Request: MCP Tool Surface Recommendations (2026-05-29)

Summary

Backlog capture for MCP tool-surface changes identified during review of the current /mcp contract, chat tool catalog, and governance workflows.

Recommendations

1. Default off the internal memorysmith_code_search_merge_shard MCP tool unless explicitly enabled.
2. Add proposal workflow MCP tools for listing, reading, and acting on proposals.
3. Add maintenance MCP tools for run/status/topic-map operations.
4. Add memory proposal or write MCP tools so external MCP clients can participate in the same governance model as chat proposals.
5. Add dryRun or validateOnly support on write-capable MCP tools.
6. Add named MCP tool profiles or modes beyond raw enabled/disabled name lists.
7. Add structured format=json|envelope support for page MCP tools.

Linked Tasks

• TSK-0225 Default-off gate memorysmith_code_search_merge_shard
• TSK-0226 Add proposal workflow MCP tools
• TSK-0218 Add maintenance MCP tools
• TSK-0219 Add memory proposal/write MCP tools
• TSK-0220 Add dryRun/validateOnly support for MCP writes
• TSK-0221 Add named MCP tool profiles
• TSK-0222 Add structured page MCP formats

Evidence Anchors

• README.md MCP tool table and authorization notes.
• MemorySmith.App/Services/ChatToolCatalog.cs for actual tool descriptors.
• MemorySmith.App/Controllers/McpController.cs for enabled/default-off behavior.
• MemorySmith.Core/Docs/Prompts/wiki-chat-agent.md for current in-app chat tool contract.