufficient for selection and invocation.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
Input schema has 0% description coverage, so the description must compensate. It explains the 'prompt' as task description, 'system' as steering message, and 'use_brain' as prepending context. This adds essential meaning beyond the schema's bare titles, though it could include format hints.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
The description clearly states that the tool delegates a generation task to a local Qwen-Coder model via Ollama, providing specific use cases. It distinguishes the tool's role for bulk or routine work, but does not explicitly differentiate from siblings like codebrain_batch_generate or codebrain_generate_verified, which limits clarity of its niche.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
The description gives context for when to use the tool ('bulk or routine work where a 14B local model is good enough') and lists example tasks. However, it does not specify when not to use it or mention alternative sibling tools, leaving the agent without explicit decision boundaries.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
codebrain_generate_verifiedA
Generate with verifier loop — enforces word limits and regex schemas.
Runs codebrain_generate, then checks the output against the requested
constraints. On failure, retries with a tightened instruction that
names the specific problem. Gives up after max_retries attempts and
returns the last output with a [codebrain warning] ... prefix.
Args:
prompt: The task description or content request.
system: Optional system message to steer tone / format / constraints.
min_words: Minimum output word count (None = unbounded).
max_words: Maximum output word count (None = unbounded).
must_match: Regex pattern the output must match (re.search semantics).
max_retries: Max retry attempts on verification failure (default 2).
use_brain: If true, prepend .brain/context.md to the system prompt.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| prompt | Yes | ||
| system | No | ||
| min_words | No | ||
| max_words | No | ||
| must_match | No | ||
| max_retries | No | ||
| use_brain | No |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| result | Yes |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
No annotations exist, so the description bears full responsibility. It details retry behavior, warning prefix, and parameter effects. It lacks mention of side effects, permissions, or rate limits, but for a generation tool this is acceptable.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
The description is concise: a one-line summary followed by a well-organized bullet list of parameters. Every sentence adds value with no redundancy.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
Given the tool's complexity (7 parameters, no annotations), the description thoroughly explains behavior (verification loop, retries, warning) and all parameters. Output schema existence doesn't weaken completeness.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
Schema has 0% description coverage, but the description provides a detailed Args list explaining each parameter's meaning and defaults, adding significant value beyond the schema types.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
The description clearly states it generates with a verifier loop, enforcing word limits and regex schemas. It distinguishes from sibling tools like codebrain_generate by introducing verification and retry logic.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
It explains the tool's use case: constrained generation with automatic retry on failure. While it doesn't explicitly state when not to use or mention alternatives, the purpose is clear and the description provides context for when to apply verification.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
codebrain_initA
Seed .brain/context.md for a repo — one-time setup before scanning.
Detects the stack (python / js / ts / rust / go / java) from marker
files, counts source-file extensions, asks Qwen for a short overview,
and writes .brain/context.md with a pre-populated template. The user
is expected to edit the ## Notes for Claude section afterwards.
Idempotent: existing context.md is not overwritten unless force=True.
Args:
root: Directory to initialise.
force: If true, overwrite an existing .brain/context.md.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| root | Yes | ||
| force | No |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| result | Yes |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
With no annotations, the description fully discloses behavior: stack detection, source file counting, LLM query, template writing, and idempotency (force flag). It also notes the expected user edit. No contradictions.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
Concise, well-structured paragraph. First sentence states core purpose, followed by step details and idempotency note. No superfluous text.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
The description covers the tool's actions (detection, counting, writing) and side effects (context.md creation). Idempotency and user editing are noted. Absence of return value explanation is minor given the side effect focus.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
The description adds meaning to both parameters: 'root' as the directory to initialize and 'force' enabling overwrite. Despite 0% schema coverage, it compensates well by explaining effects, though it could explicitly state defaults.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
The description clearly states the tool's purpose: 'Seed .brain/context.md for a repo — one-time setup before scanning.' It specifies the verb (seed), the resource (context.md), and context (one-time setup), distinguishing it from sibling scanning tools.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
Description indicates it's a one-time setup before scanning and advises user to edit the '## Notes for Claude' section afterward. It does not explicitly list when not to use it, but the context of sibling tools implies alternatives.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
codebrain_polishA
Apply a targeted transform to existing text — do not regenerate from scratch.
Use this when you have a draft and want it tightened, shortened, rephrased, made more formal, translated, or similar. The system prompt forces the model into transform-mode: it must preserve meaning and structure and only apply the requested change.
Args:
text: The existing text to polish.
instructions: What transformation to apply (e.g. "shorten to 2 lines",
"make tone more formal", "translate to German").
use_brain: If true, prepend .brain/context.md from cwd to the system prompt.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| text | Yes | ||
| instructions | Yes | ||
| use_brain | No |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| result | Yes |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
With no annotations, the description effectively explains the transform-mode: preserve meaning and structure, only apply requested change. Also describes the use_brain parameter effect. No mention of destructive or auth details, but adequate for a non-destructive transform.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
Two paragraphs plus Args section, concise and clearly structured. The Args section is somewhat redundant with schema titles but adds context. Could be slightly tighter.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
Given low complexity and presence of output schema, description covers core behavior adequately. Does not address errors or edge cases, but sufficient for a simple transform tool.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
Schema coverage is 0%, but the description adds detailed parameter explanations in Args section, including examples for instructions and behavior for use_brain. This compensates well for the missing schema descriptions.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
Description clearly states the tool applies a targeted transform to existing text, not generating from scratch, with specific examples (tighten, shorten, rephrase, formal, translate). This distinguishes it from sibling generation tools like codebrain_generate.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
Explicitly tells when to use ('when you have a draft and want it...') and implies not for generation. However, it does not explicitly exclude alternatives or provide when-not-to-use guidance.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
codebrain_scan_fileA
Generate or refresh the <path>.brain summary file for a source file.
Reads the source at path, computes its SHA256, and compares to the
existing .brain file's source_hash frontmatter. If they match and
force is false, generation is skipped. Otherwise Qwen produces a new
brain file (Purpose / Key exports / Collaborators / Gotchas /
Conventions), the output is validated against the format spec, and on
validation failure one retry with a sharper instruction is attempted
before giving up. No partial or broken brain files are ever written.
Format spec: .spec/brain-file-format.md.
Args: path: Path to the source file to summarise. force: If true, regenerate even when the hash matches.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| path | Yes | ||
| force | No |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| result | Yes |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
With no annotations provided, the description fully discloses the tool's behavior: reads source, computes SHA256, compares with existing .brain file, conditionally skips or regenerates using Qwen, validates output against a spec, performs one retry on validation failure, and guarantees no partial writes. This is thorough and honest.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
The description is well-structured: a brief summary sentence, followed by a detailed step-by-step explanation, reference to a format spec, and finally an Args section. Every sentence adds value, and the length is appropriate for the tool's complexity.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
Given that the tool has an output schema (not shown), the description covers the major aspects: input parameters, core logic, validation, retry, and write safety. However, it does not address error scenarios such as file not found or permission issues, which would be helpful for an agent.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
The input schema provides only titles and types (0% coverage), so the description carries the full burden. It clearly explains 'path' as the source file to summarise and 'force' as a flag to force regeneration even when hash matches. Both parameters are well-described, adding essential meaning beyond the schema.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
The description clearly states it generates or refreshes a .brain summary file for a single source file. The verb 'scan' and the process described (hash comparison, validation) differentiate it from siblings like codebrain_scan_repo (which likely scans entire repos), but it does not explicitly name alternatives.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
The description implies that this tool is for individual files (via the 'path' argument and talk of source files), but it provides no explicit guidance on when to use this tool versus siblings like codebrain_batch_generate or codebrain_scan_repo. The conditions under which regeneration is skipped are explained, but alternatives are not mentioned.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
codebrain_scan_repoA
Scan every source file under root and generate/refresh its .brain file.
Walks the directory tree, filters by file extension, prunes excluded
directories, and runs codebrain_scan_file on each match. Hash-gated:
unchanged files skip the model call. Per-file failures do not abort the
batch — they are reported at the end.
Defaults:
extensions: .py .js .ts .tsx .jsx .java .go .rs
exclude_dirs: .git .venv venv node_modules pycache dist build target
Args: root: Directory to scan recursively. force: If true, regenerate every brain file even when source hash matches. extensions: Override default source extensions (e.g. [".py", ".rb"]). exclude_dirs: Override default directory-name exclusion list.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
| root | Yes | ||
| force | No | ||
| extensions | No | ||
| exclude_dirs | No |
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| result | Yes |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
Discloses key behaviors: directory walk, filtering, pruning, hash-gating, failure handling. No annotations exist, so description carries the burden; it does so well.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
Concise yet informative: core purpose first, then behavioral details, defaults, and parameter list. No unnecessary verbiage.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
Covers overall process, defaults, error handling. Lacks detailed return value explanation but output schema exists. Sufficient for understanding tool's role.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
Input schema has 0% description coverage, but the 'Args' section in the description explains each parameter (root, force, extensions, exclude_dirs), adding value where the schema lacks.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
Clearly states the action (scan and generate/refresh .brain files) and resource (source files under root). Distinguishes from siblings like codebrain_scan_file (single file) by specifying batch processing.
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
Provides context on behavior (hash-gated, per-file failures non-aborting) and defaults. Does not explicitly compare to siblings like codebrain_batch_generate, but the batch scope is clear.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
codebrain_statusA
Report which Ollama models are available locally.
Call this to verify the local backend is reachable and discover which models the user has pulled.
| Name | Required | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
No parameters | |||
Output Schema
| Name | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| result | Yes |
TDQS
Does the description disclose side effects, auth requirements, rate limits, or destructive behavior?
No annotations provided, but the description indicates a read-only check (report models, verify backend). Does not mention side effects or permissions, but the simple nature of the tool makes this sufficient.
Agents need to know what a tool does to the world before calling it. Descriptions should go beyond structured annotations to explain consequences.
Is the description appropriately sized, front-loaded, and free of redundancy?
Two sentences, 24 words total. Every word adds value. Front-loaded with action ('Report...') followed by usage advice. No wasted text.
Shorter descriptions cost fewer tokens and are easier for agents to parse. Every sentence should earn its place.
Given the tool's complexity, does the description cover enough for an agent to succeed on first attempt?
For a simple, parameterless status tool with an output schema, the description provides the essential purpose and usage context. It is complete enough for an agent to decide when to call it among siblings.
Complex tools with many parameters or behaviors need more documentation. Simple tools need less. This dimension scales expectations accordingly.
Does the description clarify parameter syntax, constraints, interactions, or defaults beyond what the schema provides?
No parameters in input schema, so description does not need to add parameter info. Schema coverage is 100% (empty). Baseline score of 4 is appropriate.
Input schemas describe structure but not intent. Descriptions should explain non-obvious parameter relationships and valid value ranges.
Does the description clearly state what the tool does and how it differs from similar tools?
Clearly states it reports locally available Ollama models and can verify backend reachability. Differentiates from sibling tools like codebrain_generate (which generate responses) and codebrain_init (which sets up context).
Agents choose between tools based on descriptions. A clear purpose with a specific verb and resource helps agents select the right tool.
Does the description explain when to use this tool, when not to, or what alternatives exist?
Explicitly tells the agent to call this to verify backend reachability and discover pulled models. Provides clear context for when to use it, though no mention of when not to use or alternatives.
Agents often have multiple tools that could apply. Explicit usage guidance like "use X instead of Y when Z" prevents misuse.
Tool Schema Changelog
Recent tool additions, removals, and schema changes observed during successful MCP inspections. Dates show when Glama detected each change.
10 tool updates
v0.1.0- First observed
codebrain_batch_generate - First observed
codebrain_consensus_generate - First observed
codebrain_explain - First observed
codebrain_generate - First observed
codebrain_generate_verified - First observed
codebrain_init - First observed
codebrain_polish - First observed
codebrain_scan_file - First observed
codebrain_scan_repo - First observed
codebrain_status
TDQS
Each tool has a clearly distinct purpose: batch generation, consensus generation, explanation, single generation, verified generation, initialization, polishing, file scanning, repo scanning, and status. While some involve generation, they differ in process (e.g., batch vs consensus) or constraints, and descriptions make them easy to differentiate.
All tool names follow the consistent pattern 'codebrain_verb_noun' in snake_case (e.g., codebrain_batch_generate, codebrain_scan_file). The verb is always present and descriptive, with no mixing of conventions.
With 10 tools, the server is well-scoped for its purpose of local AI code assistance. Each tool earns its place, covering core operations like generation, verification, file analysis, and setup without unnecessary bloat.
The tool set covers the full lifecycle for the domain: setup (init), generation (generate, batch, consensus, verified), analysis (explain, scan_file, scan_repo), and polishing. A minor gap is the lack of a tool to delete or clear generated brain files, but this is not essential for the core workflow.
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