cpp-enhancement-mcp-server/README.md

MCP server for C++ programming enhancement with modern best practices, performance optimization, and real-time web research. Requires Python 3.8+.

# C++ Programming Enhancement MCP Server

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that enhances AI assistance for C++ programming by providing modern best practices, performance optimization guidance, RAII advice, template programming help, and real-time web research capabilities.

## Features

### 🔍 Code Analysis & Suggestions
- Analyze C++ code for modern best practices
- Detect common anti-patterns and suggest improvements
- Identify memory management issues
- Check for const correctness and type safety

### 🚀 Modern C++ Guidance
- **Auto keyword**: Best practices for type deduction
- **Smart pointers**: RAII-compliant memory management
- **Move semantics**: Efficient resource transfer
- **Constexpr**: Compile-time computation
- **Concepts (C++20)**: Template constraints with clear requirements

### ⚡ Performance Optimization
- **Cache locality**: Memory access pattern optimization
- **Vectorization**: SIMD optimization techniques
- **Memory management**: Efficient allocation strategies
- **Compiler optimizations**: Best practices for performance

### 🛡️ Memory Safety & RAII
- Smart pointer usage patterns
- Resource management best practices
- Exception safety guidelines
- Ownership semantics

### 🔧 Template Programming
- **CRTP**: Curiously Recurring Template Pattern
- **SFINAE**: Substitution Failure Is Not An Error
- **Concepts**: Modern template constraints
- **Variadic templates**: Variable argument templates
- **Type traits**: Compile-time type manipulation

### 🌐 Real-time Research (Brave Search API)
- **Live web search** for latest C++ techniques and best practices
- **Real-time results** from authoritative sources like ISO C++, CppCon, blogs
- **Recent developments** in C++20/23/26 features
- **Community discussions** from Stack Overflow, Reddit, GitHub
- **Performance guides** and optimization techniques
- **Fallback to curated knowledge** when API is not configured

## Installation

### Quick Start with npm
```bash
# Install and run
npx cpp-enhancement-mcp-server

# First-time setup (configure Brave Search API)
npx cpp-enhancement-mcp-server --setup

# Run interactive demo
npx cpp-enhancement-mcp-server --demo
```

### Manual Installation

1. **Install dependencies:**
```bash
pip install -r requirements.txt
```

2. **Setup Brave Search API (optional but recommended):**
```bash
python cpp_enhancement_server.py --setup
```
See [BRAVE_SEARCH_SETUP.md](BRAVE_SEARCH_SETUP.md) for detailed instructions.

3. **Configure MCP client:**
Add the server configuration to your MCP client (Claude Desktop, Cursor, etc.):

```json
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "cpp-enhancement": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["cpp-enhancement-mcp-server"],
      "env": {},
      "description": "C++ Programming Enhancement MCP Server"
    }
  }
}
```

4. **Run the server:**
```bash
python cpp_enhancement_server.py
```

## Available Tools

### `analyze_cpp_code`
Analyze C++ code and provide improvement suggestions.

**Parameters:**
- `code` (string): C++ code to analyze
- `focus_areas` (array, optional): Specific areas to focus on

**Example:**
```cpp
int* ptr = new int(42);
// Analysis will suggest using smart pointers
```

### `get_cpp_best_practices`
Get best practices for specific C++ topics.

**Parameters:**
- `topic` (string): C++ topic (auto, smart_pointers, move_semantics, etc.)
- `include_examples` (boolean, optional): Include code examples

### `suggest_modern_alternatives`
Suggest modern C++ alternatives to legacy code patterns.

**Parameters:**
- `legacy_code` (string): Legacy C++ code to modernize
- `target_standard` (string, optional): Target C++ standard (cpp11, cpp14, cpp17, cpp20, cpp23)

### `performance_optimization_tips`
Get performance optimization suggestions.

**Parameters:**
- `code` (string): C++ code to optimize
- `optimization_type` (string, optional): Type of optimization (cache_locality, vectorization, memory_management, general)

### `memory_management_advice`
Get advice on memory management and RAII.

**Parameters:**
- `code` (string): C++ code with memory management concerns
- `focus` (string, optional): Focus area (smart_pointers, raii, memory_leaks, ownership)

### `template_programming_help`
Get help with template metaprogramming.

**Parameters:**
- `code` (string): Template code or description
- `technique` (string, optional): Specific technique (sfinae, crtp, concepts, variadic_templates, type_traits)

### `search_cpp_techniques`
Search for latest C++ techniques and best practices.

**Parameters:**
- `query` (string): Search query for C++ techniques
- `include_recent` (boolean, optional): Focus on recent developments

## Usage Examples

### Code Analysis
```python
# Analyze code for improvements
result = await analyze_cpp_code(
    code="int* ptr = new int(42); delete ptr;",
    focus_areas=["memory_safety", "modern_features"]
)
```

### Get Best Practices
```python
# Get smart pointer best practices
result = await get_cpp_best_practices(
    topic="smart_pointers",
    include_examples=True
)
```

### Modernize Legacy Code
```python
# Modernize old C++ code
result = await suggest_modern_alternatives(
    legacy_code="for(int i = 0; i < vec.size(); ++i) { process(vec[i]); }",
    target_standard="cpp20"
)
```

## Knowledge Base

The server includes a comprehensive knowledge base covering:

- **Modern C++ Features**: auto, smart pointers, move semantics, constexpr, concepts
- **Performance Optimization**: cache locality, vectorization, memory management
- **Design Patterns**: RAII, CRTP, type erasure, policy-based design
- **Common Pitfalls**: memory safety, performance anti-patterns, threading issues

## Contributing

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch
3. Add new C++ techniques or improve existing ones
4. Submit a pull request

## Resources

- [C++ Core Guidelines](https://isocpp.github.io/CppCoreGuidelines/CppCoreGuidelines)
- [ISO C++ Standard](https://isocpp.org/)
- [cppreference.com](https://en.cppreference.com/)
- [CppCon Talks](https://www.youtube.com/user/CppCon)

## License

MIT License - see LICENSE file for details.

## Support

For issues and questions:
- Create an issue on GitHub
- Check the documentation
- Review the C++ Core Guidelines

---

*Enhance your C++ programming with AI-powered assistance!*