feat(mcp): add output control parameters for token efficiency (#667)
Add granular control over MCP tool response sizes to minimize context
window usage while maintaining full functionality when needed.
## Output Control Parameters
### Read Operations (ready, list, show, blocked)
- `brief`: Return BriefIssue {id, title, status, priority} (~97% smaller)
- `fields`: Custom field projection with validation - invalid fields raise ValueError
- `max_description_length`: Truncate descriptions to N chars with "..."
- `brief_deps`: Full issue but dependencies as BriefDep (~48% smaller)
### Write Operations (create, update, close, reopen)
- `brief`: Return OperationResult {id, action, message} (~97% smaller)
- Default is brief=True for minimal confirmations
## Token Savings
| Operation | Before | After (brief) | Reduction |
|-----------|--------|---------------|-----------|
| ready(limit=10) | ~20KB | ~600B | 97% |
| list(limit=20) | ~40KB | ~800B | 98% |
| show() | ~2KB | ~60B | 97% |
| show() with 5 deps | ~4.5KB | ~2.3KB | 48% |
| blocked() | ~10KB | ~240B | 98% |
| create() response | ~2KB | ~50B | 97% |
## New Models
- BriefIssue: Ultra-minimal issue (4 fields, ~60B)
- BriefDep: Compact dependency (5 fields, ~70B)
- OperationResult: Write confirmation (3 fields, ~50B)
- OperationAction: Literal["created", "updated", "closed", "reopened"]
## Best Practices
- Unified `brief` parameter naming across all operations
- `brief=True` always means "give me less data"
- Field validation with clear error messages listing valid fields
- All parameters optional with backwards-compatible defaults
- Progressive disclosure: scan cheap, detail on demand
---
## Filtering Parameters (aligns MCP with CLI)
Add missing filter parameters to `list` and `ready` tools that were
documented in MCP instructions but not implemented.
### ReadyWorkParams - New Fields
- `labels: list[str]` - AND filter: must have ALL specified labels
- `labels_any: list[str]` - OR filter: must have at least one
- `unassigned: bool` - Filter to only unassigned issues
- `sort_policy: str` - Sort by: hybrid (default), priority, oldest
### ListIssuesParams - New Fields
- `labels: list[str]` - AND filter: must have ALL specified labels
- `labels_any: list[str]` - OR filter: must have at least one
- `query: str` - Search in title (case-insensitive substring)
- `unassigned: bool` - Filter to only unassigned issues
### CLI Flag Mappings
| MCP Parameter | ready CLI Flag | list CLI Flag |
|---------------|----------------|---------------|
| labels | --label (repeated) | --label (repeated) |
| labels_any | --label-any (repeated) | --label-any (repeated) |
| query | N/A | --title |
| unassigned | --unassigned | --no-assignee |
| sort_policy | --sort | N/A |
---
## Documentation & Testing
### get_tool_info() Updates
- Added `brief`, `brief_deps`, `fields`, `max_description_length` to show tool
- Added `brief` parameter docs for create, update, close, reopen
- Added `brief`, `brief_deps` parameter docs for blocked
### Test Coverage (16 new tests)
- `test_create_brief_default` / `test_create_brief_false`
- `test_update_brief_default` / `test_update_brief_false`
- `test_close_brief_default` / `test_close_brief_false`
- `test_reopen_brief_default`
- `test_show_brief` / `test_show_fields_projection` / `test_show_fields_invalid`
- `test_show_max_description_length` / `test_show_brief_deps`
- `test_list_brief` / `test_ready_brief` / `test_blocked_brief`
---
## Backward Compatibility
All new parameters are optional with sensible defaults:
- `brief`: False for reads, True for writes
- `fields`, `max_description_length`: None (no filtering/truncation)
- `labels`, `labels_any`, `query`: None (no filtering)
- `unassigned`: False (include all)
- `sort_policy`: None (use default hybrid sort)
Existing MCP tool calls continue to work unchanged.
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