feat(mcp): Allow to pass configuration file path via MCP tools (#1691)

Author: bhirsz

.ai/mcp/mcp.json

@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ pip install nox
 And multiple Python versions:
 
 ```commandline
-uv python install 3.9 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13
+uv python install 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13
 ```
 
 To run all nox sessions (defined in ``noxfile.py``), run in the root of the project:

CONTRIBUTING.md

@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ The most common questions with answers can be found at the bottom ⬇ of this RE
 
 ## Requirements
 
-Python 3.9+ :snake: and Robot Framework 4.0+ :robot:.
+Python 3.10+ :snake: and Robot Framework 5.0+ :robot:.
 
 ## Installation
 

README.md

@@ -24,9 +24,6 @@ Install Robocop with MCP support:
 pip install robotframework-robocop[mcp]
 ```
 
-!!! note "Python Version Requirement"
-    MCP support requires Python 3.10 or higher. The core Robocop functionality still supports Python 3.9+.
-
 ### Running the Server
 
 #### Standalone (Testing)
@@ -139,6 +136,14 @@ If the server doesn't appear or tools don't work:
 4. **Check config syntax**: Ensure valid JSON (no trailing commas)
 5. **Path issues**: If `robocop-mcp` isn't found, use the full path (e.g., `/usr/local/bin/robocop-mcp`)
 
+### Configuration
+
+Robocop MCP loads its configuration in this order:
+
+- from the default config file when the MCP server is started in a directory that contains it
+- from a config file provided via the `config_path` tool parameter
+- from any tool-specific override options, when available
+
 ### Available Tools
 
 #### Linting Tools
@@ -147,15 +152,16 @@ If the server doesn't appear or tools don't work:
 
 Lint Robot Framework code provided as text content.
 
-| Parameter | Type | Description |
-|-----------|------|-------------|
-| `content` | string | Robot Framework source code to lint (required) |
-| `filename` | string | Virtual filename for file type detection (default: "stdin.robot") |
+| Parameter | Type      | Description |
+|-----------|-----------|-------------|
+| `content` | string    | Robot Framework source code to lint (required) |
+| `filename` | string    | Virtual filename for file type detection (default: "stdin.robot") |
 | `select` | list[str] | Rule IDs/names to enable (e.g., `["LEN01", "too-long-keyword"]`) |
 | `ignore` | list[str] | Rule IDs/names to ignore |
-| `threshold` | string | Minimum severity: `I` (Info), `W` (Warning), or `E` (Error) |
-| `limit` | int | Maximum number of issues to return |
+| `threshold` | string    | Minimum severity: `I` (Info), `W` (Warning), or `E` (Error) |
+| `limit` | int       | Maximum number of issues to return |
 | `configure` | list[str] | Rule configurations (e.g., `["line-too-long.line_length=140"]`) |
+| `config_path` | Path | Path to the Robocop toml configuration file |
 
 **Returns:** List of diagnostic issues, each containing `rule_id`, `name`, `message`, `severity`, `line`, `column`, `end_line`, `end_column`.
 
@@ -171,6 +177,7 @@ Lint a single Robot Framework file from disk.
 | `threshold` | string | Minimum severity: `I`, `W`, or `E` |
 | `limit` | int | Maximum number of issues to return |
 | `configure` | list[str] | Rule configurations |
+| `config_path` | Path | Path to the Robocop toml configuration file |
 
 **Returns:** List of diagnostic issues (same format as lint_content).
 
@@ -190,6 +197,7 @@ Lint multiple Robot Framework files using paths or glob patterns. Useful for che
 | `configure` | list[str] | Rule configurations |
 | `group_by` | string | Group results: `"severity"`, `"rule"`, or `"file"` |
 | `summarize_only` | bool | Return only stats without individual issues (default: false) |
+| `config_path` | Path | Path to the Robocop toml configuration file |
 
 **Returns:** Dictionary with `total_files`, `total_issues`, `files_with_issues`, `issues` (omitted when `summarize_only`), `summary`, `limited`, `offset`, `has_more`, `unmatched_patterns`, `group_counts` (when grouped), and `top_rules` (when `summarize_only`).
 
@@ -202,6 +210,7 @@ Analyze Robot Framework code and get actionable fix suggestions for each issue.
 | `content` | string | Robot Framework source code to analyze (required) |
 | `filename` | string | Virtual filename (default: "stdin.robot") |
 | `rule_ids` | list[str] | Specific rule IDs to get suggestions for |
+| `config_path` | Path | Path to the Robocop toml configuration file |
 
 **Returns:** Dictionary with:
 
@@ -224,6 +233,7 @@ Format Robot Framework code and return the formatted result.
 | `select` | list[str] | Formatter names to apply (default: all enabled formatters) |
 | `space_count` | int | Spaces for indentation (default: 4) |
 | `line_length` | int | Maximum line length (default: 120) |
+| `config_path` | Path | Path to the Robocop toml configuration file |
 
 **Returns:** Dictionary with `formatted` (the code), `changed` (boolean), and `diff` (unified diff if changed).
 
@@ -245,6 +255,7 @@ Format Robot Framework code and lint the result in one operation. **Recommended
 | `limit` | int | Maximum issues to return |
 | `configure` | list[str] | Rule configurations |
 | `overwrite` | bool | If True and `file_path` is used, write formatted content back to file (default: false) |
+| `config_path` | Path | Path to the Robocop toml configuration file |
 
 **Returns:** Dictionary with `formatted`, `changed`, `diff`, `issues` (remaining), `issues_before`, `issues_after`, `issues_fixed`. When `file_path` is used, also includes `file` and `written`.
 
@@ -259,6 +270,7 @@ Format a Robot Framework file from disk. Can optionally overwrite the file with
 | `space_count` | int | Spaces for indentation (default: 4) |
 | `line_length` | int | Maximum line length (default: 120) |
 | `overwrite` | bool | Write formatted content back to file (default: false) |
+| `config_path` | Path | Path to the Robocop toml configuration file |
 
 **Returns:** Dictionary with `file`, `formatted`, `changed`, `diff`, and `written` (whether file was overwritten).
 
@@ -275,6 +287,7 @@ Format multiple Robot Framework files using paths or glob patterns. Can optional
 | `line_length` | int | Maximum line length (default: 120) |
 | `overwrite` | bool | Write formatted content back to files (default: false) |
 | `summarize_only` | bool | Return only stats without per-file results (default: false) |
+| `config_path` | Path | Path to the Robocop toml configuration file |
 
 **Returns:** Dictionary with `total_files`, `files_changed`, `files_unchanged`, `files_written`, `results` (omitted when `summarize_only`), `errors`, `unmatched_patterns`.
 
@@ -334,6 +347,7 @@ Explain a specific issue at a given line with surrounding context. More detailed
 | `line` | int | The line number to explain (1-indexed, required) |
 | `filename` | string | Virtual filename (default: "stdin.robot") |
 | `context_lines` | int | Number of lines to show before/after (default: 3) |
+| `config_path` | Path | Path to the Robocop toml configuration file |
 
 **Returns:** Dictionary with:
 
@@ -359,6 +373,7 @@ Get rich context for LLM-assisted fixing of Robot Framework code issues. This to
 | `line` | int | Specific line to get context for (None = all issues) |
 | `rule_ids` | list[str] | Filter to specific rule IDs (e.g., `["LEN01", "NAME02"]`) |
 | `context_lines` | int | Lines of context before and after target (default: 5) |
+| `config_path` | Path | Path to the Robocop toml configuration file |
 
 **Returns:** Dictionary with:
 
@@ -423,6 +438,7 @@ List all available linting rules with optional filtering.
 | `category` | string | Filter by category: `"LEN"`, `"NAME"`, `"DOC"`, `"SPACE"`, etc. |
 | `severity` | string | Filter by severity: `"I"`, `"W"`, or `"E"` |
 | `enabled_only` | bool | Only return enabled rules (default: false) |
+| `config_path` | Path | Path to the Robocop toml configuration file |
 
 **Returns:** List of rule summaries with `rule_id`, `name`, `severity`, `enabled`, `message`.
 
@@ -433,6 +449,7 @@ List all available formatters.
 | Parameter | Type | Description |
 |-----------|------|-------------|
 | `enabled_only` | bool | Only return enabled formatters (default: true) |
+| `config_path` | Path | Path to the Robocop toml configuration file |
 
 **Returns:** List of formatter summaries with `name`, `enabled`, `description`.
 
@@ -443,6 +460,7 @@ Get detailed documentation for a specific linting rule.
 | Parameter | Type | Description |
 |-----------|------|-------------|
 | `rule_name_or_id` | string | Rule name (e.g., `"too-long-keyword"`) or ID (e.g., `"LEN01"`) (required) |
+| `config_path` | Path | Path to the Robocop toml configuration file |
 
 **Returns:** Dictionary with `rule_id`, `name`, `message`, `severity`, `enabled`, `deprecated`, `docs`, `parameters`, `added_in_version`, `version_requirement`.
 
@@ -453,6 +471,7 @@ Get detailed documentation for a specific formatter.
 | Parameter | Type | Description |
 |-----------|------|-------------|
 | `formatter_name` | string | Formatter name (e.g., `"NormalizeSeparators"`) (required) |
+| `config_path` | Path | Path to the Robocop toml configuration file |
 
 **Returns:** Dictionary with `name`, `enabled`, `docs`, `min_version`, `parameters`, `skip_options`.
 
@@ -467,6 +486,7 @@ Search for linting rules by keyword. Searches across rule names, messages, and d
 | `category` | string | Filter by category: `"LEN"`, `"NAME"`, `"DOC"`, etc. |
 | `severity` | string | Filter by severity: `"I"`, `"W"`, or `"E"` |
 | `limit` | int | Maximum results to return (default: 20) |
+| `config_path` | Path | Path to the Robocop toml configuration file |
 
 **Returns:** List of matching rules with `rule_id`, `name`, `message`, `severity`, `enabled`, `match_field`, `match_snippet`.
 

docs/integrations/ai.md

@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 ## Requirements
 
-Python 3.9+ and Robot Framework 4+.
+Python 3.10+ and Robot Framework 5+.
 
 ## Installation
 

docs/user_guide/intro.md

@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 
 nox.options.default_venv_backend = "uv"
 
-PYTHON_VERSIONS = ["3.9", "3.10", "3.11", "3.12", "3.13", "3.14"]
+PYTHON_VERSIONS = ["3.10", "3.11", "3.12", "3.13", "3.14"]
 
 ROBOT_VERSIONS = ["robotframework==4.*", "robotframework==5.*", "robotframework==6.*", "robotframework==7.*"]
 ROBOCOP_VERSIONS = (

noxfile.py

@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ robocop-mcp = "robocop.mcp.server:main"
 
 [project.optional-dependencies]
 mcp = [
-    "fastmcp>=2.13.0"
+    "fastmcp>=2.13.0,<3"
 ]
 
 [project.urls]

pyproject.toml

@@ -6,11 +6,13 @@
 from typing import TYPE_CHECKING
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from pathlib import Path
+
     from robocop.runtime.resolved_config import ResolvedConfig
 
 
-@lru_cache(maxsize=1)
-def get_linter_config() -> ResolvedConfig:
+@lru_cache
+def get_linter_config(config_path: Path | None) -> ResolvedConfig:
     """
     Get cached LinterConfig with all rules loaded.
 
@@ -24,14 +26,14 @@ def get_linter_config() -> ResolvedConfig:
     from robocop.config.manager import ConfigManager
     from robocop.runtime.resolver import ConfigResolver
 
-    manager = ConfigManager()
+    manager = ConfigManager(config=config_path)
     resolver = ConfigResolver(load_rules=True)
 
     return resolver.resolve_config(manager.default_config)
 
 
-@lru_cache(maxsize=1)
-def get_formatter_config() -> ResolvedConfig:
+@lru_cache
+def get_formatter_config(config_path: Path | None) -> ResolvedConfig:
     """
     Get cached FormatterConfig with all formatters loaded.
 
@@ -45,7 +47,7 @@ def get_formatter_config() -> ResolvedConfig:
     from robocop.config.manager import ConfigManager
     from robocop.runtime.resolver import ConfigResolver
 
-    manager = ConfigManager()
+    manager = ConfigManager(config=config_path)
     resolver = ConfigResolver(load_formatters=True)
 
     return resolver.resolve_config(manager.default_config)

src/robocop/mcp/cache.py

@@ -10,18 +10,23 @@
 from robocop.mcp.cache import get_formatter_config, get_linter_config
 
 if TYPE_CHECKING:
+    from pathlib import Path
+
     from fastmcp import FastMCP
 
 
-def _get_rules_catalog() -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
+def _get_rules_catalog(config_path: Path | None = None) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
     """
     Get catalog of all available linting rules.
 
+    Args:
+        config_path: Path to the Robocop toml configuration file
+
     Returns:
         list[dict[str, Any]]: List of rules with basic information.
 
     """
-    linter_config = get_linter_config()
+    linter_config = get_linter_config(config_path)
 
     # Use a set to deduplicate (rules dict has both id and name pointing to same rule)
     seen_ids: set[str] = set()
@@ -47,15 +52,18 @@ def _get_rules_catalog() -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
     return sorted(rules, key=operator.itemgetter("rule_id"))
 
 
-def _get_formatters_catalog() -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
+def _get_formatters_catalog(config_path: Path | None = None) -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
     """
     Get catalog of all available formatters.
 
+    Args:
+        config_path: Path to the Robocop toml configuration file
+
     Returns:
         list[dict[str, Any]]: List of formatters with basic information.
 
     """
-    formatter_config = get_formatter_config()
+    formatter_config = get_formatter_config(config_path)
 
     formatters = []
     for name, formatter in formatter_config.formatters.items():
@@ -73,19 +81,20 @@ def _get_formatters_catalog() -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
     return sorted(formatters, key=operator.itemgetter("name"))
 
 
-def _get_rule_details(rule_id: str) -> dict[str, Any]:
+def _get_rule_details(rule_id: str, config_path: Path | None = None) -> dict[str, Any]:
     """
     Get detailed information about a specific rule.
 
     Args:
         rule_id: Rule ID (e.g., "LEN01") or name (e.g., "too-long-keyword")
+        config_path: Path to the Robocop toml configuration file
 
     Returns:
         dict[str, Any]: Detailed rule information including full documentation
         and configurable parameters.
 
     """
-    linter_config = get_linter_config()
+    linter_config = get_linter_config(config_path)
 
     if rule_id not in linter_config.rules:
         raise ResourceError(f"Rule '{rule_id}' not found")
@@ -123,7 +132,7 @@ def _get_rule_details(rule_id: str) -> dict[str, Any]:
 def register_resources(mcp: FastMCP) -> None:
     """Register all MCP resources with the server."""
 
-    @mcp.resource("robocop://rules")
+    @mcp.resource("robocop://rules")  # FIXME: add config handling
     def get_rules_catalog() -> list[dict[str, Any]]:
         """
         Get catalog of all available linting rules.