look at that users of @node. first, three variants

.serena/memories/project_overview.md

@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
 Main packages live under `src/`:
 - `wf_core`: workflow model, validation, runtime semantics, frames, trace, interrupts, foreach, async execution.
 - `wf_authoring`: ergonomic authoring layer including `@node`, `NodeSpec`, `WorkflowBuilder`, conditions, paths, and subgraph wrapping.
-- `wf_mcp`: MCP broker/proxy layer for managing multiple backend MCP connections, discovery/catalog snapshots, transparent FastMCP proxying, config/admin tools, and eventual workflow build/run integration.
+- `wf_mcp`: MCP broker/proxy layer for managing multiple backend MCP connections, transparent FastMCP proxying, live config/admin tools, hot reload, tool introspection, discovery/catalog snapshots, and eventual workflow build/run integration.
 
 Important docs:
 - `readme.md`: running design notes and architecture.
@@ -13,4 +13,20 @@ Important docs:
 - `wf_mcp_plan.md`: MCP proxy/broker/workflow integration plan.
 - `scratchpad.md`: rough design history.
 
-Current MCP direction: transparent proxy mode is the main product path. Old broker tools remain useful for debugging/admin/catalog operations, but protocol-native FastMCP proxying exposes upstream tools/resources/prompts as first-class MCP capabilities.
+Current MCP direction:
+- Transparent proxy mode is the main product path.
+- Old broker mode remains useful for debugging/admin/catalog operations.
+- Protocol-native FastMCP proxying exposes upstream tools/resources/prompts as first-class MCP capabilities.
+- Current configured live connections have included `context7.default`, `serena.default`, and `everything.default`; treat `wf_mcp.config.json` as user-owned live state.
+- Direct Serena is configured outside `wf_mcp` and should be preferred for code navigation/editing because it does not reset when `wf-mcp` hot-reloads.
+
+Recent `wf_mcp` capabilities:
+- Pydantic config boundary in `config_models.py`.
+- Config mutation boundary in `config_manager.py`.
+- Proxy validation in `proxy_validation.py`.
+- Transparent proxy runtime and manual hot reload in `transparent_proxy.py`.
+- Explicit name mapping in `names.py`.
+- Opaque cursor pagination helpers in `pagination.py`.
+- Admin tools under `wf.mcp_*`: list/get config, add/update/enable/disable/remove connection, reload config, list/get proxy tools.
+- `wf.mcp_list_proxy_tools` supports `connection_id`, `query`, `limit`, and `cursor`; returns `{tools, nextCursor, total}`.
+- `wf.mcp_get_proxy_tool` returns one detailed proxied tool row with schema where available.

.serena/memories/style_and_conventions.md

@@ -7,14 +7,24 @@ General:
 - Keep MCP proxy concepts separate from workflow-specific concepts like `outcome`.
 - Do not leak workflow-only fields into MCP `tools/list`.
 
+MCP/proxy conventions:
+- Transparent proxy mode is the product path; old broker mode is secondary/debug/admin-oriented.
+- Admin tools live under the reserved namespace `wf.mcp_*`.
+- Upstream FastMCP names use Namespace behavior: `<connection_id>_<local_tool_name>`, e.g. `everything.default_echo`.
+- Keep name parsing and unmangling in `names.py`; do not scatter string slicing across modules.
+- Keep cursor mechanics in `pagination.py`; use opaque cursors and `nextCursor` to mirror MCP pagination style.
+- Keep config disk writes in `config_manager.py`; transparent proxy code should expose/administer behavior, not own JSON mutation details.
+- `wf_mcp.config.json` is user-owned live config. Do not edit/revert it unless explicitly asked.
+
 Code style:
 - Use precise type hints and modern Python collection syntax (`list[str]`, `dict[str, Any]`).
 - Keep modules layered by responsibility; avoid stuffing everything into service/runtime files.
-- Prefer small helper modules when behavior becomes a boundary (`config_models.py`, `config_manager.py`, `proxy_validation.py`).
+- Prefer small helper modules when behavior becomes a boundary (`config_models.py`, `config_manager.py`, `proxy_validation.py`, `names.py`, `pagination.py`).
 - Validation should fail early with clear errors.
 - Tests should exercise behavior through public APIs/MCP calls where practical.
+- For MCP client `CallToolResult.structured_content`, guard for `None` in tests before subscripting; use helper assertions where useful.
 
 Editing rules from repo collaboration:
 - Use `apply_patch` for manual code edits.
 - Do not revert user-owned changes.
-- Treat `wf_mcp.config.json` as user-owned live config unless explicitly asked.
+- Direct Serena MCP is available and can be used for semantic navigation/editing; onboarding is already complete.

.serena/memories/suggested_commands.md

@@ -4,11 +4,12 @@ Use PowerShell on Windows from the repo root.
 
 Testing:
 - `uv run --with pytest pytest -q`
-- Focused example: `uv run --with pytest pytest tests/test_wf_mcp_transparent_proxy.py -q`
+- Focused MCP proxy tests: `uv run --with pytest pytest tests/test_wf_mcp_transparent_proxy.py -q`
+- Focused names/pagination examples: `uv run --with pytest pytest tests/test_wf_mcp_names.py tests/test_wf_mcp_transparent_proxy.py -q`
 
 Lint/type checks:
 - `uv run ruff check src/wf_mcp tests`
-- Focused basedpyright example: `uv run basedpyright src/wf_mcp/transparent_proxy.py --level error`
+- Focused basedpyright example: `uv run basedpyright src/wf_mcp/transparent_proxy.py src/wf_mcp/pagination.py --level error`
 
 Formatting:
 - `uv run ruff format`
@@ -19,6 +20,18 @@ CLI / MCP server:
 - Old broker mode: `uv run wf-mcp --config wf_mcp.config.json serve --mode broker`
 - Optional compatibility/search flags: `--resources-as-tools`, `--prompts-as-tools`, `--search-tools`
 
+Useful live MCP admin tools exposed by `wf-mcp`:
+- `wf.mcp_list_connections`
+- `wf.mcp_get_config`
+- `wf.mcp_add_connection`
+- `wf.mcp_update_connection`
+- `wf.mcp_enable_connection`
+- `wf.mcp_disable_connection`
+- `wf.mcp_remove_connection`
+- `wf.mcp_reload_config`
+- `wf.mcp_list_proxy_tools`
+- `wf.mcp_get_proxy_tool`
+
 Useful Windows shell commands:
 - Fast search: `rg "pattern" path`
 - List files: `Get-ChildItem -Force`

.serena/memories/task_completion_checklist.md

@@ -6,7 +6,12 @@ Before considering a code task done:
 - Run ruff on touched source/tests, usually `uv run ruff check src/wf_mcp tests` for MCP work.
 - Run focused basedpyright at error level for new or heavily changed files when type issues are likely.
 - Check `git status --short` and distinguish user-owned config changes from code changes.
+- For MCP/proxy changes, consider direct FastMCP client verification when Codex's native MCP tool registry is stale.
 - Summarize functional changes and verification results concisely.
 
-Known environment note:
+Recent known-good full-suite count after proxy tool pagination/detail work:
-- Windows sandbox may block commands with `CreateProcessAsUserW failed: 5`; retry important commands with escalation rather than working around via unsafe shell tricks.
+- `48 passed, 1 skipped`
+
+Known environment notes:
+- Windows sandbox may block commands with `CreateProcessAsUserW failed: 5`; retry important commands with escalation rather than working around via unsafe shell tricks.
+- Codex/native MCP tool schemas may not refresh dynamically after `wf-mcp` hot reload. A fresh client/session may be needed to see newly added MCP tools.

src/wf_authoring/__init__.py

@@ -2,6 +2,14 @@ from .builder import WorkflowBuilder
 from .catalog import NodeCatalog, NodeCatalogEntry
 from .conditions import context, exists, expr, input, state
 from .mapping import bind_fields, bind_state, merge_maps
+from .ops import (
+    ItemOutput,
+    MaybeItemOutput,
+    SequenceInput,
+    first_item,
+    first_item_maybe,
+    first_item_or_none,
+)
 from .paths import GraphPath, context_path, graph_path, input_path, state_path
 from .spec import (
     AsyncRegistryHandler,
@@ -18,10 +26,13 @@ __all__ = [
     "NodeCatalog",
     "NodeCatalogEntry",
     "GraphPath",
+    "ItemOutput",
+    "MaybeItemOutput",
     "NodeReturn",
     "NodeSpec",
     "AsyncRegistryHandler",
     "SyncRegistryHandler",
+    "SequenceInput",
     "WorkflowBuilder",
     "bind_fields",
     "build_async_registry",
@@ -32,6 +43,9 @@ __all__ = [
     "context_path",
     "expr",
     "exists",
+    "first_item",
+    "first_item_maybe",
+    "first_item_or_none",
     "graph_path",
     "input",
     "input_path",

src/wf_authoring/ops.py

@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from typing import Any
+
+from pydantic import BaseModel
+
+from .spec import NodeReturn, node
+
+
+class SequenceInput(BaseModel):
+    items: list[Any]
+
+
+class ItemOutput(BaseModel):
+    item: Any
+
+
+class MaybeItemOutput(BaseModel):
+    item: Any | None = None
+
+
+@node(
+    name="authoring.first_item",
+    input_model=SequenceInput,
+    output_model=ItemOutput,
+    description="Select the first item from a non-empty sequence.",
+)
+def first_item(input: SequenceInput) -> ItemOutput:
+    if not input.items:
+        raise ValueError("first_item requires at least one item")
+    return ItemOutput(item=input.items[0])
+
+
+@node(
+    name="authoring.first_item_or_none",
+    input_model=SequenceInput,
+    output_model=ItemOutput,
+    description="Select the first item from a sequence, or None when it is empty.",
+)
+def first_item_or_none(input: SequenceInput) -> ItemOutput:
+    return ItemOutput(item=input.items[0] if input.items else None)
+
+
+@node(
+    name="authoring.first_item_maybe",
+    input_model=SequenceInput,
+    output_model=MaybeItemOutput,
+    outcomes=("found", "missing"),
+    description=(
+        "Select the first item from a sequence, routing to found or missing."
+    ),
+)
+def first_item_maybe(input: SequenceInput) -> NodeReturn[MaybeItemOutput]:
+    if not input.items:
+        return NodeReturn(outcome="missing", output=MaybeItemOutput())
+    return NodeReturn(outcome="found", output=MaybeItemOutput(item=input.items[0]))

src/wf_authoring/spec.py

@@ -21,10 +21,30 @@ from wf_core import NodeDef, RuntimeContext, SchemaRef
 
 InputT = TypeVar("InputT", bound=BaseModel)
 OutputT = TypeVar("OutputT", bound=BaseModel)
-NodeCallable = Callable[[InputT, RuntimeContext], "NodeReturn[OutputT] | OutputT"]
+
-AsyncNodeCallable = Callable[
+ContextNodeCallable = Callable[
+    [InputT, RuntimeContext], "NodeReturn[OutputT] | OutputT"
+]
+PlainNodeCallable = Callable[[InputT], "NodeReturn[OutputT] | OutputT"]
+NodeCallable = (
+    Callable[[InputT, RuntimeContext], "NodeReturn[OutputT] | OutputT"]
+    | Callable[[InputT], "NodeReturn[OutputT] | OutputT"]
+)
+
+AsyncContextNodeCallable = Callable[
     [InputT, RuntimeContext], Awaitable["NodeReturn[OutputT] | OutputT"]
 ]
+AsyncPlainNodeCallable = Callable[
+    [InputT], Awaitable["NodeReturn[OutputT] | OutputT"]
+]
+AsyncNodeCallable = (
+    Callable[
+        [InputT, RuntimeContext],
+        Awaitable["NodeReturn[OutputT] | OutputT"],
+    ]
+    | Callable[[InputT], Awaitable["NodeReturn[OutputT] | OutputT"]]
+)
+
 SyncRegistryHandler = Callable[[dict[str, Any], RuntimeContext], dict[str, Any]]
 AsyncRegistryHandler = Callable[
     [dict[str, Any], RuntimeContext], Awaitable[dict[str, Any]]
@@ -76,30 +96,31 @@ def _infer_models(
 ) -> tuple[type[BaseModel], type[BaseModel]]:
     hints = get_type_hints(fn, include_extras=True)
     params = list(signature(fn).parameters.values())
-    if len(params) < 2:
+    if len(params) not in {1, 2}:
-        raise TypeError("node function must accept at least (payload, ctx) parameters")
+        raise TypeError("node function must accept (payload) or (payload, ctx)")
 
     payload_param = params[0]
-    ctx_param = params[1]
 
     if payload_param.kind not in (
         Parameter.POSITIONAL_ONLY,
         Parameter.POSITIONAL_OR_KEYWORD,
     ):
         raise TypeError("node payload parameter must be positional")
-    if ctx_param.kind not in (
-        Parameter.POSITIONAL_ONLY,
-        Parameter.POSITIONAL_OR_KEYWORD,
-    ):
-        raise TypeError("node context parameter must be positional")
 
     input_model = hints.get(payload_param.name)
     if not _is_basemodel_subclass(input_model):
         raise TypeError("node payload annotation must be a pydantic BaseModel subclass")
 
-    ctx_type = hints.get(ctx_param.name)
+    if len(params) == 2:
-    if ctx_type is not RuntimeContext:
+        ctx_param = params[1]
-        raise TypeError("node context annotation must be wf_core.RuntimeContext")
+        if ctx_param.kind not in (
+            Parameter.POSITIONAL_ONLY,
+            Parameter.POSITIONAL_OR_KEYWORD,
+        ):
+            raise TypeError("node context parameter must be positional")
+        ctx_type = hints.get(ctx_param.name)
+        if ctx_type is not RuntimeContext:
+            raise TypeError("node context annotation must be wf_core.RuntimeContext")
 
     return_type = hints.get("return")
     if return_type is None:
@@ -122,6 +143,10 @@ def _infer_models(
     )
 
 
+def _accepts_context(fn: Callable[..., object]) -> bool:
+    return len(signature(fn).parameters) >= 2
+
+
 @dataclass(slots=True)
 class NodeSpec(Generic[InputT, OutputT]):
     name: str
@@ -131,13 +156,18 @@ class NodeSpec(Generic[InputT, OutputT]):
     fn: NodeCallable[InputT, OutputT] | AsyncNodeCallable[InputT, OutputT]
     description: str | None = None
     is_async: bool = False
+    accepts_context: bool = True
 
     def __call__(
         self,
         payload: InputT,
-        ctx: RuntimeContext,
+        ctx: RuntimeContext | None = None,
     ) -> NodeReturn[OutputT] | OutputT | Awaitable[NodeReturn[OutputT] | OutputT]:
-        return self.fn(payload, ctx)
+        if self.accepts_context:
+            if ctx is None:
+                raise TypeError(f"node {self.name!r} requires RuntimeContext")
+            return cast("ContextNodeCallable[InputT, OutputT]", self.fn)(payload, ctx)
+        return cast("PlainNodeCallable[InputT, OutputT]", self.fn)(payload)
 
     def to_node_def(self) -> NodeDef:
         return NodeDef(
@@ -155,7 +185,7 @@ class NodeSpec(Generic[InputT, OutputT]):
 
         def handler(payload: dict[str, Any], ctx: RuntimeContext) -> dict[str, Any]:
             parsed = self.input_model.model_validate(payload)
-            raw = self.fn(parsed, ctx)
+            raw = self(parsed, ctx)
             return _coerce_registry_result(
                 node_name=self.name,
                 output_model=self.output_model,
@@ -171,7 +201,7 @@ class NodeSpec(Generic[InputT, OutputT]):
             ctx: RuntimeContext,
         ) -> dict[str, Any]:
             parsed = self.input_model.model_validate(payload)
-            raw_result = self.fn(parsed, ctx)
+            raw_result = self(parsed, ctx)
             if self.is_async:
                 raw = await cast(
                     Awaitable[NodeReturn[OutputT] | OutputT],
@@ -245,6 +275,7 @@ def node(
 
         resolved_name = name or getattr(fn, "__name__", "node")
         resolved_is_async = iscoroutinefunction(fn) if is_async is None else is_async
+        resolved_accepts_context = _accepts_context(fn)
         return cast(
             NodeSpec[InputT, OutputT],
             NodeSpec(
@@ -255,6 +286,7 @@ def node(
                 fn=cast(Any, fn),
                 description=description or fn.__doc__,
                 is_async=resolved_is_async,
+                accepts_context=resolved_accepts_context,
             ),
         )
 

tests/test_authoring_ops.py

@@ -0,0 +1,116 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import pytest
+
+from wf_authoring import (
+    WorkflowBuilder,
+    bind_fields,
+    bind_state,
+    build_registry,
+    first_item,
+    first_item_maybe,
+    first_item_or_none,
+    state_path,
+)
+from wf_core import RunStatus, SchemaRef, StateField, StateSchema, execute_workflow
+
+
+def _build_first_workflow(use_safe_first: bool = False):
+    spec = first_item_or_none if use_safe_first else first_item
+    builder = WorkflowBuilder(
+        name="first_demo",
+        input_schema=SchemaRef(type="object"),
+        state_schema=StateSchema(
+            fields={
+                "items": StateField(type="array"),
+                "item": StateField(type="object"),
+            }
+        ),
+        output_schema=SchemaRef(type="object"),
+        start="pick_first",
+    )
+    node = builder.use(
+        spec,
+        id="pick_first",
+        in_map=bind_fields(items=state_path("items")),
+        out_map=bind_state(item=state_path("item")),
+    )
+    builder.connect(node, "ok", "__end__")
+    return builder.compile(), build_registry(spec)
+
+
+def _build_first_maybe_workflow():
+    builder = WorkflowBuilder(
+        name="first_maybe_demo",
+        input_schema=SchemaRef(type="object"),
+        state_schema=StateSchema(
+            fields={
+                "items": StateField(type="array"),
+                "item": StateField(type="object"),
+                "missing": StateField(type="boolean"),
+            }
+        ),
+        output_schema=SchemaRef(type="object"),
+        start="pick_first",
+    )
+    pick_first = builder.use(
+        first_item_maybe,
+        id="pick_first",
+        in_map=bind_fields(items=state_path("items")),
+        out_map=bind_state(item=state_path("item")),
+    )
+    mark_missing = builder.use(
+        first_item_or_none,
+        id="mark_missing",
+        in_map=bind_fields(items=state_path("items")),
+        out_map=bind_state(item=state_path("item")),
+    )
+    builder.connect(pick_first, "found", "__end__")
+    builder.connect(pick_first, "missing", mark_missing)
+    builder.connect(mark_missing, "ok", "__end__")
+    return builder.compile(), build_registry(first_item_maybe, first_item_or_none)
+
+
+def test_first_item_selects_first_value_through_workflow() -> None:
+    workflow, registry = _build_first_workflow()
+
+    run = execute_workflow(workflow, {"items": ["a", "b"]}, registry)
+
+    assert run.status == RunStatus.COMPLETED
+    assert run.state["item"] == "a"
+
+
+def test_first_item_fails_on_empty_sequence() -> None:
+    workflow, registry = _build_first_workflow()
+
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="first_item requires at least one item"):
+        execute_workflow(workflow, {"items": []}, registry)
+
+
+def test_first_item_or_none_returns_none_for_empty_sequence() -> None:
+    workflow, registry = _build_first_workflow(use_safe_first=True)
+
+    run = execute_workflow(workflow, {"items": []}, registry)
+
+    assert run.status == RunStatus.COMPLETED
+    assert run.state["item"] is None
+
+
+def test_first_item_maybe_routes_found_outcome() -> None:
+    workflow, registry = _build_first_maybe_workflow()
+
+    run = execute_workflow(workflow, {"items": ["a", "b"]}, registry)
+
+    assert run.status == RunStatus.COMPLETED
+    assert run.state["item"] == "a"
+    assert run.trace[0].outcome == "found"
+
+
+def test_first_item_maybe_routes_missing_outcome() -> None:
+    workflow, registry = _build_first_maybe_workflow()
+
+    run = execute_workflow(workflow, {"items": []}, registry)
+
+    assert run.status == RunStatus.COMPLETED
+    assert run.state["item"] is None
+    assert run.trace[0].outcome == "missing"