@evantahler/mcpcli 0.3.6 → 0.5.0

package/README.md

@@ -34,8 +34,8 @@ mcpcli info github
 # Inspect a specific tool
 mcpcli info github search_repositories
 
-# Call a tool
-mcpcli call github search_repositories '{"query": "mcp server"}'
+# Execute a tool
+mcpcli exec github search_repositories '{"query": "mcp server"}'
 
 # Search tools — combines keyword and semantic matching
 mcpcli search "post a ticket to linear"
@@ -59,8 +59,8 @@ mcpcli search -q "manage pull requests"
 | `mcpcli search -q <query>`           | Semantic search only                         |
 | `mcpcli index`                       | Build/rebuild the search index               |
 | `mcpcli index -i`                    | Show index status                            |
-| `mcpcli call <server> <tool> [json]` | Validate inputs locally, then execute tool   |
-| `mcpcli call <server>`               | List available tools for a server            |
+| `mcpcli exec <server> <tool> [json]` | Validate inputs locally, then execute tool   |
+| `mcpcli exec <server>`               | List available tools for a server            |
 | `mcpcli auth <server>`               | Authenticate with an HTTP MCP server (OAuth) |
 | `mcpcli auth <server> -s`            | Check auth status and token TTL              |
 | `mcpcli auth <server> -r`            | Force token refresh                          |
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ mcpcli remove my-api --dry-run
 
 ## Configuration
 
-Config lives in `~/.config/mcpcli/` (or the current directory). Three files:
+Config lives in `~/.mcpcli/` (or the current directory). Three files:
 
 ### `servers.json` — MCP Server Definitions
 
@@ -193,7 +193,7 @@ Stores OAuth tokens for HTTP MCP servers. You don't edit this directly — manag
 }
 ```
 
-Tokens are automatically refreshed when expired (if a refresh token is available). Any command that connects to a server (`call`, `info`, `search`, listing) will refresh tokens transparently. `mcpcli auth <server> --status` shows current token state and TTL.
+Tokens are automatically refreshed when expired (if a refresh token is available). Any command that connects to a server (`exec`, `info`, `search`, listing) will refresh tokens transparently. `mcpcli auth <server> --status` shows current token state and TTL.
 
 ### `search.json` — Semantic Search Index (managed automatically)
 
@@ -231,18 +231,18 @@ Scenarios and keywords are extracted heuristically from tool names and descripti
 1. `MCP_CONFIG_PATH` environment variable
 2. `-c / --config` flag
 3. `./servers.json` (current directory)
-4. `~/.config/mcpcli/servers.json`
+4. `~/.mcpcli/servers.json`
 
 ## Environment Variables
 
-| Variable          | Purpose                     | Default             |
-| ----------------- | --------------------------- | ------------------- |
-| `MCP_CONFIG_PATH` | Config directory path       | `~/.config/mcpcli/` |
-| `MCP_DEBUG`       | Enable debug output         | `false`             |
-| `MCP_TIMEOUT`     | Request timeout (seconds)   | `1800`              |
-| `MCP_CONCURRENCY` | Parallel server connections | `5`                 |
-| `MCP_MAX_RETRIES` | Retry attempts              | `3`                 |
-| `MCP_STRICT_ENV`  | Error on missing `${VAR}`   | `true`              |
+| Variable          | Purpose                     | Default      |
+| ----------------- | --------------------------- | ------------ |
+| `MCP_CONFIG_PATH` | Config directory path       | `~/.mcpcli/` |
+| `MCP_DEBUG`       | Enable debug output         | `false`      |
+| `MCP_TIMEOUT`     | Request timeout (seconds)   | `1800`       |
+| `MCP_CONCURRENCY` | Parallel server connections | `5`          |
+| `MCP_MAX_RETRIES` | Retry attempts              | `3`          |
+| `MCP_STRICT_ENV`  | Error on missing `${VAR}`   | `true`       |
 
 ## OAuth Flow
 
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ The index updates incrementally — only new or changed tools are re-indexed. Th
 
 ```bash
 # See full HTTP traffic
-mcpcli -v call arcade Gmail_WhoAmI
+mcpcli -v exec arcade Gmail_WhoAmI
 
 # > POST https://api.arcade.dev/mcp/evan-coding
 # > authorization: Bearer eyJhbGci...
@@ -329,7 +329,7 @@ mcpcli -v call arcade Gmail_WhoAmI
 # { "content": [ ... ] }
 
 # Debug on stderr, clean JSON on stdout
-mcpcli -v call arcade Gmail_WhoAmI | jq .
+mcpcli -v exec arcade Gmail_WhoAmI | jq .
 
 # Show full auth tokens (unmasked)
 mcpcli -v -S call arcade Gmail_WhoAmI
@@ -339,19 +339,19 @@ The `>` / `<` convention matches curl — `>` for request, `<` for response. The
 
 ## Input Validation
 
-`mcpcli call` validates tool arguments locally before sending them to the server. MCP tools advertise a JSON Schema for their inputs — mcpcli uses this to catch errors fast, without a round-trip.
+`mcpcli exec` validates tool arguments locally before sending them to the server. MCP tools advertise a JSON Schema for their inputs — mcpcli uses this to catch errors fast, without a round-trip.
 
 ```bash
 # Missing required field — caught locally
-mcpcli call github create_issue '{"title": "bug"}'
+mcpcli exec github create_issue '{"title": "bug"}'
 # => error: missing required field "repo" (github/create_issue)
 
 # Wrong type — caught locally
-mcpcli call github create_issue '{"repo": "foo", "title": 123}'
+mcpcli exec github create_issue '{"repo": "foo", "title": 123}'
 # => error: "title" must be a string, got number (github/create_issue)
 
 # Valid — sent to server
-mcpcli call github create_issue '{"repo": "foo", "title": "bug"}'
+mcpcli exec github create_issue '{"repo": "foo", "title": "bug"}'
 # => { ... }
 ```
 
@@ -362,7 +362,7 @@ Validation covers:
 - **Enum values** — rejects values not in the allowed set
 - **Nested objects** — validates recursively
 
-If a tool's `inputSchema` is unavailable (some servers don't provide one), the call proceeds without local validation.
+If a tool's `inputSchema` is unavailable (some servers don't provide one), execution proceeds without local validation.
 
 ## Shell Output & Piping
 
@@ -379,26 +379,26 @@ mcpcli info github | jq '.tools[].name'
 mcpcli info github --json
 ```
 
-Tool call results are always JSON, designed for chaining:
+Tool results are always JSON, designed for chaining:
 
 ```bash
 # Search repos and read the first result
-mcpcli call github search_repositories '{"query":"mcp"}' \
+mcpcli exec github search_repositories '{"query":"mcp"}' \
   | jq -r '.content[0].text | fromjson | .items[0].full_name' \
-  | xargs -I {} mcpcli call github get_file_contents '{"owner":"{}","path":"README.md"}'
+  | xargs -I {} mcpcli exec github get_file_contents '{"owner":"{}","path":"README.md"}'
 
 # Conditional execution
-mcpcli call filesystem list_directory '{"path":"."}' \
+mcpcli exec filesystem list_directory '{"path":"."}' \
   | jq -e '.content[0].text | contains("package.json")' \
-  && mcpcli call filesystem read_file '{"path":"./package.json"}'
+  && mcpcli exec filesystem read_file '{"path":"./package.json"}'
 ```
 
 Stdin works for tool arguments:
 
 ```bash
-echo '{"path":"./README.md"}' | mcpcli call filesystem read_file
+echo '{"path":"./README.md"}' | mcpcli exec filesystem read_file
 
-cat params.json | mcpcli call server tool
+cat params.json | mcpcli exec server tool
 ```
 
 ## Agent Integration
@@ -416,7 +416,7 @@ Then in any Claude Code session, the agent can use `/mcpcli` or the skill trigge
 
 1. **Search first** — `mcpcli search "<intent>"` to find relevant tools
 2. **Inspect** — `mcpcli info <server> <tool>` to get the schema before calling
-3. **Call** — `mcpcli call <server> <tool> '<json>'` to execute
+3. **Execute** — `mcpcli exec <server> <tool> '<json>'` to execute
 
 This keeps tool schemas out of the system prompt entirely. The agent discovers what it needs on-demand, saving tokens and context window space.
 
@@ -432,10 +432,10 @@ To discover tools:
   mcpcli search -k "<pattern>"             # keyword/glob only
   mcpcli info <server> <tool>              # tool schema
 
-To call tools:
-  mcpcli call <server> <tool> '<json args>'
+To execute tools:
+  mcpcli exec <server> <tool> '<json args>'
 
-Always search before calling — don't assume tool names.
+Always search before executing — don't assume tool names.
 ```
 
 ## Development

package/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "@evantahler/mcpcli",
-  "version": "0.3.6",
+  "version": "0.5.0",
   "description": "A command-line interface for MCP servers. curl for MCP.",
   "type": "module",
   "bin": {

package/skills/mcpcli.md

@@ -22,19 +22,19 @@ mcpcli info <server> <tool>
 
 This shows parameters, types, required fields, and the full JSON Schema.
 
-## 3. Call the tool
+## 3. Execute the tool
 
 ```bash
-mcpcli call <server> <tool> '<json args>'
+mcpcli exec <server> <tool> '<json args>'
 ```
 
 ## Rules
 
-- Always search before calling — don't assume tool names exist
-- Always inspect the schema before calling — validate you have the right arguments
+- Always search before executing — don't assume tool names exist
+- Always inspect the schema before executing — validate you have the right arguments
 - Use `mcpcli search -k` for exact name matching
 - Pipe results through `jq` when you need to extract specific fields
-- Use `-v` for verbose HTTP debugging if a call fails unexpectedly
+- Use `-v` for verbose HTTP debugging if an exec fails unexpectedly
 
 ## Examples
 
@@ -46,15 +46,15 @@ mcpcli search "send a message"
 mcpcli info arcade Slack_SendMessage
 
 # Send a message
-mcpcli call arcade Slack_SendMessage '{"channel":"#general","message":"hello"}'
+mcpcli exec arcade Slack_SendMessage '{"channel":"#general","message":"hello"}'
 
 # Chain commands — search repos and read the first result
-mcpcli call github search_repositories '{"query":"mcp"}' \
+mcpcli exec github search_repositories '{"query":"mcp"}' \
   | jq -r '.content[0].text | fromjson | .items[0].full_name' \
-  | xargs -I {} mcpcli call github get_file_contents '{"owner":"{}","path":"README.md"}'
+  | xargs -I {} mcpcli exec github get_file_contents '{"owner":"{}","path":"README.md"}'
 
 # Read args from stdin
-echo '{"path":"./README.md"}' | mcpcli call filesystem read_file
+echo '{"path":"./README.md"}' | mcpcli exec filesystem read_file
 ```
 
 ## Authentication
@@ -76,8 +76,8 @@ mcpcli deauth <server>      # remove stored auth
 | `mcpcli -d`                            | List with descriptions            |
 | `mcpcli info <server>`                 | Show tools for a server           |
 | `mcpcli info <server> <tool>`          | Show tool schema                  |
-| `mcpcli call <server>`                 | List tools for a server           |
-| `mcpcli call <server> <tool> '<json>'` | Execute a tool                    |
+| `mcpcli exec <server>`                 | List tools for a server           |
+| `mcpcli exec <server> <tool> '<json>'` | Execute a tool                    |
 | `mcpcli search "<query>"`              | Search tools (keyword + semantic) |
 | `mcpcli search -k "<pattern>"`         | Keyword/glob search only          |
 | `mcpcli search -q "<query>"`           | Semantic search only              |

package/src/cli.ts

@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { program } from "commander";
 import { registerListCommand } from "./commands/list.ts";
 import { registerInfoCommand } from "./commands/info.ts";
 import { registerSearchCommand } from "./commands/search.ts";
-import { registerCallCommand } from "./commands/call.ts";
+import { registerExecCommand } from "./commands/exec.ts";
 import { registerAuthCommand, registerDeauthCommand } from "./commands/auth.ts";
 import { registerIndexCommand } from "./commands/index.ts";
 import { registerAddCommand } from "./commands/add.ts";
@@ -27,7 +27,7 @@ program
 registerListCommand(program);
 registerInfoCommand(program);
 registerSearchCommand(program);
-registerCallCommand(program);
+registerExecCommand(program);
 registerAuthCommand(program);
 registerDeauthCommand(program);
 registerIndexCommand(program);

package/src/commands/{call.ts → exec.ts}

@@ -9,9 +9,9 @@ import {
 import { logger } from "../output/logger.ts";
 import { validateToolInput } from "../validation/schema.ts";
 
-export function registerCallCommand(program: Command) {
+export function registerExecCommand(program: Command) {
   program
-    .command("call <server> [tool] [args]")
+    .command("exec <server> [tool] [args]")
     .description("execute a tool (omit tool name to list available tools)")
     .action(async (server: string, tool: string | undefined, argsStr: string | undefined) => {
       const { manager, formatOptions } = await getContext(program);
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ export function registerCallCommand(program: Command) {
           }
         }
 
-        const spinner = logger.startSpinner(`Calling ${server}/${tool}...`, formatOptions);
+        const spinner = logger.startSpinner(`Executing ${server}/${tool}...`, formatOptions);
         const result = await manager.callTool(server, tool, args);
         spinner.stop();
         console.log(formatCallResult(result, formatOptions));

package/src/config/loader.ts

@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import {
   validateSearchIndex,
 } from "./schemas.ts";
 
-const DEFAULT_CONFIG_DIR = join(homedir(), ".config", "mcpcli");
+const DEFAULT_CONFIG_DIR = join(homedir(), ".mcpcli");
 
 const EMPTY_SERVERS: ServersFile = { mcpServers: {} };
 const EMPTY_AUTH: AuthFile = {};
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ function resolveConfigDir(configFlag?: string): string {
   // 3. ./servers.json exists in cwd → use cwd
   // (checked at load time, not here — we return the candidate dir)
 
-  // 4. Default ~/.config/mcpcli/
+  // 4. Default ~/.mcpcli/
   return DEFAULT_CONFIG_DIR;
 }