MMI Architecture Analyzer

Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for analyzing C# project architecture quality using the MMI (Modularity Maturity Index) framework by Carola Lilienthal.

Overview

This MCP server provides automated analysis of .NET/C# projects to assess architecture quality across four critical dimensions from Carola Lilienthal's MMI framework:

• Dimension 2: Layering - Validates Clean Architecture layer dependencies

• Dimension 5: Encapsulation - Analyzes public vs internal type visibility

• Dimension 8: Abstraction Levels - Detects mixing of business logic with technical details

• Dimension 9: Circular Dependencies - Identifies dependency cycles using Tarjan's algorithm

Features

Token-Optimized Reports: Compact mode reduces token usage by 66%
Interactive Heatmap: D3.js visualization with cycle detection
Incremental Analysis: File-hash caching for 70% faster monitoring
Live Monitoring: Real-time analysis with trend tracking
Cycle Detection: Graph-based circular dependency analysis with visual highlighting

Installation

Prerequisites

• Node.js 18 or higher

• Cursor IDE

Setup

1. Clone this repository:

git clone https://github.com/lady-logic/mmi-analyzer.git
cd mmi-analyzer

2. Install dependencies:

npm install

3. Configure in Cursor:

Add to your Cursor MCP settings (~/.cursor/config.json or via Settings → MCP):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mmi-analyzer": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["C:/path/to/mmi-analyzer/src/server.js"]
    }
  }
}

Note: Use absolute paths. On Windows, use forward slashes.

4. Restart Cursor

Usage

The MMI Analyzer provides seven tools accessible via Cursor's AI assistant:

1. Complete MMI Analysis

analyze_mmi(projectPath: "D:/Projects/MyApp")
analyze_mmi(projectPath: "D:/Projects/MyApp", mode: "detailed")  // Full report

Runs all four dimension analyses and provides an overall architecture quality score.

2. Interactive Architecture Heatmap

visualize_architecture(projectPath: "D:/Projects/MyApp")

Generates D3.js visualization showing:

• Files as nodes colored by quality score (green=excellent, red=critical)

• Dependencies as links (gray=normal, red=violations, pink=cycles)

• Animated pulsing for circular dependencies

• Interactive filtering by layer or cycles

• Click nodes to see detailed issues

3. Circular Dependency Analysis

analyze_cycles(projectPath: "D:/Projects/MyApp")
analyze_cycles(projectPath: "D:/Projects/MyApp", mode: "detailed")

Detects circular dependencies across the entire project:

• Uses graphlib's Tarjan algorithm for cycle detection

• Analyzes ALL C# dependencies (using statements)

• Severity classification:

  • 🔴 CRITICAL: Domain layer involved in cycle

  • 🟠 HIGH: 2-way circular dependency

  • 🟡 MEDIUM: 3-4 files in cycle

  • 🔵 LOW: 5+ files in cycle

• Shows complete cycle paths

4. Live Monitoring

start_monitoring(projectPath: "D:/Projects/MyApp")
get_monitoring_status()
stop_monitoring(projectPath: "D:/Projects/MyApp")

Watches .cs files and automatically analyzes changes with trend visualization.

5. Layering Analysis

analyze_layering(projectPath: "D:/Projects/MyApp")

Detects Clean Architecture violations (e.g., Domain depending on Infrastructure).

6. Encapsulation Analysis

analyze_encapsulation(projectPath: "D:/Projects/MyApp")

Identifies over-exposed types that should be internal.

7. Abstraction Level Analysis

analyze_abstraction(projectPath: "D:/Projects/MyApp")

Finds mixing of business logic with technical details (SQL, HTTP, File I/O).

Report Modes

Compact Mode (Default)

• Token-optimized output (~66% reduction)

• Grouped violations

• Concise recommendations

• Perfect for quick checks and monitoring

Detailed Mode

• Full violation listings

• Code examples

• Comprehensive tables

• Ideal for documentation and deep analysis

Example Output

# Complete MMI Analysis Report

Overall MMI Score: 4.2/5 (Gut)

## MMI Scorecard
| Dimension              | Score | Level      | Status |
|------------------------|-------|------------|--------|
| Layering               | 5/5   | Exzellent  | ✅     |
| Encapsulation          | 4/5   | Gut        | ✅     |
| Abstraction Levels     | 3/5   | Akzeptabel | 🟡     |
| Circular Dependencies  | 5/5   | Exzellent  | ✅     |

## 🎯 Priority Actions
1. **Fix abstraction mixing** - Remove SQL queries from Domain layer

Heatmap Visualization

The interactive heatmap provides real-time visual feedback:

Color Coding:

• 🟢 Green: Excellent (4.5-5.0)

• 🔵 Blue: Good (3.5-4.5)

• 🟠 Orange: Acceptable (2.5-3.5)

• 🔴 Red: Critical (<2.5)

• 🟣 Pink: Circular dependency

Interactive Features:

• Drag nodes to rearrange

• Zoom and pan

• Filter by layer or cycles

• Click nodes for detailed issues

• Animated pink pulsing links show cycles

Architecture

mmi-analyzer/
├── src/
│   ├── server.js              # MCP server implementation
│   ├── config/
│   │   └── report-config.js   # Report mode configuration
│   ├── analyzers/
│   │   ├── layering.js        # Dimension 2: Layer dependencies
│   │   ├── encapsulation.js   # Dimension 5: Type visibility
│   │   ├── abstraction.js     # Dimension 8: Abstraction mixing
│   │   └── cycle-analyzer.js  # Dimension 9: Circular dependencies
│   ├── formatters/            # Report formatters (compact/detailed)
│   │   ├── cycle-formatter.js # Cycle-specific formatting
│   │   └── combined-formatter.js # 4D MMI reports
│   ├── monitoring/            # File watching & history
│   ├── visualizations/        # Heatmap generator with cycle viz
│   └── utils/
│       └── file-cache.js      # Hash-based caching
├── package.json
└── README.md

Scoring System

MMI Scores (0-5):

• 5 - Exzellent: State-of-the-art architecture

• 4 - Gut: Strong architecture, minor improvements needed

• 3 - Akzeptabel: Solid foundation, some refactoring recommended

• 2 - Verbesserungswürdig: Significant technical debt

• 1 - Schlecht: Major refactoring required

• 0 - Kritisch: Architecture fundamentally broken

Cycle Scoring:

• 0 cycles = 5 points

• <1% files in cycles = 4 points

• <3% files in cycles = 3 points

• <5% files in cycles = 2 points

• <10% files in cycles = 1 point

• ≥10% files in cycles = 0 points

Performance

• Compact reports: ~2,400 tokens (vs. 7,000 detailed)

• Monitoring: Only analyzes changed files (70% reduction)

• Caching: MD5 hash-based file tracking

• Cycle detection: O(V + E) using Tarjan's SCC algorithm

• First analysis: Full scan, subsequent: incremental

Breaking Cycles

When circular dependencies are detected, the tool suggests resolution strategies:

1. Dependency Inversion - Introduce interfaces

2. Event-Driven Architecture - Use message bus (e.g., MassTransit)

3. Extract Common Dependencies - Create shared module

4. Merge Components - Combine artificially separated code

5. Anti-Corruption Layer - Add translation layer

Troubleshooting

Server not connecting

1. Check absolute paths in Cursor config

2. Verify Node.js version: node --version (needs 18+)

3. Check logs: mmi-analyzer.log in server directory

No analysis results

• Ensure the project path contains .cs files

• Verify project follows folder structure (Domain/, Application/, Infrastructure/)

Cache issues

• Delete .mmi-cache.json in project root to force full re-analysis

Cycles not detected

• Ensure files have proper namespace declarations

• Check that using statements reference project namespaces

• Multiple files can share the same namespace (supported)

Contributing

Contributions welcome! This is an experimental tool for learning MCP server development.

License

MIT

References

• MMI Framework: Carola Lilienthal - Langlebige Softwarearchitekturen

• MCP Protocol: Anthropic Model Context Protocol

• Clean Architecture: Robert C. Martin

• Cycle Detection: Tarjan's Strongly Connected Components algorithm

Status: Experimental | Version: 0.4.0