MCP server for package management, skill installation, and CLI tool discovery in the ctx registry
ctx exposes 9 tools with explicit schemas and descriptions in internal/mcpserver/tools.go. All tools have names starting with 'ctx_' (verb-noun pattern present but unconventional prefix). Descriptions are present (avg ~80 chars) but generic and lack actionable context for LLM selection. Input schemas are properly typed JSON Schema objects with required fields declared. However, parameter descriptions are minimal (1-2 sentences), lack format/constraint details, and do not explain when to use each tool vs. alternatives. Output schemas are completely undocumented, no response structure guidance for downstream tool chaining. Error handling is present (errorReporting=true) but not visible in tool definitions. No tool annotations (readOnlyHint, destructiveHint, idempotentHint) despite clear risk levels (READ_ONLY, WRITE, DESTRUCTIVE). Tool composition is reasonable (each does one thing), but descriptions do not guide multi-step workflows (e.g., 'search first, then install').
List detected AI agents and their skill/MCP installation status
Run diagnostic checks on the ctx environment (config, auth, registry, agents, packages)
Get detailed information about a package
Install a skill, MCP server, or CLI tool
List installed packages
Check which installed packages have newer versions available
Remove an installed package
Output schemas completely undocumented. No response structure guidance for any tool. LLMs cannot plan downstream tool chaining (e.g., what fields does ctx_search return? Can the result be passed to ctx_install?).
Tool annotations missing despite clear risk levels. ctx_remove is DESTRUCTIVE but has no destructiveHint. ctx_search is READ_ONLY but has no readOnlyHint. Agents cannot distinguish safe-to-retry from irreversible operations.
Parameter descriptions lack actionable constraints. 'limit' has no min/max bounds (default 20, max 100 stated in description but not in schema). 'package' format not specified (is '@scope/name' required? What about version specifiers?). LLMs will guess.
| Scored | Grade | Overall | Spec posture | Rubric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-23 | D | 52 | 2026-07-28+ | v2 |
Search for skills, MCP servers, and CLI tools in the ctx registry
Update installed packages to their latest versions
Tool descriptions do not explain when to use each tool vs. alternatives. ctx_info vs ctx_search both retrieve package data, when should LLM choose each? ctx_update vs ctx_install, what's the difference? No guidance.
No error recovery guidance in tool definitions. If ctx_install fails (network error, package not found, permission denied), what should the LLM do next? No actionable error messages documented.