mecatui: configure the ToolHive MCP discovery group for its embedded server
@JAORMX is already working on this.
Since Sep 7, 2026.
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Description
Problem
mecatui’s embedded mecated server enables ToolHive MCP workload discovery, but hard-codes ToolHive’s default group:
ToolHiveEnabled: true,
ToolHiveGroup: "", // empty -> "default"
(cmd/mecatui/main.go:1089-1095)
Unlike mecated, mecatui does not expose --toolhive or --toolhive-group flags (cmd/mecatui/helpmeta.go:157-159). There is also no operator-global settings.yaml setting for the discovery group; the existing mcp.servers configuration only supports explicit Streamable HTTP endpoint profiles, not ToolHive workload discovery.
As a result, an operator whose running ToolHive MCP workloads belong to a non-default group cannot use automatic discovery in locally hosted mecatui. They must either run a separate mecated --toolhive-group GROUP and connect to it, or manually configure every ToolHive proxy URL.
Proposal
Add an operator-global configuration surface for the ToolHive MCP discovery group used by mecatui’s embedded server.
The setting should feed app.Config.ToolHiveGroup exactly as mecated’s existing --toolhive-group does. It must not be project-configurable: selecting a running-workload source is operator/deployment configuration, not repository-owned agent steering.
Optionally, expose the same setting as a local-only mecatui CLI override, mirroring mecated:
mecatui --toolhive-group engineering
Precedence should be explicit CLI override → operator-global settings → current default (default group).
Acceptance criteria
- An operator can configure the ToolHive MCP workload group for mecatui’s embedded server without running a separate mecated process.
- With no setting or flag, behavior remains unchanged: discovery is enabled and uses ToolHive’s
defaultgroup. - A local mecatui CLI override, if added, takes precedence over the operator-global setting.
- Project-level settings cannot set or override the ToolHive discovery group.
- The configured group reaches
app.Config.ToolHiveGroup, and only workloads in that group are considered for discovery. - Discovered workloads retain current behavior: running workloads only; Streamable HTTP proxy mode required; stdio-backed workloads remain supported when ToolHive proxies them as Streamable HTTP.
- The MCP inventory is available once at least one discovered endpoint connects successfully; no connected workload continues to mean no
/mcpbuilt-in. mecatui --helpand the public mecatui/MCP documentation describe the new configuration and clarify that it applies only to embedded-server mode, notmecatui connect.- Add offline coverage for default behavior, operator-global configuration, CLI precedence if implemented, and rejection/ignoring of project-tier configuration.
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