ThoughtMCP

# Tool Selection Guide This guide helps you choose the right ThoughtMCP tool for your specific situation. Each tool is designed for different types of problems and thinking needs. ## Quick Tool Selector ### 🤔 "I need to think through a problem or decision" **Use: `think`** - Best for: General reasoning, decision-making, analysis - When: You have a question or problem and want thoughtful analysis - Example: "Should I accept this job offer?" or "How can I improve team productivity?" ### 🧠 "I want to remember something important" **Use: `remember`** - Best for: Storing experiences, insights, facts, or lessons learned - When: You have valuable information you want to recall later - Example: Storing meeting outcomes, technical solutions, or personal insights ### 🔍 "I need to recall past experiences or knowledge" **Use: `recall`** - Best for: Finding relevant past experiences or stored knowledge - When: You want to leverage previous learning for current decisions - Example: "What did I learn about project management challenges?" ### 🔬 "I want to check if my reasoning is sound" **Use: `analyze_reasoning`** - Best for: Quality checking your thinking, identifying biases - When: Making important decisions or want to improve reasoning quality - Example: Checking a business decision for logical flaws or biases ## Advanced Tool Selection ### 📊 "I need a structured approach to a complex problem" **Use: `analyze_systematically`** - Best for: Complex problems needing systematic frameworks - When: Unfamiliar problem domains or need proven methodologies - Example: Strategic planning, process improvement, innovation challenges **Framework Selection Guide:** - **Scientific Method**: Well-defined problems with testable hypotheses - **Design Thinking**: User-centered problems needing creative solutions - **Systems Thinking**: Complex interconnected problems - **Root Cause Analysis**: Problems with symptoms needing underlying fixes - **Critical Thinking**: Information evaluation and argument analysis - **Creative Problem Solving**: Innovation and breakthrough solutions needed - **First Principles**: Need to challenge fundamental assumptions - **Scenario Planning**: Future uncertainty and strategic planning ### 🔀 "I want multiple perspectives on a decision" **Use: `think_parallel`** - Best for: High-stakes decisions, strategic choices, complex trade-offs - When: Need comprehensive analysis from different angles - Example: Major business pivots, technology choices, investment decisions **Stream Roles:** - **Analytical Stream**: Logical, data-driven evaluation - **Creative Stream**: Innovative approaches and alternatives - **Critical Stream**: Risk assessment and assumption challenging - **Synthetic Stream**: Integration and holistic perspective ### 🧩 "I need to break down a large, complex project" **Use: `decompose_problem`** - Best for: Large projects with many dependencies and constraints - When: Planning complex initiatives or managing multiple workstreams - Example: Product launches, system migrations, organizational changes ### 📈 "I'm dealing with uncertainty and need to weigh evidence" **Use: `think_probabilistic`** - Best for: Decisions under uncertainty with multiple hypotheses - When: Need to integrate evidence and assess probabilities - Example: Investment decisions, technology adoption, market predictions ## Memory Management Tools ### 📋 "I want to understand my memory usage" **Use: `analyze_memory_usage`** - Best for: Understanding what you've learned and stored - When: Periodic review or when system feels slow - Example: Monthly review of stored knowledge and experiences ### 🧹 "I want to optimize my memory system" **Use: `optimize_memory`** - Best for: Cleaning up unused memories and improving performance - When: System performance issues or storage optimization needed - Example: Archiving old project memories, consolidating similar concepts ### 🔄 "I need to recover something I forgot" **Use: `recover_memory`** - Best for: Retrieving degraded or forgotten memories - When: You remember something existed but can't recall details - Example: Recovering details from an important meeting or solution ### 📝 "I want to manage what gets forgotten" **Use: `forgetting_policy`** - Best for: Setting rules about memory retention and deletion - When: Need control over what information is kept long-term - Example: Automatically archiving memories older than 6 months ### 📊 "I want to see what was forgotten and why" **Use: `forgetting_audit`** - Best for: Understanding memory optimization decisions - When: Need transparency in memory management - Example: Reviewing what memories were archived and their impact ## Decision Tree: Choosing the Right Tool ### Start Here: What's your primary goal? #### 🎯 **Immediate Problem Solving** ``` Do you have a specific question or decision? ├─ Yes, simple question → `think` (balanced mode) ├─ Yes, complex decision → `think` (deliberative mode) └─ Yes, need multiple angles → `think_parallel` Is it a familiar type of problem? ├─ Yes → `think` + `recall` (for past experience) └─ No → `analyze_systematically` (for structure) ``` #### 📚 **Learning and Knowledge Management** ``` Do you want to store or retrieve information? ├─ Store experience → `remember` (episodic) ├─ Store facts/knowledge → `remember` (semantic) ├─ Find past experience → `recall` └─ Manage memory system → memory management tools ``` #### 🔍 **Quality Assurance** ``` Do you want to improve your thinking? ├─ Check reasoning quality → `analyze_reasoning` ├─ Get structured approach → `analyze_systematically` └─ Handle uncertainty → `think_probabilistic` ``` #### 🏗️ **Project Planning** ``` Do you have a complex project or initiative? ├─ Need to break it down → `decompose_problem` ├─ Need systematic approach → `analyze_systematically` ├─ Need multiple perspectives → `think_parallel` └─ High uncertainty → `think_probabilistic` ``` ## Tool Combinations for Common Scenarios ### 🚀 **Strategic Decision Making** 1. `recall` - Gather relevant past experience 2. `analyze_systematically` - Structure the analysis 3. `think_parallel` - Get multiple perspectives 4. `analyze_reasoning` - Check for biases 5. `remember` - Store the decision and lessons ### 🛠️ **Problem Solving Workflow** 1. `think` - Initial analysis of the problem 2. `recall` - Find relevant past solutions 3. `analyze_systematically` - Apply structured approach 4. `think` - Develop solution with context 5. `remember` - Store solution for future use ### 📈 **Project Planning Workflow** 1. `decompose_problem` - Break down the project 2. `think_probabilistic` - Assess risks and uncertainties 3. `analyze_systematically` - Apply project management framework 4. `think_parallel` - Consider different execution approaches 5. `remember` - Store planning insights ### 🎓 **Learning and Improvement** 1. `recall` - Review past experiences 2. `analyze_reasoning` - Identify improvement areas 3. `think` - Develop improvement strategies 4. `remember` - Store new insights and methods ## Choosing Thinking Modes ### When to Use Each Mode **Intuitive Mode** (`mode: "intuitive"`) - Quick decisions - Familiar problems - Time pressure - Initial brainstorming **Deliberative Mode** (`mode: "deliberative"`) - Important decisions - Complex problems - Unfamiliar territory - High-stakes situations **Balanced Mode** (`mode: "balanced"`) - Default - General use - Mixed scenarios - Moderate complexity - Standard analysis **Creative Mode** (`mode: "creative"`) - Innovation challenges - Brainstorming sessions - Breaking conventional thinking - Artistic or design problems **Analytical Mode** (`mode: "analytical"`) - Technical problems - Data analysis - Systematic evaluation - Logical reasoning tasks ## Context and Configuration Tips ### Adding Context for Better Results Always provide context when available: ```json { "context": { "domain": "software-development", "urgency": 0.8, "complexity": 0.7, "team_size": 5, "timeline": "3 months" } } ``` ### Enabling Advanced Features **Emotional Processing** (`enable_emotion: true`) - Personal decisions - Team dynamics - User experience problems - Stressful situations **Metacognitive Monitoring** (`enable_metacognition: true`) - Important decisions - Learning scenarios - Quality improvement - Bias detection **Predictive Processing** (`enable_prediction: true`) - Future planning - Risk assessment - Scenario analysis - Strategic decisions ## Common Mistakes to Avoid ### ❌ Wrong Tool Selection **Don't use `think` for:** - Storing information (use `remember`) - Finding past information (use `recall`) - Complex project planning (use `decompose_problem`) **Don't use `analyze_systematically` for:** - Simple questions (use `think`) - Personal reflection (use `think` with emotion enabled) - Quick decisions (use `think` in intuitive mode) **Don't use `think_parallel` for:** - Simple problems (use `think`) - When you need speed (use `think` in intuitive mode) - Well-understood domains (use `think` or `analyze_systematically`) ### ❌ Poor Input Quality **Avoid vague inputs:** ```json // ❌ Too vague {"input": "help with project"} // ✅ Specific and clear {"input": "I need to decide between React and Vue for a new e-commerce site. Team has 2 junior developers, 3-month timeline, need good performance and maintainability."} ``` **Provide sufficient context:** ```json // ❌ Missing context {"input": "Should I refactor this code?"} // ✅ Rich context { "input": "Should I refactor this authentication module?", "context": { "domain": "software-development", "urgency": 0.3, "complexity": 0.7, "constraints": ["time_constraint", "team_capacity"] } } ``` ## Performance Optimization ### For Speed - Use `think` in intuitive mode - Disable metacognition for simple problems - Use specific, clear inputs - Avoid parallel processing for simple decisions ### For Quality - Use deliberative mode for important decisions - Enable metacognition and emotion processing - Use systematic analysis for complex problems - Combine multiple tools for comprehensive analysis ### For Learning - Always store important insights with `remember` - Use `recall` before making similar decisions - Analyze your reasoning quality regularly - Build up domain-specific knowledge over time ## Getting Started Recommendations ### For New Users 1. Start with `think` for basic questions 2. Try `remember` and `recall` to build knowledge 3. Use `analyze_reasoning` to improve thinking quality 4. Gradually explore advanced tools as needs arise ### For Experienced Users 1. Develop tool combination workflows 2. Use context and configuration effectively 3. Build domain-specific memory systems 4. Optimize for your specific use cases ### For Teams 1. Establish shared memory systems 2. Use systematic analysis for team decisions 3. Document decision-making processes 4. Share insights and lessons learned --- _Need help with a specific scenario? Check our [Examples](../examples/) or ask in [Discussions](https://github.com/keyurgolani/ThoughtMcp/discussions)._