pi-subagents 0.5.3 → 0.6.1

package/CHANGELOG.md

@@ -1,6 +1,10 @@
 # Changelog
 
-## [Unreleased]
+## [0.6.0] - 2026-02-02
+
+### Added
+- **MCP direct tools for subagents** - Agents can request specific MCP tools as first-class tools via `mcp:` prefix in frontmatter: `tools: read, bash, mcp:chrome-devtools` or `tools: read, bash, mcp:github/search_repositories`. Requires pi-mcp-adapter.
+- **`MCP_DIRECT_TOOLS` env var** - Subagent processes receive their direct tool config via environment variable. Agents without `mcp:` items get a `__none__` sentinel to prevent config leaking from the parent process.
 
 ## [0.5.3] - 2026-02-01
 

package/README.md

@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ Use `agentScope` parameter to control discovery: `"user"` (default), `"project"`
 ---
 name: scout
 description: Fast codebase recon
-tools: read, grep, find, ls, bash
+tools: read, grep, find, ls, bash, mcp:chrome-devtools
 model: claude-haiku-4-5
 skill: safe-bash, chrome-devtools  # comma-separated skills to inject
 output: context.md           # writes to {chain_dir}/context.md
@@ -51,6 +51,29 @@ interactive: true            # (parsed but not enforced in v1)
 Your system prompt goes here (the markdown body after frontmatter).
 ```
 
+**MCP Tools**
+
+Agents can use MCP server tools directly (requires the [pi-mcp-adapter](https://github.com/nicobailon/pi-mcp-adapter) extension). Add `mcp:` prefixed entries to the `tools` field:
+
+```yaml
+# All tools from a server
+tools: read, bash, mcp:chrome-devtools
+
+# Specific tools from a server
+tools: read, bash, mcp:github/search_repositories, mcp:github/get_file_contents
+```
+
+| Syntax | Effect |
+|--------|--------|
+| `mcp:server-name` | All tools from that MCP server |
+| `mcp:server-name/tool_name` | One specific tool |
+
+The `mcp:` items are additive — they don't affect which builtins the agent gets. `tools: mcp:chrome-devtools` (with no regular tools listed) gives the agent all default builtins plus chrome-devtools tools. To restrict builtins, list them explicitly: `tools: read, bash, mcp:chrome-devtools`.
+
+Subagents only get direct MCP tools when `mcp:` items are explicitly listed. Even if your `mcp.json` has `directTools: true` globally, a subagent without `mcp:` in its frontmatter won't get any direct tools — keeping it lean. The `mcp` proxy tool is still available for discovery if needed.
+
+The MCP adapter's metadata cache must be populated for direct tools to work. On the first session with a new MCP server, tools will only be available through the `mcp` proxy. Restart Pi after the first session and direct tools become available.
+
 **Resolution priority:** step override > agent frontmatter > disabled
 
 ## Features (beyond base)

package/agents.ts

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ export interface AgentConfig {
 	name: string;
 	description: string;
 	tools?: string[];
+	mcpDirectTools?: string[];
 	model?: string;
 	systemPrompt: string;
 	source: "user" | "project";
@@ -91,11 +92,23 @@ function loadAgentsFromDir(dir: string, source: "user" | "project"): AgentConfig
 			continue;
 		}
 
-		const tools = frontmatter.tools
+		const rawTools = frontmatter.tools
 			?.split(",")
 			.map((t) => t.trim())
 			.filter(Boolean);
 
+		const mcpDirectTools: string[] = [];
+		const tools: string[] = [];
+		if (rawTools) {
+			for (const tool of rawTools) {
+				if (tool.startsWith("mcp:")) {
+					mcpDirectTools.push(tool.slice(4));
+				} else {
+					tools.push(tool);
+				}
+			}
+		}
+
 		// Parse defaultReads as comma-separated list (like tools)
 		const defaultReads = frontmatter.defaultReads
 			?.split(",")
@@ -111,7 +124,8 @@ function loadAgentsFromDir(dir: string, source: "user" | "project"): AgentConfig
 		agents.push({
 			name: frontmatter.name,
 			description: frontmatter.description,
-			tools: tools && tools.length > 0 ? tools : undefined,
+			tools: tools.length > 0 ? tools : undefined,
+			mcpDirectTools: mcpDirectTools.length > 0 ? mcpDirectTools : undefined,
 			model: frontmatter.model,
 			systemPrompt: body,
 			source,

package/execution.ts

@@ -144,8 +144,16 @@ export async function runSync(
 		}
 	}
 
+	const spawnEnv = { ...process.env };
+	const mcpDirect = agent.mcpDirectTools;
+	if (mcpDirect?.length) {
+		spawnEnv.MCP_DIRECT_TOOLS = mcpDirect.join(",");
+	} else {
+		spawnEnv.MCP_DIRECT_TOOLS = "__none__";
+	}
+
 	const exitCode = await new Promise<number>((resolve) => {
-		const proc = spawn("pi", args, { cwd: cwd ?? runtimeCwd, stdio: ["ignore", "pipe", "pipe"] });
+		const proc = spawn("pi", args, { cwd: cwd ?? runtimeCwd, env: spawnEnv, stdio: ["ignore", "pipe", "pipe"] });
 		let buf = "";
 
 		// Throttled update mechanism - consolidates all updates

package/package.json

@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "pi-subagents",
-  "version": "0.5.3",
+  "version": "0.6.1",
   "description": "Pi extension for delegating tasks to subagents with chains, parallel execution, and TUI clarification",
   "author": "Nico Bailon",
   "license": "MIT",