Merge pull request #234 from IBM/code-stuff

Code stuff

Author: chrishayuk

README.md

@@ -314,6 +314,7 @@ Global options available for all modes and commands:
 - `--dashboard`: Launch a real-time browser dashboard UI alongside chat mode
 - `--attach`: Attach files to the first message (repeatable: `--attach img.png --attach code.py`)
 - `--plan-tools`: Enable model-driven planning — the LLM autonomously creates and executes multi-step plans
+- `--no-tools`: Disable MCP tool calling entirely — chat directly with the LLM without connecting to any MCP servers
 
 ### Environment Variables
 

docs/COMMANDS.md

@@ -352,6 +352,24 @@ The model calls these when it determines a task requires multi-step coordination
 
 See [PLANNING.md](./PLANNING.md) for full documentation.
 
+### Direct LLM Chat (No Tools)
+
+Skip MCP server connections entirely and chat directly with the LLM:
+
+```bash
+# No tool calling — MCP servers are not connected
+mcp-cli --no-tools
+mcp-cli --no-tools --provider openai --model gpt-4o
+mcp-cli chat --no-tools --provider anthropic --model claude-sonnet-4-6
+```
+
+When `--no-tools` is set:
+- No MCP servers are initialized (no network connections attempted)
+- The LLM receives no tool definitions
+- The model responds conversationally only
+
+This is useful when you want a fast, lightweight chat session without the overhead of server connections, or when using a model that handles tools poorly.
+
 ### Token Usage
 
 Track API token consumption across your conversation:

pyproject.toml

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
 
 [project]
 name = "mcp-cli"
-version = "0.19"
+version = "0.20"
 description = "A cli for the Model Context Provider"
 requires-python = ">=3.11"
 readme = "README.md"

server_config.json

@@ -91,6 +91,18 @@
     },
     "view_demo": {
        "url": "https://mcp-view-demo.fly.dev/mcp"
+    },
+    "pdf": {
+      "command": "uv",
+      "args": ["--directory", "/Users/christopherhay/chris-source/chuk-ai/mcp-servers/chuk-mcp-pdf", "run", "chuk-mcp-pdf", "stdio"]
+    },
+    "code-raptor": {                                                                                                                    
+        "command": "uv",                                                                                                                    
+        "args": [
+          "run",
+          "--directory", "/Users/christopherhay/chris-source/chuk-ai/mcp-servers/chuk-mcp-code-raptor",
+          "chuk-mcp-code-raptor", "stdio"
+        ]
     }
   }
 }

src/mcp_cli/chat/chat_context.py

@@ -152,6 +152,7 @@ def __init__(
         self.openai_tools: list[dict[str, Any]] = []
         self.tool_name_mapping: dict[str, str] = {}
         self._tool_index: dict[str, ToolInfo] = {}
+        self.no_tools: bool = False
 
         logger.debug(f"ChatContext created with {self.provider}/{self.model}")
 

src/mcp_cli/chat/chat_handler.py

@@ -55,6 +55,7 @@ async def handle_chat_mode(
     agent_id: str = "default",
     multi_agent: bool = False,
     initial_attachments: list[str] | None = None,
+    no_tools: bool = False,
 ) -> bool:
     """
     Launch the interactive chat loop with streaming support.
@@ -131,6 +132,8 @@ def on_progress(msg: str) -> None:
             output.error("Failed to initialize chat context.")
             return False
 
+        ctx.no_tools = no_tools
+
         # Stage initial attachments from --attach CLI flag
         if initial_attachments:
             from mcp_cli.chat.attachments import process_local_file

src/mcp_cli/chat/conversation.py

@@ -209,18 +209,22 @@ async def process_conversation(self, max_turns: int = 100):
                             return
 
                     # Ensure OpenAI tools are loaded for function calling
-                    if not getattr(self.context, "openai_tools", None):
-                        await self._load_tools()
+                    if not getattr(self.context, "no_tools", False):
+                        if not getattr(self.context, "openai_tools", None):
+                            await self._load_tools()
 
-                    # Inject internal tools (plan, VM, memory) even when
-                    # openai_tools were pre-loaded by ChatContext.
-                    await self._inject_internal_tools()
+                        # Inject internal tools (plan, VM, memory) even when
+                        # openai_tools were pre-loaded by ChatContext.
+                        await self._inject_internal_tools()
 
                     # REMOVED: Sanitization logic - now handled by universal tool compatibility
                     # The OpenAI client automatically handles tool name sanitization and restoration
 
-                    # Always pass tools - let the model decide what to do
-                    tools_for_completion = self.context.openai_tools
+                    # Pass tools unless --no-tools was requested
+                    if getattr(self.context, "no_tools", False):
+                        tools_for_completion = None
+                    else:
+                        tools_for_completion = self.context.openai_tools
                     logger.debug(
                         f"Passing {len(tools_for_completion) if tools_for_completion else 0} tools to completion"
                     )

src/mcp_cli/main.py

@@ -175,6 +175,11 @@ def main_callback(
         "--attach",
         help="Attach files to the first message (repeatable: --attach img.png --attach code.py).",
     ),
+    no_tools: bool = typer.Option(
+        False,
+        "--no-tools",
+        help="Disable tool calling — chat with the LLM directly without MCP tools.",
+    ),
 ) -> None:
     """MCP CLI - If no subcommand is given, start chat mode."""
 
@@ -383,8 +388,11 @@ async def _start_chat():
             logger.debug("Initializing tool manager")
             from mcp_cli.run_command import _init_tool_manager
 
+            # --no-tools: skip MCP server connections entirely
+            _servers = [] if no_tools else servers
+            _server_names = {} if no_tools else server_names
             tm = await _init_tool_manager(
-                config_file, servers, server_names, init_timeout, runtime_config
+                config_file, _servers, _server_names, init_timeout, runtime_config
             )
 
             logger.debug("Starting chat mode handler")
@@ -407,6 +415,7 @@ async def _start_chat():
                 dashboard_port=dashboard_port,
                 multi_agent=multi_agent,
                 initial_attachments=attach,
+                no_tools=no_tools,
             )
             logger.debug(f"Chat mode completed with success: {success}")
         except asyncio.TimeoutError:
@@ -536,6 +545,11 @@ def _chat_command(
         "--attach",
         help="Attach files to the first message (repeatable: --attach img.png --attach code.py).",
     ),
+    no_tools: bool = typer.Option(
+        False,
+        "--no-tools",
+        help="Disable tool calling — chat with the LLM directly without MCP tools.",
+    ),
 ) -> None:
     """Start chat mode (same as default behavior without subcommand)."""
     # Re-configure logging based on user options
@@ -655,8 +669,11 @@ async def _start_chat():
             logger.debug("Initializing tool manager")
             from mcp_cli.run_command import _init_tool_manager
 
+            # --no-tools: skip MCP server connections entirely
+            _servers = [] if no_tools else servers
+            _server_names = {} if no_tools else server_names
             tm = await _init_tool_manager(
-                config_file, servers, server_names, init_timeout
+                config_file, _servers, _server_names, init_timeout
             )
 
             logger.debug("Starting chat mode handler")
@@ -676,6 +693,7 @@ async def _start_chat():
                 dashboard_port=dashboard_port,
                 multi_agent=multi_agent,
                 initial_attachments=attach,
+                no_tools=no_tools,
             )
             logger.debug(f"Chat mode completed with success: {success}")
         except asyncio.TimeoutError: