Deliver CLI is a senior-grade, state-aware Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that transforms your AI agent into a spec-driven product engineer. Version 3.0 (Agent-Optimized) is redesigned for high-density, low-token communication.
The traditional approach to AI coding often leads to scope creep and forgotten requirements. deliver-cli (v3) is optimized for senior AI agents:
- TOON Status Output (Context Efficiency):
sc_statusnow returns a compact, YAML-like format instead of verbose Markdown. This reduces token usage per turn by ~70%, keeping your context window lean. - State-Aware Autopilot: The tool knows exactly what stage the project is in. The AI doesn't have to track whether it's doing "Requirements" or "Design"—it just calls
mcpx with server="spec" tool="sc_plan" and instruction="Use PostgreSQL"and the tool handles the transition automatically. - Zero-Overhead Execution: Subprocesses have been eliminated; the MCP server invokes the CLI logic directly for maximum speed and reliable error handling.
- Minimalist Syntax: Feature names and project identifiers are now optional. The tool defaults to the last-used project, reducing payload size for every subsequent tool call.
- One-Shot vs. Step-Through Modes: Users can toggle between Step-Through (the default "Draft -> Approve -> Confirm" cycle) and One-Shot mode. In One-Shot mode, the AI progresses through all phases—including archiving the project—without stopping for human approval.
- Lifecycle Directory Management: Automatically organizes work into
projects/active/andprojects/completed/. - Persistent Task-Epoch Memory: A "short-term memory" system (
.epoch-context.md) that tracks active focus, pending intentions, and hypotheses viamcpx with server="spec" tool="sc_epoch" and focus="implement auth". - The "GPS Breadcrumb" System: At the end of every tool call,
deliver-clioutputs an explicit "Next Step" directive.
Instead of verbose Markdown, mcpx with server="spec" and tool="sc_status" returns a compact block:
spec_status:
feature: code-analytics
phase: requirements
status: drafting
next_step: write Requirements.md
blockers: [template_tags_present]
mode: one-shotstateDiagram-v2
direction TB
state "Phase 1: Requirements (PRD)" as REQ {
[*] --> InitReq: sc_init
InitReq --> EditReq: AI Drafts
EditReq --> ReviewReq: Remove tags
ReviewReq --> ApproveReq: sc_approve
ApproveReq --> [*]: sc_plan
}
state "Phase 2: Technical Design" as DES {
[*] --> ScaffoldDes: Reset Epoch Context
ScaffoldDes --> EditDes: AI Drafts
EditDes --> ReviewDes: Remove tags
ReviewDes --> ApproveDes: sc_approve
ApproveDes --> [*]: sc_plan
}
state "Phase 3: Implementation Tasks" as TSK {
[*] --> ScaffoldTasks: Reset Epoch Context
ScaffoldTasks --> EditTsk: AI Drafts
EditTsk --> ReviewTsk: Remove tags
ReviewTsk --> ApproveTsk: sc_approve
ApproveTsk --> [*]: sc_plan
}
state "Phase 4: Implementation" as IMP {
[*] --> StartTask: sc_todo_start
StartTask --> Work: Coding & Epoch Updates
Work --> CompleteTask: sc_todo_complete
CompleteTask --> [*]: All Tasks [x]
}
state Archive {
[*] --> MoveToCompleted: sc_plan (Archive)
}
REQ --> DES
DES --> TSK
TSK --> IMP
IMP --> Archive
Archive --> [*]: Feature Delivered
Spec CLI provides a suite of surgical MCP tools to guide the AI agent through the workflow.
| Tool Name | Purpose | Example Arguments |
|---|---|---|
mcpx with server="spec" tool="sc_init" and name="auth-system" |
Initialize a new feature specification in projects/active/. |
{"name": "auth-system", "mode": "one-shot"} |
mcpx with server="spec" tool="sc_plan" and instruction="Use PostgreSQL" |
Progress the workflow state. Automatically archives when finished. | {"instruction": "Use PostgreSQL"} |
mcpx with server="spec" and tool="sc_approve" |
Explicitly approve the current drafted phase after review. | {} |
mcpx with server="spec" tool="sc_feedback" and feedback="..." |
Provide user feedback or answers to questions. | {"feedback": "The logo should be blue"} |
mcpx with server="spec" tool="sc_status" and feature="auth-system" |
Get a health check of the active project and snappy next steps. | {"feature": "auth-system"} |
mcpx with server="spec" and tool="sc_todo_list" |
List all implementation tasks and their status. | {} |
mcpx with server="spec" tool="sc_todo_start" and id="1.1" |
Mark a specific task as being actively worked on. | {"id": "1.1"} |
mcpx with server="spec" tool="sc_todo_complete" and id="1.1" |
Mark a specific task as completed. | {"id": "1.1"} |
mcpx with server="spec" tool="sc_epoch" and focus="implement auth" |
Update the task-epoch context for short-term memory. | {"focus": "implement auth"} |
mcpx with server="spec" tool="sc_mode" and mode="one-shot" |
Toggle project mode between one-shot and step-through. |
{"mode": "one-shot"} |
mcpx with server="spec" and tool="sc_archive" |
Manually move the project to the projects/completed/ folder. |
{} |
mcpx with server="spec" tool="sc_help" and topic="sc_plan" |
Learn how to use the tools and get deep documentation. | {"topic": "sc_plan"} |
mcpx with server="spec" and tool="sc_verify" |
A dedicated tool to validate that the last action worked. | {} |
mcpx with server="spec" and tool="sc_refresh" |
Force a refresh and synchronization of the internal workflow state machine. | {} |
While primarily used via MCP, Spec CLI also provides a powerful standalone interface.
| Command | Description |
|---|---|
mcpx with server="spec" tool="sc_init" and name="<name>" |
Initialize a new feature specification. |
mcpx with server="spec" tool="sc_plan" and instruction="Use PostgreSQL" |
Progress the workflow state. |
mcpx with server="spec" and tool="sc_approve" |
Explicitly approve the current phase. |
mcpx with server="spec" tool="sc_feedback" and feedback="<text>" |
Provide user feedback or answers. |
mcpx with server="spec" and tool="sc_todo_list" |
List implementation tasks. |
mcpx with server="spec" tool="sc_epoch" and focus="<text>" |
Update short-term memory context. |
mcpx with server="spec" tool="sc_mode" and mode="<mode>" |
Toggle between 'one-shot' and 'step-through'. |
mcpx with server="spec" and tool="sc_archive" |
Manually archive the project. |
mcpx with server="spec" tool="sc_status" and feature="auth-system" |
Get a health check of the active project. |
mcpx with server="spec" and tool="sc_verify" |
Verify current state and check consistency. |
mcpx with server="spec" tool="sc_help" and topic="sc_plan" |
Show help documentation. |
- Node.js: Version 18.0.0 or higher.
- Package Manager: npm, yarn, or pnpm.
Run it without installing globally:
npx -y @epoch-ai/deliver-cliFor frequent use as a standalone CLI:
npm install -g @epoch-ai/deliver-cliTo use this with AI assistants, add it to your configuration file:
Claude Desktop
Add to ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (macOS) or %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json (Windows):
{
"mcpServers": {
"deliver-cli": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@epoch-ai/deliver-cli"]
}
}
}Gemini CLI
Configure deliver-cli globally in ~/.gemini/settings.json or locally in .gemini/settings.json:
{
"mcpServers": {
"deliver-cli": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "@epoch-ai/deliver-cli"]
}
}
}Claude Code
claude mcp add deliver-cli -s user -- npx -y @epoch-ai/deliver-cli- Clone the Repo:
git clone https://github.com/benjamesmurray/deliver-cli.git cd deliver-cli - Install Dependencies:
npm install
- Build the Project:
npm run build
- Run Tests:
npm test
MIT