Retrieval-Augmented Thinking MCP Server
LocalAbout Retrieval-Augmented Thinking MCP Server
RAT MCP Server (Node.js) is an MCP server offering a single rat tool for processing structured thoughts with metrics, branching and revisions. It is aimed at users who want step-by-step reasoning recorded in Claude Desktop.
Key features
- 01Structured step-by-step thought processing
- 02Returns complexity, depth, quality and impact metrics
- 03Supports revising earlier thoughts
- 04Branching from a chosen thought number
- 05Extends beyond the planned number of thoughts
Use cases
- 01Organizing step-by-step problem solving in Claude Desktop
- 02Revising reasoning and exploring alternative branches
MCP support
The server exposes one MCP tool, rat, through which clients submit and process structured thoughts.
Configuration
Local server config is the same for every client. Copy it into your client’s MCP config file.
We haven’t collected a package or remote endpoint for this server. Follow the instructions in the project README.
Tools
Local servers expose tools only once running on your machine, and the maintainer has not provided a tool list.
Details
From the project READMERAT MCP Server (Node.js)
Retrieval Augmented Thinking MCP Server - A reasoning tool that processes structured thoughts with metrics, branching, and revision capabilities.
Installation
Simple 3-Step Process
git clone https://github.com/stat-guy/retrieval-augmented-thinking.git
cd retrieval-augmented-thinking
npm install -g .
Verify Installation
Test that the installation worked:
npx mcp-server-rat-node --help
Success indicator: If you see RAT MCP Server (Node.js) running on stdio, your installation is ready!
Claude Desktop Configuration
Add to your Claude Desktop configuration file:
macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
Windows: %APPDATA%/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
{
"mcpServers": {
"retrieval-augmented-thinking": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["mcp-server-rat-node"]
}
}
}
After adding the configuration, restart Claude Desktop to load the RAT server.
Usage
The server provides a single rat tool for processing structured thoughts:
// Basic usage
{
"thought": "I need to analyze this problem step by step...",
"nextThoughtNeeded": true,
"thoughtNumber": 1,
"totalThoughts": 3
}
// With revision
{
"thought": "Let me reconsider my previous analysis...",
"nextThoughtNeeded": false,
"thoughtNumber": 2,
"totalThoughts": 3,
"isRevision": true,
"revisesThought": 1
}
// With branching
{
"thought": "Alternative approach: what if we consider...",
"nextThoughtNeeded": true,
"thoughtNumber": 2,
"totalThoughts": 4,
"branchFromThought": 1,
"branchId": "alt-path-1"
}
Tool Parameters
Required
thought(string): The thought content to processnextThoughtNeeded(boolean): Whether another thought is needed to continuethoughtNumber(integer): Current thought number in the sequencetotalThoughts(integer): Total expected thoughts (adjustable)
Optional
isRevision(boolean): Whether this revises a previous thoughtrevisesThought(integer): The thought number being revisedbranchFromThought(integer): Thought number to branch frombranchId(string): Unique identifier for this branchneedsMoreThoughts(boolean): Extend beyond totalThoughts if needed
Response Format
{
"thought_number": 1,
"total_thoughts": 3,
"metrics": {
"complexity": 0.342,
"depth": 0.521,
"quality": 0.643,
"impact": 0.289,
"confidence": 0.758
},
"analytics": {
"total_thoughts": 5,
"average_quality": 0.612,
"chain_effectiveness": 0.145
},
"next_thought_needed": true,
"visual_output": "┌─ 💭 Thought 1/3 ─────────────────┐\\n│ Analysis shows clear patterns... │\\n├─ Metrics ──────────────────────┤\\n│ Quality: 0.64 | Impact: 0.29... │\\n└─────────────────────────────────┘"
}
Troubleshooting
If Installation Fails
The installation process includes automatic permission fixes. If you encounter issues:
- Ensure you have Node.js and npm installed
- Try the alternative installation method:
npm install -g git+https://github.com/stat-guy/retrieval-augmented-thinking.git - For rare permission issues:
chmod +x $(npm bin -g)/mcp-server-rat-node
Verification Steps
Before configuring Claude Desktop, always verify:
npx mcp-server-rat-node --help
If this shows "RAT MCP Server (Node.js) running on stdio", you're ready to configure Claude Desktop.
Testing
Run the test suite:
npm test
Test tool execution:
node test-tool.js
License
This MCP server is licensed under the MIT License. This means you are free to use, modify, and distribute the software, subject to the terms and conditions of the MIT License. For more details, please see the LICENSE file in the project repository.
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