Think MCP

What is Think MCP?

Think MCP is an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that provides a "think" tool for structured reasoning in agentic AI workflows. It is inspired by Anthropic's engineering article on the "think" tool, which enables AI agents to pause and record explicit thoughts during complex reasoning or multi-step tool use. This tool does not alter the environment or database but appends the thought to a log, aiding the agent in processing information, backtracking, or complying with policies.

How to use Think MCP?

To use Think MCP, you need to configure it as an MCP server within your agent's setup. An example configuration for an MCP server is provided:

"mcpServers": {
    "think-mcp": {
        "command": "uvx",
        "args": ["think-mcp"],
        "enabled": true
    }
}

The "think" tool itself takes a thought (string) as input, which is then appended to the log for structured reasoning. An advanced mode is also available, which adds additional tools like criticize, plan, and search. This advanced mode requires an API key for services like TAVILY.

Key Features of Think MCP

• Implements the "think" tool as described in Anthropic's research.
• Minimal, standards-based MCP server using mcp[cli].
• Ready for integration with Claude or other agentic LLMs.
• Advanced mode offers additional reasoning tools: criticize, plan, and search.

Use Cases of Think MCP

The "think" tool is particularly useful for:

• Tool output analysis: Processing the results of previous tool calls.
• Policy-heavy environments: Verifying compliance with guidelines.
• Sequential decision making: Where each step builds on previous ones.

Think MCP FAQ

Q: What is the "think" tool? A: The "think" tool allows an AI agent to pause and record an explicit thought during complex reasoning or multi-step tool use. It helps the agent process information, backtrack, or comply with detailed policies without changing the environment or database.

Q: How does Think MCP enhance reasoning capabilities? A: By integrating the "think" tool, Think MCP enables agents to perform structured reasoning, even if they don't natively possess advanced reasoning skills, leading to improved evaluation metrics.

Q: Can Think MCP be used with other LLMs besides Claude? A: Yes, Think MCP is designed to be ready for integration with Claude or other agentic LLMs.

Q: What is the advanced mode in Think MCP? A: The advanced mode provides additional tools such as criticize, plan, and search, further enhancing the agent's reasoning capabilities. It may require additional API keys for certain services.

Think MCP Tool

Think MCP is an implementation of an MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that provides a "think" tool for structured reasoning in agentic AI workflows. This project is inspired by the Anthropic engineering article: The "think" tool: Enabling Claude to stop and think in complex tool use situations.

According to the referenced article, adding the think tool can lead to improved evaluation metrics by enabling reasoning capabilities even in models that do not natively possess advanced reasoning skills.

What is the "think" tool?

The "think" tool allows an AI agent to pause and record an explicit thought during complex reasoning or multi-step tool use. It does not change the environment or database, but appends the thought to the log, helping the agent process information, backtrack, or comply with detailed policies.

This approach is especially useful for:

• Tool output analysis (processing results of previous tool calls)
• Policy-heavy environments (verifying compliance with guidelines)
• Sequential decision making (where each step builds on previous ones)

Features

• Implements the "think" tool as described in Anthropic's research
• Minimal, standards-based MCP server using mcp[cli]
• Ready for integration with Claude or other agentic LLMs

Usage

MCP server configuration

Add this MCP server to your facorite agent.

"mcpServers": {
    "think-mcp": {
        "command": "uvx",
        "args": ["think-mcp"],
        "enabled": true
    }
}

Tool definition

The "think" tool is defined as:

• Input: thought (string) — A thought to think about.
• Behavior: Appends the thought to the log for structured reasoning.

Advanced mode

Adds aditional tools for your agent:

• criticize
• plan
• search

"mcpServers": {
    "think-mcp": {
        "command": "uvx",
        "args": ["think-mcp", "--advanced"],
        "enabled": true,
        "env": {
            "TAVILY_API_KEY": ... YOUR TAVILY API KEY HERE ...
        }
    }
}

Reference

• Based on: Anthropic Engineering Blog — The "think" tool

License

MIT License — see LICENSE