Lazy dial of a deferred MCP server

What it does

Connects a deferred MCP server only when a search or a call first touches it, instead of connecting every configured server at startup.

Source

ganja-code-r2e (dial a deferred MCP server only when first touched).

The bead is closed when this issue is published, with its external reference pointing here (#38).

File and line references in this issue are to main as of 75a7a92.

Against the three criteria

• Direction (README): The README's only word on tools is "permission-gated tools" (README.md:6); it says nothing about MCP.
• Today's terminal users: Every configured server is connected once, at startup, in a background task (crates/ganja-core/src/mcp.rs:6).
• Evidence: D492's decision left deferring the dial out of scope because tools/list needs the dial; how an undialled server's tools would be searchable is unsolved. The exploration is part of the work.

Depends on

No other idea.

Verdict

• Verdict: do
• Size: M — one plan and one decision number.
• Exception to the probe rule: yes. #36 says an idea that needs a measurement or a probe first is not do; this one is an explicit exception: the exploration is part of the work.
• Date: 2026-09-19
• Verdict ticket: #43

Theme: #55

Start with crates/ganja-core/src/mcp.rs:6 and compare its startup connection behavior with the deferred-dial goal. Read D492 and investigate how tools/list and search could work before a server is dialled. Done means resolving that exploration, recording the decision, and implementing the agreed behavior.