chore(brain): de-surface brain_index from the model-facing MCP toolset (ADR-0012 rule 4) #78

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opened 2026-07-07 07:45:17 +00:00 by mathias · 0 comments
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Charter: ADR-0012 rule 4 (hide automated mechanism) · smallest/safest of the ADR-0012 cleanup items

Problem

brain_index is exposed as a model-facing MCP verb, but its own description says it is auto-called after brain_write. An auto-called operation surfaced as a caller verb is pure cognitive load with no decision behind it — every model reading the toolset has to read it, determine it's not a thing it should call, and move on. That violates ADR-0012 rule 4.

What to do

  • Remove brain_index (Map-of-Content / _index.md regeneration) from the model-facing MCP toolset.
  • Keep the capability itself — it still needs to run (auto after writes, and as an admin/maintenance op). Just not as an LLM-callable verb. Options: keep it as an internal function only; or expose it on an admin/CLI surface (dma-cli) not the MCP tool list.
  • Confirm nothing in the current SKILLs / agents actually calls brain_index directly (grep the harnesses); if something does, that's a mis-use to fix, not a reason to keep it surfaced.

Acceptance

  • brain_index no longer appears in the model-facing MCP tool list
  • Auto-index-after-write still happens (verify with a brain_write → index refreshed)
  • Manual/admin invocation still possible via a non-LLM surface
  • No caller (SKILL/agent) left calling it directly
  • task check green

Related

  • ADR-0012 (rule 4) · sibling cleanup issues (legacy-param removal; brain consolidations under ADR-0009)
**Charter:** ADR-0012 rule 4 (hide automated mechanism) · smallest/safest of the ADR-0012 cleanup items ## Problem `brain_index` is exposed as a model-facing MCP verb, but its own description says it is **auto-called after `brain_write`**. An auto-called operation surfaced as a caller verb is pure cognitive load with no decision behind it — every model reading the toolset has to read it, determine it's not a thing it should call, and move on. That violates ADR-0012 rule 4. ## What to do - Remove `brain_index` (Map-of-Content / `_index.md` regeneration) from the **model-facing MCP toolset**. - Keep the capability itself — it still needs to run (auto after writes, and as an admin/maintenance op). Just not as an LLM-callable verb. Options: keep it as an internal function only; or expose it on an admin/CLI surface (`dma-cli`) not the MCP tool list. - Confirm nothing in the current SKILLs / agents actually calls `brain_index` directly (grep the harnesses); if something does, that's a mis-use to fix, not a reason to keep it surfaced. ## Acceptance - [ ] `brain_index` no longer appears in the model-facing MCP tool list - [ ] Auto-index-after-write still happens (verify with a `brain_write` → index refreshed) - [ ] Manual/admin invocation still possible via a non-LLM surface - [ ] No caller (SKILL/agent) left calling it directly - [ ] `task check` green ## Related - ADR-0012 (rule 4) · sibling cleanup issues (legacy-param removal; brain consolidations under ADR-0009)
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Reference: mathias/hyperguild#78