Smalltalk MCP Skill

This skill connects Claude to a live Smalltalk image (Cuis or Squeak) via MCP.

Setup (if tools are not yet connected)

If the Smalltalk MCP tools are not available, help the user configure them:

Prerequisites

• Python 3.10+
• A Smalltalk VM: Cuis or Squeak
• The ClaudeSmalltalk repository: git clone https://github.com/CorporateSmalltalkConsultingLtd/ClaudeSmalltalk.git
• Build a ClaudeCuis.image following CUIS-SETUP.md. For Squeak, see SQUEAK-SETUP.md.

Step 1: Install Python dependency

pip install httpx

If using Anthropic as the agent LLM provider, also: pip install anthropic

Step 2: Create smalltalk-mcp.json

Create this file in the ClaudeSmalltalk repo directory. All paths must be absolute.

Example using Anthropic (copy from examples/smalltalk-mcp-anthropic.json):

{
  "version": "1.0",
  "model": {
    "provider": "anthropic",
    "name": "claude-sonnet-4-6",
    "maxTokens": 256000,
    "apiKeyEnv": "ANTHROPIC_API_KEY"
  },
  "vm": {
    "squeak": "/absolute/path/to/Squeak6.0.app/Contents/MacOS/Squeak",
    "cuis": "/absolute/path/to/CuisVM.app/Contents/MacOS/Squeak"
  },
  "image": {
    "selected": "cuis",
    "squeak": "/absolute/path/to/ClaudeSqueak.image",
    "cuis": "/absolute/path/to/ClaudeSmalltalk/ClaudeCuis.image"
  },
  "transport": {
    "type": "stdio",
    "args": ["--mcp"],
    "timeout": 180
  }
}

The user must set their API key: export ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-ant-...

Other provider examples are in the examples/ folder (Ollama, OpenAI, xAI, MQTT).

Step 3: Configure Claude Desktop

The user must edit ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json (macOS):

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "smalltalkAgent": {
      "command": "python3",
      "args": ["/absolute/path/to/ClaudeSmalltalk/smalltalk_agent_mcp.py"],
      "env": {
        "SMALLTALK_MCP_CONFIG": "/absolute/path/to/ClaudeSmalltalk/.smalltalk-mcp.json"
      }
    }
  }
}

An example is at examples/claude_desktop_config.json. All paths must be absolute.

After saving, Claude Desktop will reload and the 13 Smalltalk tools will become available.

How to use the tools

Once connected, you have 13 MCP tools for the live Smalltalk image.

When to use smalltalk_task vs individual tools

Use smalltalk_task for complex, multi-step work:

• "Review the Random class" — the agent browses, reads methods, and produces an assessment
• "Audit the Set class for correctness"
• "Define a Counter class with increment/decrement methods and tests"
• "Compare OrderedCollection and Array implementations"

smalltalk_task delegates to a separate LLM configured in .smalltalk-mcp.json. You provide a natural language task and get back a complete result. This is the preferred tool for anything requiring multiple browse/evaluate steps.

Use individual tools for quick, single operations:

• smalltalk_evaluate — run code: 3 factorial, Date today
• smalltalk_browse — get class metadata (superclass, ivars, method lists)
• smalltalk_method_source — read one method's source code
• smalltalk_list_classes — find classes by prefix
• smalltalk_hierarchy / smalltalk_subclasses — explore inheritance

Best practices

Always browse before modifying. Before defining or changing a method, use smalltalk_browse to understand the class structure and smalltalk_method_source to read existing implementations.

Class-side methods. Use the side parameter with value "class" when viewing or defining class-side methods. The smalltalk_browse tool returns both instance and class methods.

Class definitions. Use standard Smalltalk class definition syntax:

Object subclass: #MyClass
    instanceVariableNames: 'foo bar'
    classVariableNames: ''
    poolDictionaries: ''
    category: 'MyCategory'

Method source format. Provide complete method source including the selector line:

increment
    count := (count ifNil: [0]) + 1.
    ^ count

Testing. After defining methods, verify with smalltalk_evaluate:

MyClass new increment

Run SUnit tests: MyClassTest buildSuite run

Exploring the system. Start broad, then narrow:

1. smalltalk_list_categories — see what's in the image
2. smalltalk_classes_in_category — explore a category
3. smalltalk_browse — understand a class
4. smalltalk_method_source — read specific methods

Tool reference