MCP Server Mode

Expose DIAL as tools via the Model Context Protocol (MCP).

Start the Server

npx dialai --mcp

Configure Claude Desktop

Add to claude_desktop_config.json:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "dialai": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["dialai", "--mcp"]
    }
  }
}

Config File Location

Platform	Path
macOS	~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
Windows	%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json
Linux	~/.config/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json

Available Tools

Once connected, Claude has access to these tools:

Tool	Description
create_session	Start a new decision process from a machine definition
get_session	Get current state and history of a session
get_sessions	List all sessions
register_proposer	Register a proposer specialist for a machine
register_arbiter	Register an arbiter specialist for a machine
submit_proposal	Submit a transition proposal
evaluate_consensus	Check if consensus has been reached (read-only)
submit_arbitration	Evaluate consensus and optionally execute the winning transition
execute_transition	Apply a transition directly
run_session	Run a machine to completion
get_collapse_metrics	Get progressive collapse metrics
get_decision_log	Get decision log records

Example Conversation

User: Create a code review session for my PR.

Claude (using tools):

1. create_session({ machine: { machineName: "code-review", ... } })
2. register_proposer({ specialistId: "ai-reviewer", machineName: "code-review", strategyFnName: "firstAvailable" })
3. register_arbiter({ specialistId: "arbiter", machineName: "code-review", strategyFnName: "alignmentMargin" })
4. submit_proposal({ sessionId: "...", specialistId: "ai-reviewer" })
5. submit_arbitration({ sessionId: "..." })

Tool Schemas

create_session

{
  "machine": {
    "machineName": "code-review",
    "initialState": "pending",
    "goalState": "approved",
    "states": { ... }
  }
}

submit_proposal

{
  "sessionId": "session-uuid",
  "specialistId": "proposer-id",
  "transitionName": "approve",
  "reasoning": "Why this transition"
}

Server Options

# Stdio transport (default for MCP)
npx dialai --mcp

Debugging

Check server logs:

npx dialai --mcp --verbose

Test with MCP Inspector:

npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector npx dialai --mcp