feat: Add initial MCP Server support

lib/external/libwolv

@@ -1 +1 @@
-Subproject commit c9108712ba16a024dc7aee75f3fc9882629b2703
+Subproject commit b0c9416568475a784838e3af8b0021a542e47cd7

lib/libimhex/CMakeLists.txt

@@ -57,6 +57,9 @@ set(LIBIMHEX_SOURCES
         source/ui/toast.cpp
         source/ui/banner.cpp
 
+        source/mcp/client.cpp
+        source/mcp/server.cpp
+
         source/subcommands/subcommands.cpp
 )
 

lib/libimhex/include/hex/api/content_registry/communication_interface.hpp

@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
 #include <map>
 #include <string>
 
+#include <hex/mcp/server.hpp>
+
 EXPORT_MODULE namespace hex {
 
     /* Network Communication Interface Registry. Allows adding new communication interface endpoints */
@@ -22,4 +24,19 @@ EXPORT_MODULE namespace hex {
 
     }
 
+    namespace ContentRegistry::MCP {
+
+        namespace impl {
+            mcp::Server& getMcpServerInstance();
+
+            void setEnabled(bool enabled);
+        }
+
+        bool isEnabled();
+        bool isConnected();
+
+        void registerTool(std::string_view capabilities, std::function<nlohmann::json(const nlohmann::json &params)> function);
+
+    }
+
 }

lib/libimhex/include/hex/mcp/client.hpp

@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <iostream>
+
+namespace hex::mcp {
+
+    class Client {
+    public:
+        Client() = default;
+        ~Client() = default;
+
+        int run(std::istream &input, std::ostream &output);
+    };
+
+}

lib/libimhex/include/hex/mcp/server.hpp

@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+#pragma once
+
+#include <functional>
+#include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
+#include <wolv/net/socket_server.hpp>
+
+namespace hex::mcp {
+
+    class Server {
+    public:
+        constexpr static auto McpInternalPort = 19743;
+
+        Server();
+        ~Server();
+
+        void listen();
+        void shutdown();
+        void disconnect();
+        bool isConnected();
+
+        void addPrimitive(std::string type, std::string_view capabilities, std::function<nlohmann::json(const nlohmann::json &params)> function);
+
+    private:
+        nlohmann::json handleInitialize();
+        void handleNotifications(const std::string &method, const nlohmann::json &params);
+
+        struct Primitive {
+            nlohmann::json capabilities;
+            std::function<nlohmann::json(const nlohmann::json &params)> function;
+        };
+
+        std::map<std::string, std::map<std::string, Primitive>> m_primitives;
+
+        wolv::net::SocketServer m_server;
+        bool m_connected = false;
+    };
+
+}

lib/libimhex/source/api/content_registry.cpp

@@ -1413,6 +1413,40 @@ namespace hex {
 
     }
 
+    namespace ContentRegistry::MCP {
+
+        namespace impl {
+
+            mcp::Server& getMcpServerInstance() {
+                static AutoReset<std::unique_ptr<mcp::Server>> server;
+
+                if (*server == nullptr)
+                    server = std::make_unique<mcp::Server>();
+
+                return **server;
+            }
+
+            static bool s_mcpEnabled = false;
+            void setEnabled(bool enabled) {
+                s_mcpEnabled = enabled;
+            }
+
+        }
+
+        bool isEnabled() {
+            return impl::s_mcpEnabled;
+        }
+
+        bool isConnected() {
+            return impl::getMcpServerInstance().isConnected();
+        }
+
+        void registerTool(std::string_view capabilities, std::function<nlohmann::json(const nlohmann::json &params)> function) {
+            impl::getMcpServerInstance().addPrimitive("tools", capabilities, function);
+        }
+
+    }
+
     namespace ContentRegistry::Experiments {
 
         namespace impl {

lib/libimhex/source/mcp/client.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,38 @@
+#include <hex/mcp/client.hpp>
+#include <hex/mcp/server.hpp>
+
+#include <hex.hpp>
+
+#include <string>
+#include <cstdlib>
+
+#include <fmt/format.h>
+#include <hex/helpers/logger.hpp>
+#include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
+#include <wolv/net/socket_client.hpp>
+
+namespace hex::mcp {
+
+    int Client::run(std::istream &input, std::ostream &output) {
+        wolv::net::SocketClient client(wolv::net::SocketClient::Type::TCP, true);
+        client.connect("127.0.0.1", Server::McpInternalPort);
+
+        if (!client.isConnected()) {
+            log::resumeLogging();
+            log::error("Cannot connect to ImHex. Do you have an instance running and is the MCP server enabled?");
+            return EXIT_FAILURE;
+        }
+
+        while (true) {
+            std::string request;
+            std::getline(input, request);
+
+            client.writeString(request);
+            auto response = client.readString();
+            if (!response.empty() && response.front() != 0x00)
+                output << response << std::endl;
+        }
+
+        return EXIT_SUCCESS;
+    }
+}

lib/libimhex/source/mcp/server.cpp

@@ -0,0 +1,226 @@
+#include <hex/mcp/server.hpp>
+
+#include <string>
+
+#include <fmt/format.h>
+#include <hex/helpers/logger.hpp>
+#include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
+#include <wolv/net/socket_client.hpp>
+#include <hex/api/imhex_api/system.hpp>
+
+
+namespace hex::mcp {
+
+    class JsonRpc {
+    public:
+        explicit JsonRpc(const std::string &request) : m_request(request) { }
+
+        struct MethodNotFoundException : std::exception {};
+        struct InvalidParametersException : std::exception {};
+
+        std::optional<std::string> execute(auto callback) {
+            try {
+                auto requestJson = nlohmann::json::parse(m_request);
+
+                if (requestJson.is_array()) {
+                    return handleBatchedMessages(requestJson, callback).transform([](const auto &response) { return response.dump(); });
+                } else {
+                    return handleMessage(requestJson, callback).transform([](const auto &response) { return response.dump(); });
+                }
+            } catch (const MethodNotFoundException &) {
+                return createErrorMessage(ErrorCode::MethodNotFound, "Method not found").dump();
+            } catch (const InvalidParametersException &) {
+                return createErrorMessage(ErrorCode::InvalidParams, "Invalid params").dump();
+            } catch (const nlohmann::json::parse_error &) {
+                return createErrorMessage(ErrorCode::ParseError, "Parse error").dump();
+            } catch (const std::exception &e) {
+                return createErrorMessage(ErrorCode::InternalError, e.what()).dump();
+            }
+        }
+
+    private:
+        std::optional<nlohmann::json> handleMessage(const nlohmann::json &request, auto callback) {
+            // Validate JSON-RPC request
+            if (!request.contains("jsonrpc") || request["jsonrpc"] != "2.0" ||
+                !request.contains("method") || !request["method"].is_string()) {
+                m_id = request.contains("id") ? std::optional(request["id"].get<int>()) : std::nullopt;
+
+                return createErrorMessage(ErrorCode::InvalidRequest, "Invalid Request").dump();
+            }
+
+            m_id = request.contains("id") ? std::optional(request["id"].get<int>()) : std::nullopt;
+
+            // Execute the method
+            auto result = callback(request["method"].get<std::string>(), request.value("params", nlohmann::json::object()));
+
+            if (!m_id.has_value())
+                return std::nullopt;
+
+            return createResponseMessage(result);
+        }
+
+        std::optional<nlohmann::json> handleBatchedMessages(const nlohmann::json &request, auto callback) {
+            if (!request.is_array()) {
+                return createErrorMessage(ErrorCode::InvalidRequest, "Invalid Request").dump();
+            }
+
+            nlohmann::json responses = nlohmann::json::array();
+            for (const auto &message : request) {
+                auto response = handleMessage(message, callback);
+                if (response.has_value())
+                    responses.push_back(*response);
+            }
+
+            if (responses.empty())
+                return std::nullopt;
+
+            return responses.dump();
+        }
+
+        enum class ErrorCode {
+            ParseError     = -32700,
+            InvalidRequest = -32600,
+            MethodNotFound = -32601,
+            InvalidParams  = -32602,
+            InternalError  = -32603,
+        };
+
+        nlohmann::json createDefaultMessage() {
+            nlohmann::json message;
+            message["jsonrpc"] = "2.0";
+            if (m_id.has_value())
+                message["id"] = m_id.value();
+            else
+                message["id"] = nullptr;
+
+            return message;
+        }
+
+        nlohmann::json createErrorMessage(ErrorCode code, const std::string &message) {
+            auto json = createDefaultMessage();
+            json["error"] = {
+                { "code",    int(code) },
+                { "message", message   }
+            };
+            return json;
+        }
+
+        nlohmann::json createResponseMessage(const nlohmann::json &result) {
+            auto json = createDefaultMessage();
+            json["result"] = result;
+            return json;
+        }
+
+    private:
+        std::string m_request;
+        std::optional<int> m_id;
+    };
+
+    Server::Server() : m_server(McpInternalPort, 1024, 1, true) {
+
+    }
+
+    Server::~Server() {
+        this->shutdown();
+    }
+
+    void Server::listen() {
+        m_server.accept([this](auto, const std::vector<u8> &data) -> std::vector<u8> {
+            std::string request(data.begin(), data.end());
+
+            log::debug("MCP ----> {}", request);
+
+            JsonRpc rpc(request);
+            auto response = rpc.execute([this](const std::string &method, const nlohmann::json &params) -> nlohmann::json {
+                if (method == "initialize") {
+                    return handleInitialize();
+                } else if (method.starts_with("notifications/")) {
+                    handleNotifications(method.substr(14), params);
+                    return {};
+                } else if (method.ends_with("/list")) {
+                    auto primitiveName = method.substr(0, method.size() - 5);
+                    if (m_primitives.contains(primitiveName)) {
+                        nlohmann::json capabilitiesList = nlohmann::json::array();
+                        for (const auto &[name, primitive] : m_primitives[primitiveName]) {
+                            capabilitiesList.push_back(primitive.capabilities);
+                        }
+
+                        nlohmann::json result;
+                        result[primitiveName] = capabilitiesList;
+                        return result;
+                    }
+                } else if (method.ends_with("/call")) {
+                    auto primitive = method.substr(0, method.size() - 5);
+                    if (auto primitiveIt = m_primitives.find(primitive); primitiveIt != m_primitives.end()) {
+                        auto name = params.value("name", "");
+                        if (auto functionIt = primitiveIt->second.find(name); functionIt != primitiveIt->second.end()) {
+                            return functionIt->second.function(params.value("arguments", nlohmann::json::object()));
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+
+                throw JsonRpc::MethodNotFoundException();
+            });
+
+            log::debug("MCP <---- {}", response.value_or("<Nothing>"));
+
+            if (response.has_value())
+                return { response->begin(), response->end() };
+            else
+                return std::vector<u8>{ 0x00 };
+        }, [this](auto) {
+            log::info("MCP client disconnected");
+            m_connected = false;
+        }, true);
+    }
+
+    void Server::shutdown() {
+        m_server.shutdown();
+    }
+
+    void Server::disconnect() {
+        m_server.disconnectClients();
+    }
+
+    void Server::addPrimitive(std::string type, std::string_view capabilities, std::function<nlohmann::json(const nlohmann::json &params)> function) {
+        auto json = nlohmann::json::parse(capabilities);
+        auto name = json["name"].get<std::string>();
+
+        m_primitives[type][name] = {
+            json,
+            function
+        };
+    }
+
+
+    nlohmann::json Server::handleInitialize() {
+        constexpr static auto ServerName = "ImHex";
+        constexpr static auto ProtocolVersion = "2025-06-18";
+
+        return {
+            { "protocolVersion", ProtocolVersion },
+            {
+                "capabilities",
+                {
+                    { "tools",     nlohmann::json::object() },
+                },
+            },
+            {
+                "serverInfo", {
+                   { "name",    ServerName    },
+                   { "version", ImHexApi::System::getImHexVersion().get() }
+                }
+            }
+        };
+    }
+
+    void Server::handleNotifications(const std::string &method, [[maybe_unused]] const nlohmann::json &params) {
+        if (method == "initialized") {
+            m_connected = true;
+        }
+    }
+
+    bool Server::isConnected() {
+        return m_connected;
+    }
+}

plugins/builtin/include/content/command_line_interface.hpp

@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ namespace hex::plugin::builtin {
     void handleValidatePluginCommand(const std::vector<std::string> &args);
     void handleSaveEditorCommand(const std::vector<std::string> &args);
     void handleFileInfoCommand(const std::vector<std::string> &args);
+    void handleMCPCommand(const std::vector<std::string> &args);
 
     void registerCommandForwarders();
 

plugins/builtin/romfs/lang/en_US.json

@@ -54,6 +54,7 @@
     "hex.builtin.achievement.misc.download_from_store.name": "There's an app for that",
     "hex.builtin.achievement.misc.download_from_store.desc": "Download any item from the Content Store",
     "hex.builtin.background_service.network_interface": "Network Interface",
+    "hex.builtin.setting.general.mcp_server": "MCP Server support",
     "hex.builtin.background_service.auto_backup": "Auto Backup",
     "hex.builtin.command.calc.desc": "Calculator",
     "hex.builtin.command.convert.desc": "Unit conversion",

plugins/builtin/source/content/background_services.cpp

@@ -17,6 +17,8 @@
 
 #include <fmt/chrono.h>
 #include <nlohmann/json.hpp>
+#include <romfs/romfs.hpp>
+#include <toasts/toast_notification.hpp>
 
 namespace hex::plugin::builtin {
 
@@ -103,6 +105,16 @@ namespace hex::plugin::builtin {
             std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::seconds(1));
         }
 
+        void handleMCPServer() {
+            if (!ContentRegistry::MCP::isEnabled()) {
+                std::this_thread::sleep_for(std::chrono::milliseconds(100));
+                ContentRegistry::MCP::impl::getMcpServerInstance().disconnect();
+                return;
+            }
+
+            ContentRegistry::MCP::impl::getMcpServerInstance().listen();
+        }
+
     }
 
     void registerBackgroundServices() {
@@ -110,12 +122,17 @@ namespace hex::plugin::builtin {
             s_networkInterfaceServiceEnabled = value.get<bool>(false);
         });
 
+        ContentRegistry::Settings::onChange("hex.builtin.setting.general", "hex.builtin.setting.general.mcp_server", [](const ContentRegistry::Settings::SettingsValue &value) {
+            ContentRegistry::MCP::impl::setEnabled(value.get<bool>(false));
+        });
+
         ContentRegistry::Settings::onChange("hex.builtin.setting.general", "hex.builtin.setting.general.backups.auto_backup_time", [](const ContentRegistry::Settings::SettingsValue &value) {
             s_autoBackupTime = value.get<int>(0) * 30;
         });
 
         ContentRegistry::BackgroundServices::registerService("hex.builtin.background_service.network_interface", handleNetworkInterfaceService);
         ContentRegistry::BackgroundServices::registerService("hex.builtin.background_service.auto_backup", handleAutoBackup);
+        ContentRegistry::BackgroundServices::registerService("hex.builtin.background_service.mcp", handleMCPServer);
 
         EventProviderDirtied::subscribe([](prv::Provider *) {
             s_dataDirty = true;

plugins/builtin/source/content/command_line_interface.cpp

@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
+#include <iostream>
 #include <content/command_line_interface.hpp>
+#include <hex/mcp/client.hpp>
 
 #include <hex/api/imhex_api/system.hpp>
 #include <hex/api/imhex_api/hex_editor.hpp>
@@ -530,6 +532,14 @@ namespace hex::plugin::builtin {
         ContentRegistry::Views::setFullScreenView<ViewFullScreenFileInfo>(path);
     }
 
+    void handleMCPCommand(const std::vector<std::string> &) {
+        mcp::Client client;
+
+        auto result = client.run(std::cin, std::cout);
+        std::fprintf(stderr, "MCP Client disconnected!\n");
+        std::exit(result);
+    }
+
 
     void registerCommandForwarders() {
         hex::subcommands::registerSubCommand("open", [](const std::vector<std::string> &args){

plugins/builtin/source/content/settings_entries.cpp

@@ -768,6 +768,8 @@ namespace hex::plugin::builtin {
 
             ContentRegistry::Settings::add<Widgets::Checkbox>("hex.builtin.setting.general", "hex.builtin.setting.general.network", "hex.builtin.setting.general.network_interface", false);
 
+            ContentRegistry::Settings::add<Widgets::Checkbox>("hex.builtin.setting.general", "hex.builtin.setting.general.network", "hex.builtin.setting.general.mcp_server", false);
+
             #if !defined(OS_WEB)
                 ContentRegistry::Settings::add<ServerContactWidget>("hex.builtin.setting.general", "hex.builtin.setting.general.network", "hex.builtin.setting.general.server_contact");
                 ContentRegistry::Settings::add<Widgets::Checkbox>("hex.builtin.setting.general", "hex.builtin.setting.general.network", "hex.builtin.setting.general.upload_crash_logs", true);

plugins/builtin/source/content/ui_items.cpp

@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@
 
 #include <csignal>
 #include <fonts/tabler_icons.hpp>
+#include <hex/api/content_registry/communication_interface.hpp>
 
 namespace hex::plugin::builtin {
 
@@ -239,6 +240,20 @@ namespace hex::plugin::builtin {
             });
         }
 
+        ContentRegistry::UserInterface::addFooterItem([] {
+            if (ContentRegistry::MCP::isConnected()) {
+                ImGui::PushStyleColor(ImGuiCol_Text, ImGuiExt::GetCustomColorU32(ImGuiCustomCol_Highlight));
+            } else {
+                ImGui::PushStyleColor(ImGuiCol_Text, ImGui::GetColorU32(ImGuiCol_TextDisabled));
+            }
+
+            if (ContentRegistry::MCP::isEnabled()) {
+                ImGui::TextUnformatted(ICON_VS_MCP);
+            }
+
+            ImGui::PopStyleColor();
+        });
+
         if (dbg::debugModeEnabled()) {
             ContentRegistry::UserInterface::addFooterItem([] {
                 static float framerate = 0;

plugins/builtin/source/plugin_builtin.cpp

@@ -73,8 +73,8 @@ IMHEX_PLUGIN_SUBCOMMANDS() {
     { "open",            "o", "Open files passed as argument. [default]",     hex::plugin::builtin::handleOpenCommand             },
     { "new",             "n", "Create a new empty file",                      hex::plugin::builtin::handleNewCommand              },
 
-    { "select",          "s",  "Select a range of bytes in the Hex Editor",    hex::plugin::builtin::handleSelectCommand           },
+    { "select",          "s",  "Select a range of bytes in the Hex Editor",   hex::plugin::builtin::handleSelectCommand           },
-    { "pattern",         "p",  "Sets the loaded pattern",                      hex::plugin::builtin::handlePatternCommand          },
+    { "pattern",         "p",  "Sets the loaded pattern",                     hex::plugin::builtin::handlePatternCommand          },
     { "calc",            "",  "Evaluate a mathematical expression",           hex::plugin::builtin::handleCalcCommand             },
     { "hash",            "",  "Calculate the hash of a file",                 hex::plugin::builtin::handleHashCommand             },
     { "encode",          "",  "Encode a string",                              hex::plugin::builtin::handleEncodeCommand           },
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ IMHEX_PLUGIN_SUBCOMMANDS() {
     { "validate-plugin", "",  "Validates that a plugin can be loaded",        hex::plugin::builtin::handleValidatePluginCommand   },
     { "save-editor",     "",  "Opens a pattern file for save file editing",   hex::plugin::builtin::handleSaveEditorCommand       },
     { "file-info",       "i", "Displays information about a file",            hex::plugin::builtin::handleFileInfoCommand         },
+    { "mcp",             "",  "Starts a MCP Server for AI to interact with",  hex::plugin::builtin::handleMCPCommand              },
 };
 
 IMHEX_PLUGIN_SETUP_BUILTIN("Built-in", "WerWolv", "Default ImHex functionality") {