modelcontextprotocol / modelcontextprotocol/python-sdk
feat: enhance dynamic tool management with notifications and enable/disable
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- Dominant language
- Python
- Stars
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- Forks
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- Avg merge
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- Merged PRs (30d)
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Description
Summary
Enhance the Python SDK's dynamic tool management capabilities to match the TypeScript SDK by adding:
- Automatic
tools/list_changednotifications when tools are added/removed - Tool enable/disable functionality (temporary hiding without removal)
Background
The Python SDK currently supports adding and removing tools dynamically (see #1322), but lacks two key features present in the TypeScript SDK:
1. List Changed Notifications
The TypeScript SDK automatically sends notifications/tools/list_changed when tools are modified. This allows clients to know when they should refresh their tool list.
Python SDK gap: Currently, when calling add_tool() or remove_tool(), clients are not notified of the change and may show stale tool lists.
2. Enable/Disable Tools
The TypeScript SDK provides enable() and disable() methods on tools:
const tool = server.tool("myTool", ..., async () => { ... });
tool.disable() // Hides from list_tools, blocks calls
tool.enable() // Re-enables the tool
tool.remove() // Permanently removes
Benefits:
- Temporarily hide tools without losing registration
- Re-enable tools without re-registering
- Useful for permission-based or state-based tool visibility
Python SDK gap: Only permanent removal via remove_tool() is supported. No way to temporarily disable/re-enable tools.
References
- Related PR: #1322 (adds
remove_toolmethod) - TypeScript SDK Dynamic Servers: https://github.com/modelcontextprotocol/typescript-sdk#dynamic-servers
- MCP spec supports
notifications/tools/list_changed
Contributor guide
First steps
- Read the whole issue, then the project's contributing guide.
- Comment on the issue to say you are picking it up — it saves two people doing the same work.
- Fork the repository and make your change on a branch.
- Open a pull request that references the issue number.
Research direction
Start with the Python SDK entry points for add_tool(), remove_tool(), list_tools(), and tool invocation, then compare their behavior with the referenced TypeScript SDK dynamic-server implementation. Done means added and removed tools trigger tools/list_changed notifications, while disabled tools are hidden and blocked, can be re-enabled, and remain removable.
Written by the indexing model from the issue text.
Assessment
- Tech stack
- python, typescript
- Domain
- api, backend
- Issue type
- Feature
- Difficulty
- 4/5
- Estimated time
- 3-5 days
- Activity status
- Stale
- Clarity
- Mostly clear
- Newbie friendliness
- 38/100