atxtechbro / atxtechbro/dotfiles

mcp: add tool-level logging to GitHub MCP servers to expose workflow bottlenecks

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enhancement mcp performance
Dominant language
Shell
Stars
27
Forks
2
PR merge metrics
No merged PRs in 30d

Description

## Problem

GitHub MCP server tool calls are not being logged, creating visibility gaps in workflow optimization. During `/close-issue 848` session:

- **Git MCP server calls**: All logged with timestamps in `~/mcp-tool-calls.log`
- **GitHub MCP server calls**: No logging - 1m 42s gap between `git_push` and `git_worktree_remove`

This prevents identifying actual bottlenecks in the `/close-issue` workflow.

## Evidence from MCP Tool Logs

```
2025-07-15 11:12:21 - git_push: SUCCESS
[1m 42s gap - GitHub API calls invisible]
2025-07-15 11:14:03 - git_worktree_remove: SUCCESS
```

Missing operations during gap:
- `mcp__github-write__create_pull_request`
- `mcp__github-read__get_pull_request_files`
- Other GitHub API validation calls

## Solution

Add tool-level logging to GitHub MCP servers following existing pattern in `knowledge/procedures/mcp-tool-logging.md`.

Reference implementation: `atxtechbro-git-mcp-server` (already has logging)

## Principles This Supports

- **[Five Focusing Steps](knowledge/principles/five-focusing-steps.md)**: Can't identify the system constraint without visibility into all operations
- **[Selective Optimization](knowledge/principles/selective-optimization.md)**: Need timing data to prioritize highest value-to-effort ratio improvements
- **[Tracer Bullets](knowledge/principles/tracer-bullets.md)**: Feedback loops require observable units of change - can't adjust aim without seeing where shots land
- **[Systems Stewardship](knowledge/principles/systems-stewardship.md)**: Maintaining systems requires measurement and visibility into performance patterns
- **[Subtraction Creates Value](knowledge/principles/subtraction-creates-value.md)**: Cognitive buffer constraint requires knowing which tools consume the most tokens/time

## Expected Impact

With GitHub API timing visibility:
- Identify actual bottlenecks in `/close-issue` workflow
- Target scripting efforts at highest-impact operations
- Reduce 15-20 minute workflow to 5-10 minutes through selective optimization

## Acceptance Criteria

- [ ] GitHub MCP server calls appear in `~/mcp-tool-calls.log`
- [ ] Timestamps show duration of PR creation, issue updates, file validation
- [ ] Can identify which GitHub API calls are slowest/most frequent
- [ ] Update `knowledge/procedures/mcp-tool-logging.md` docs table to reflect new logging status

Contributor guide

No contributing guide indexed for this repository

Research direction

Start with knowledge/procedures/mcp-tool-logging.md and compare the reference implementation in atxtechbro-git-mcp-server. Locate the GitHub MCP server tool entry points, then verify that calls record timestamps and durations in ~/mcp-tool-calls.log. Update the documentation table and confirm that PR creation, issue updates, and file validation are visible.

Written by the indexing model from the issue text.

Assessment

Tech stack
github
Domain
observability, tooling
Issue type
Feature
Difficulty
4/5
Estimated time
3-5 days
Activity status
Stale
Clarity
Mostly clear
Newbie friendliness
48/100

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