[feature] we need better documentation how to install this thing, or an install.exe that does all the work

[vincent-himpe]

The installation process assumes you to be familiar with python and command lines and a bunch of other stuff.
Not everyone is. We really need an install script or exe to do all this work. Or we need an explanation, step by step what to type without assuming the user knows how to do or find things.

open a command prompt:

mkdir c:\altiummcp
cd c:\altiummcp
git clone https://github.com/salitronic/eda-agent
cd eda-agent

problem 1 :
"pip install -e ." does not work. pip is not a known command. i have python on my machine but did not install it (IT did) i have no idea how it works or where it lives.

"python -m pip install -e ." is universal and works.

problem 2:
claude mcp add -s user altium eda-agent
If eda-agent isn't on your PATH, give the full path instead (pip reports it after install, typically %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Python\Python312\Scripts\eda-agent.exe

So what is the exact command i need to give ?
claude mcp add -s user altium %USERPROFILE%\AppData\Roaming\Python\Python312\Scripts\eda-agent.exe ?

change the warning shown during install to use %userprofile% instead of an unrolled path. this already confuses the user. Put that string on the windows clipboard so i can type "claude mcp add -s user altium [ctrl-v]" and get the right syntax.

problem 3:
eda-agent install-scripts throws an error:
'eda-agent' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

probably because that python location is not on the path. i have no idea how to add the path. assume i am stupid. how do i do this ? (i know how to do it, but many people don't)

see what i am getting at ? this is too difficult for someone not familiar with command lines and environment variables to get this working. it needs to be made a whole lot simpler. Especially for people that only do CAD work.

Another issue : when using claude it constantly asks to confirm if it can do certain things. how do i set yes to all ? this is annoying.
Same thing to start the script : add a user form that launches the correct script and a single button labeled "stop" that terminates the script engine and closes the window. there are too many functions listed in that project. hide the unneeded ones

[salitronic]

The easiest way to install this is to simply tell Claude to do it for you :-)
Just ask Claude "Install the eda-agent (https://github.com/salitronic/eda-agent) MCP server for Altium, follow the readme"

By the nature of this tool there are a few things that cannot be easily fixed:

• A user form that launches the script is not possible, the script needs to run within Altium and through Altium's script manager.
• Too many functions listed (assuming you are referring to the script project) is also unavoidable, the best I could do was to have it so the start script is listed close to the top so the rest of the project tree can be ignored. There is no obvious way to hide those other exposed functions.
• The panel itself already has minimal feature-set, all of that is essential. Maybe the detach button could be renamed to 'Stop' which would be more intuitive. The log is essential, its the only way to know what's actually going on.
• "Claude is constantly asks to confirm if it can do certain things", that's not something that this MCP can control, you need to set Claude to bypass permissions.

Not saying that this tool cannot be made more user-friendly, there's certainly a lot to be done on that front but right now the main focus is still on the core functionality which is still lacking in many areas. I'll definitely take this input in consideration and see what can be done to improve the user-friendliness of the tool.

Thanks!

[vincent-himpe]

To hide a function in Altiums Delphiscript you need to pass an argument

this will show :
function blah : Boolean ....
end function

this will not show :
function blah(dummy : integer) : Boolean ....
end function

so you can call the functions/procedures with 0 as an argument.

The other thing i am talking about is to add a form to the script project itself.:
You can then hide all delphi functions. So only this form shows up.

The Start button would launch the StartMCPServer . The stop button would call StopMCPserver and optionally close the form itself. you can make this form non-modal so it doesn't block.

[salitronic]

Thanks for the suggestion, good call on the clutter.

The Run Script list is down from 59 entries to one, StartMCPServer.
That is the only one that has to stay parameterless, since
Altium_API.PrjScr binds it by name.

On the form: it already exists. StartMCPServer opens it, so you get it
automatically once the bridge starts. It has the status, uptime, request
count and a live log, and the Detach button is your stop button, it
sets the same flag StopMCPServer would. So no new form needed, and
StopMCPServer is hidden now too since nothing could call it while the
loop held the engine anyway.

[vincent-himpe]

look at that !. much more userfriendly. I like it.