feat(cli): add manifest generator from existing MCP configs

Add mcp-manifest-generate CLI tool to reverse-engineer manifests from Claude Code settings.json. Infers install methods from command patterns (npx→npm, uvx→pip, .exe→dotnet-tool). Converts --flag args to typed config entries (--api-key→secret). Supports --probe flag to run MCP handshake for real server name/version. Add interactive --init wizard mode. Update schema with additional validation rules. Add comprehensive CLI help and examples to README

README.md

@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@
 
 [![MCP Manifest](https://mcp-manifest.dev/media/mcp-manifest-badge-light.svg)](https://mcp-manifest.dev)
 
-Validate `mcp-manifest.json` files and test autodiscovery from domains.
+Validate `mcp-manifest.json` files, test autodiscovery from domains, and generate manifests from existing MCP server configs.
 
-## Usage
+## Validate
 
 ```bash
 # Validate a local manifest
@@ -76,6 +76,41 @@ const { manifest, source, errors } = await discover('ironlicensing.com');
 const exists = await checkCommand('ironlicensing-mcp');
 ```
 
+## Generate
+
+Create `mcp-manifest.json` from your existing Claude Code MCP server configs:
+
+```bash
+# List all configured MCP servers
+npx mcp-manifest-generate
+
+# Generate manifest for a specific server
+npx mcp-manifest-generate --server ironlicensing
+
+# Use a specific settings file
+npx mcp-manifest-generate --from-settings ~/.claude/settings.json --server myserver
+
+# Probe the server for name/version via MCP handshake
+npx mcp-manifest-generate --server ironlicensing --probe
+
+# Output to file
+npx mcp-manifest-generate --server ironlicensing -o mcp-manifest.json
+
+# Generate for all servers
+npx mcp-manifest-generate --all
+
+# Raw JSON (for piping)
+npx mcp-manifest-generate --server ironlicensing --json
+```
+
+The generator reverse-engineers your existing config:
+- **`--flag value`** args become typed config entries (`--api-key` → type: `secret`)
+- **Environment variables** become config entries with `env_var` field
+- **Command patterns** infer install method (`npx` → npm, `uvx` → pip, `.exe` → dotnet-tool)
+- **`--probe`** runs an MCP initialize handshake to get the real server name and version
+
+Review the generated manifest, fill in the `TODO` description, and commit.
+
 ## License
 
 CC0 1.0 — Public domain.

bin/generate.js

@@ -0,0 +1,273 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env node
+
+import { readFileSync, writeFileSync, existsSync, mkdirSync } from 'fs';
+import { join } from 'path';
+import { homedir } from 'os';
+import { readSettings, generateManifest } from '../src/generate.js';
+
+const RESET = '\x1b[0m';
+const BOLD = '\x1b[1m';
+const RED = '\x1b[31m';
+const GREEN = '\x1b[32m';
+const YELLOW = '\x1b[33m';
+const CYAN = '\x1b[36m';
+const DIM = '\x1b[2m';
+
+const args = process.argv.slice(2);
+
+if (args.includes('--help') || args.includes('-h')) {
+  console.log(`
+${BOLD}mcp-manifest-generate${RESET} — Generate mcp-manifest.json from existing MCP server configs
+
+${BOLD}Usage:${RESET}
+  mcp-manifest-generate                              List servers in default settings
+  mcp-manifest-generate --server <name>              Generate manifest for a specific server
+  mcp-manifest-generate --init                       Interactive wizard (from scratch)
+  mcp-manifest-generate --from-settings <path>       Use a specific settings file
+  mcp-manifest-generate --server <name> --probe      Also run MCP handshake for server info
+  mcp-manifest-generate --server <name> -o <file>    Write manifest to file
+  mcp-manifest-generate --all                        Generate manifests for all servers
+
+${BOLD}Examples:${RESET}
+  mcp-manifest-generate --init
+  mcp-manifest-generate --server ironlicensing
+  mcp-manifest-generate --from-settings ~/.claude/settings.json --server gitcaddy --probe
+  mcp-manifest-generate --server ironlicensing -o mcp-manifest.json
+  mcp-manifest-generate --all -o manifests/
+
+${BOLD}Options:${RESET}
+  --init                  Interactive wizard to create a manifest from scratch
+  --from-settings <path>  Path to settings.json (default: ~/.claude/settings.json)
+  --server <name>         Server name to generate manifest for
+  --all                   Generate manifests for all servers
+  --probe                 Run MCP initialize handshake for server name/version
+  -o, --output <path>     Output file or directory
+  --json                  Output raw JSON (no colors/decoration)
+  --help                  Show this help
+`);
+  process.exit(0);
+}
+
+function getArg(name) {
+  const idx = args.indexOf(name);
+  return idx >= 0 && idx + 1 < args.length ? args[idx + 1] : null;
+}
+
+const settingsPath = getArg('--from-settings')
+  || join(homedir(), '.claude', 'settings.json');
+const serverName = getArg('--server');
+const outputPath = getArg('-o') || getArg('--output');
+const doProbe = args.includes('--probe');
+const doAll = args.includes('--all');
+const doInit = args.includes('--init');
+const jsonOnly = args.includes('--json');
+
+async function run() {
+  // Init wizard mode
+  if (doInit) {
+    await runInitWizard();
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // Load settings
+  if (!existsSync(settingsPath)) {
+    console.error(`${RED}Settings file not found: ${settingsPath}${RESET}`);
+    console.error(`${DIM}Default location: ~/.claude/settings.json${RESET}`);
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+
+  let servers;
+  try {
+    servers = readSettings(settingsPath);
+  } catch (e) {
+    console.error(`${RED}Failed to read settings: ${e.message}${RESET}`);
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+
+  const serverNames = Object.keys(servers);
+  if (serverNames.length === 0) {
+    console.error(`${YELLOW}No MCP servers found in ${settingsPath}${RESET}`);
+    process.exit(1);
+  }
+
+  // List mode — no --server or --all specified
+  if (!serverName && !doAll) {
+    console.log(`\n${BOLD}MCP servers in ${DIM}${settingsPath}${RESET}\n`);
+    for (const name of serverNames) {
+      const entry = servers[name];
+      const cmd = entry.command || '(no command)';
+      const argCount = (entry.args || []).length;
+      const envCount = Object.keys(entry.env || {}).length;
+      console.log(`  ${CYAN}${name}${RESET}`);
+      console.log(`    command: ${cmd}`);
+      if (argCount > 0) console.log(`    args: ${argCount} argument(s)`);
+      if (envCount > 0) console.log(`    env: ${envCount} variable(s)`);
+      console.log('');
+    }
+    console.log(`${DIM}Use --server <name> to generate a manifest, or --all for all servers${RESET}\n`);
+    process.exit(0);
+  }
+
+  // Generate for specific server
+  if (serverName) {
+    if (!servers[serverName]) {
+      console.error(`${RED}Server "${serverName}" not found. Available: ${serverNames.join(', ')}${RESET}`);
+      process.exit(1);
+    }
+
+    const manifest = await generateManifest(serverName, servers[serverName], { probe: doProbe });
+    outputManifest(manifest, serverName, outputPath, jsonOnly);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  // Generate for all servers
+  if (doAll) {
+    for (const name of serverNames) {
+      if (!jsonOnly) console.log(`\n${BOLD}Generating: ${CYAN}${name}${RESET}`);
+      const manifest = await generateManifest(name, servers[name], { probe: doProbe });
+      const outPath = outputPath ? join(outputPath, `${name}.mcp-manifest.json`) : null;
+      outputManifest(manifest, name, outPath, jsonOnly);
+    }
+    return;
+  }
+}
+
+function outputManifest(manifest, name, outPath, jsonOnly) {
+  const json = JSON.stringify(manifest, null, 2);
+
+  if (outPath) {
+    // Ensure directory exists for --all mode
+    const dir = outPath.endsWith('.json') ? undefined : outPath;
+    if (dir) {
+      try { mkdirSync(dir, { recursive: true }); } catch {}
+    }
+    const filePath = outPath.endsWith('.json') ? outPath : join(outPath, `${name}.mcp-manifest.json`);
+    writeFileSync(filePath, json + '\n');
+    if (!jsonOnly) console.log(`${GREEN}✓${RESET} Written to ${filePath}`);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  if (jsonOnly) {
+    console.log(json);
+    return;
+  }
+
+  console.log(`\n${BOLD}Generated mcp-manifest.json for "${name}":${RESET}\n`);
+  // Colorize JSON output
+  const colorized = json
+    .replace(/"([^"]+)":/g, `"${CYAN}$1${RESET}":`)
+    .replace(/: "([^"]+)"/g, `: "${GREEN}$1${RESET}"`)
+    .replace(/: (\d+)/g, `: ${YELLOW}$1${RESET}`);
+  console.log(colorized);
+  console.log(`\n${DIM}Review and edit the TODO fields, then save as mcp-manifest.json${RESET}`);
+  console.log(`${DIM}Validate with: mcp-manifest-validate ./mcp-manifest.json${RESET}\n`);
+}
+
+
+async function runInitWizard() {
+  const { createInterface } = await import('readline');
+  const rl = createInterface({ input: process.stdin, output: process.stdout });
+  const ask = (q, def) => new Promise(resolve => {
+    const prompt = def ? `${q} ${DIM}(${def})${RESET}: ` : `${q}: `;
+    rl.question(prompt, answer => resolve(answer.trim() || def || ''));
+  });
+
+  console.log(`\n${BOLD}MCP Manifest Generator${RESET}`);
+  console.log(`${DIM}Create a new mcp-manifest.json interactively\n${RESET}`);
+
+  // Server info
+  console.log(`${BOLD}Server Info${RESET}`);
+  const name = await ask('  Server name (lowercase, hyphens)', '');
+  const displayName = await ask('  Display name', name.split('-').map(w => w[0]?.toUpperCase() + w.slice(1)).join(' '));
+  const description = await ask('  Description', '');
+  const version = await ask('  Version', '1.0.0');
+  const author = await ask('  Author/organization', '');
+
+  // Install
+  console.log(`\n${BOLD}Installation${RESET}`);
+  console.log(`  ${DIM}Methods: npm, pip, dotnet-tool, cargo, binary, docker${RESET}`);
+  const method = await ask('  Install method', 'npm');
+  const pkg = await ask('  Package name', name);
+  const command = await ask('  Command after install', name);
+  const source = await ask('  Custom registry URL (optional)', '');
+
+  // Transport
+  console.log(`\n${BOLD}Transport${RESET}`);
+  console.log(`  ${DIM}Options: stdio, sse, streamable-http${RESET}`);
+  const transport = await ask('  Transport', 'stdio');
+  let endpoint = '';
+  if (transport !== 'stdio') {
+    endpoint = await ask('  Endpoint URL', '');
+  }
+
+  // Config
+  console.log(`\n${BOLD}Configuration${RESET}`);
+  console.log(`  ${DIM}Add config parameters your server needs. Empty name to finish.${RESET}`);
+  const config = [];
+  while (true) {
+    const key = await ask(`  Config key (empty to finish)`, '');
+    if (!key) break;
+    console.log(`    ${DIM}Types: string, secret, url, path, boolean, number${RESET}`);
+    const type = await ask(`    Type`, 'string');
+    const configDesc = await ask(`    Description`, '');
+    const required = (await ask(`    Required? (y/n)`, 'n')).toLowerCase() === 'y';
+    const envVar = await ask(`    Environment variable (optional)`, '');
+    const arg = await ask(`    CLI argument (optional, e.g. --api-key)`, '');
+    const promptText = await ask(`    User prompt text`, configDesc || key);
+
+    const entry = { key, description: configDesc, type, required, prompt: promptText };
+    if (envVar) entry.env_var = envVar;
+    if (arg) entry.arg = arg;
+    config.push(entry);
+  }
+
+  // Scope
+  console.log(`\n${BOLD}Scope${RESET}`);
+  const scope = await ask('  Scope (global, project, both)', 'global');
+
+  rl.close();
+
+  // Build manifest
+  const manifest = {
+    $schema: 'https://mcp-manifest.dev/schema/v0.1.json',
+    version: '0.1',
+    server: {
+      name,
+      displayName,
+      description,
+      version,
+      ...(author && { author })
+    },
+    install: [{
+      method,
+      package: pkg,
+      command,
+      ...(source && { source }),
+      priority: 0
+    }],
+    transport,
+    ...(endpoint && { endpoint }),
+    ...(config.length > 0 && { config }),
+    scopes: [scope],
+    settings_template: {
+      command,
+      args: config.filter(c => c.arg).flatMap(c => [c.arg, `\${${c.key}}`])
+    }
+  };
+
+  const json = JSON.stringify(manifest, null, 2);
+
+  if (outputPath) {
+    writeFileSync(outputPath, json + '\n');
+    console.log(`\n${GREEN}✓${RESET} Written to ${outputPath}`);
+  } else {
+    console.log(`\n${BOLD}Generated mcp-manifest.json:${RESET}\n`);
+    console.log(json);
+    console.log(`\n${DIM}Save as mcp-manifest.json and validate with: mcp-manifest-validate ./mcp-manifest.json${RESET}\n`);
+  }
+}
+
+run().catch(err => {
+  console.error(`${RED}Fatal: ${err.message}${RESET}`);
+  process.exit(2);
+});

package.json

@@ -4,11 +4,13 @@
   "description": "Validate mcp-manifest.json files and test autodiscovery from domains",
   "type": "module",
   "bin": {
-    "mcp-manifest-validate": "./bin/cli.js"
+    "mcp-manifest-validate": "./bin/cli.js",
+    "mcp-manifest-generate": "./bin/generate.js"
   },
   "main": "./src/index.js",
   "exports": {
-    ".": "./src/index.js"
+    ".": "./src/index.js",
+    "./generate": "./src/generate.js"
   },
   "files": [
     "bin/",

schema/v0.1.json

@@ -55,6 +55,11 @@
           "type": "string",
           "description": "SPDX license identifier"
         },
+        "icon": {
+          "type": "string",
+          "format": "uri",
+          "description": "URL to the server's icon (square, PNG or SVG recommended). Clients SHOULD fall back to a default MCP icon when absent."
+        },
         "keywords": {
           "type": "array",
           "items": { "type": "string" },
@@ -146,6 +151,27 @@
           "prompt": {
             "type": "string",
             "description": "Human-readable prompt for interactive setup"
+          },
+          "options": {
+            "type": "array",
+            "items": { "type": "string" },
+            "description": "Static list of valid values. Clients SHOULD render as a dropdown."
+          },
+          "options_from": {
+            "type": "object",
+            "description": "Dynamically resolve available values from a local file.",
+            "required": ["file", "path"],
+            "properties": {
+              "file": {
+                "type": "string",
+                "description": "Path to a local JSON file. ~ is expanded to the user's home directory."
+              },
+              "path": {
+                "type": "string",
+                "description": "JSONPath expression to extract values from the file."
+              }
+            },
+            "additionalProperties": false
           }
         },
         "additionalProperties": false

src/generate.js

@@ -0,0 +1,329 @@
+import { readFileSync, existsSync } from 'fs';
+import { basename, extname } from 'path';
+import { exec } from 'child_process';
+import { promisify } from 'util';
+
+const execAsync = promisify(exec);
+
+/**
+ * @typedef {Object} McpServerEntry
+ * @property {string} command
+ * @property {string[]} [args]
+ * @property {Object<string,string>} [env]
+ */
+
+/**
+ * Read MCP server entries from a Claude Code settings.json file.
+ * @param {string} settingsPath
+ * @returns {Object<string, McpServerEntry>}
+ */
+export function readSettings(settingsPath) {
+  if (!existsSync(settingsPath)) {
+    throw new Error(`Settings file not found: ${settingsPath}`);
+  }
+  const json = JSON.parse(readFileSync(settingsPath, 'utf-8'));
+  return json.mcpServers || {};
+}
+
+/**
+ * Infer install method from a command string.
+ * @param {string} command
+ * @param {string[]} args
+ * @returns {{ method: string, package: string, command: string } | null}
+ */
+export function inferInstall(command, args = []) {
+  const cmd = basename(command).toLowerCase();
+
+  // npx -y @scope/package or npx @scope/package
+  if (cmd === 'npx' || cmd === 'npx.cmd') {
+    const pkgArg = args.find(a => !a.startsWith('-'));
+    if (pkgArg) {
+      return { method: 'npm', package: pkgArg, command: pkgArg.split('/').pop().replace(/^@/, '') };
+    }
+  }
+
+  // uvx package or uv run package
+  if (cmd === 'uvx' || cmd === 'uvx.exe') {
+    const pkgArg = args.find(a => !a.startsWith('-'));
+    if (pkgArg) {
+      return { method: 'pip', package: pkgArg, command: pkgArg };
+    }
+  }
+
+  // python -m package
+  if ((cmd === 'python' || cmd === 'python3' || cmd === 'python.exe') && args[0] === '-m') {
+    const pkg = args[1];
+    if (pkg) {
+      return { method: 'pip', package: pkg, command: `python -m ${pkg}` };
+    }
+  }
+
+  // docker run image
+  if (cmd === 'docker' || cmd === 'docker.exe') {
+    if (args[0] === 'run') {
+      const image = args.filter(a => !a.startsWith('-')).pop();
+      if (image) {
+        return { method: 'docker', package: image, command: 'docker' };
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  // dotnet tool — check if it's a known dotnet tool command
+  // Heuristic: if the command has no extension or is an .exe not in system dirs
+  if (cmd.endsWith('.exe') || !cmd.includes('.')) {
+    const toolName = cmd.replace(/\.exe$/, '');
+    // Try to detect if it's a dotnet tool
+    return { method: 'dotnet-tool', package: toolName, command: toolName };
+  }
+
+  return null;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Extract config entries from args and env vars.
+ * @param {string[]} args
+ * @param {Object<string,string>} env
+ * @returns {Array<{key: string, type: string, arg?: string, env_var?: string, description: string}>}
+ */
+export function extractConfig(args = [], env = {}) {
+  const config = [];
+  const skipNext = new Set();
+
+  // Parse --flag value pairs from args
+  for (let i = 0; i < args.length; i++) {
+    if (skipNext.has(i)) continue;
+
+    const arg = args[i];
+    if (arg.startsWith('--') && i + 1 < args.length && !args[i + 1].startsWith('-')) {
+      const key = arg.replace(/^--/, '');
+      const value = args[i + 1];
+      skipNext.add(i + 1);
+
+      const type = inferConfigType(key, value);
+      config.push({
+        key,
+        description: humanize(key),
+        type,
+        required: false,
+        arg,
+        prompt: humanize(key)
+      });
+    } else if (arg.startsWith('-') && arg.length === 2 && i + 1 < args.length && !args[i + 1].startsWith('-')) {
+      // Short flags like -k value
+      const key = arg.replace(/^-/, '');
+      const value = args[i + 1];
+      skipNext.add(i + 1);
+
+      const type = inferConfigType(key, value);
+      config.push({
+        key,
+        description: humanize(key),
+        type,
+        required: false,
+        arg,
+        prompt: humanize(key)
+      });
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Parse env vars
+  for (const [envKey, envValue] of Object.entries(env)) {
+    // Check if this env var already maps to an arg-based config
+    const existing = config.find(c => c.key === envKey.toLowerCase().replace(/_/g, '-'));
+    if (existing) {
+      existing.env_var = envKey;
+      continue;
+    }
+
+    const key = envKey.toLowerCase().replace(/_/g, '-');
+    const type = inferConfigType(key, envValue);
+    config.push({
+      key,
+      description: humanize(key),
+      type,
+      required: false,
+      env_var: envKey,
+      prompt: humanize(key)
+    });
+  }
+
+  return config;
+}
+
+/**
+ * Infer config value type from key name and sample value.
+ */
+function inferConfigType(key, value) {
+  const keyLower = key.toLowerCase();
+  if (keyLower.includes('key') || keyLower.includes('token') || keyLower.includes('secret') || keyLower.includes('password')) {
+    return 'secret';
+  }
+  if (keyLower.includes('url') || keyLower.includes('endpoint') || keyLower.includes('host')) {
+    if (value && (value.startsWith('http') || value.startsWith('//'))) return 'url';
+  }
+  if (keyLower.includes('path') || keyLower.includes('dir') || keyLower.includes('file')) {
+    return 'path';
+  }
+  if (value === 'true' || value === 'false') return 'boolean';
+  if (value && !isNaN(value)) return 'number';
+  return 'string';
+}
+
+/**
+ * Convert kebab-case or snake_case to human-readable.
+ */
+function humanize(str) {
+  return str
+    .replace(/[-_]/g, ' ')
+    .replace(/\b\w/g, c => c.toUpperCase());
+}
+
+/**
+ * Build a settings_template from the original command/args, replacing detected values with ${key} vars.
+ */
+export function buildSettingsTemplate(command, args = [], config = []) {
+  const templateArgs = [...args];
+
+  // Replace arg values with template variables
+  for (let i = 0; i < templateArgs.length; i++) {
+    const argConfig = config.find(c => c.arg === templateArgs[i]);
+    if (argConfig && i + 1 < templateArgs.length) {
+      templateArgs[i + 1] = `\${${argConfig.key}}`;
+    }
+  }
+
+  // For npx commands, use the package as the command
+  const cmd = basename(command).toLowerCase();
+  if (cmd === 'npx' || cmd === 'npx.cmd') {
+    const pkgIdx = templateArgs.findIndex(a => !a.startsWith('-'));
+    if (pkgIdx >= 0) {
+      const pkg = templateArgs[pkgIdx];
+      return {
+        command: pkg.split('/').pop().replace(/^@/, ''),
+        args: templateArgs.filter((_, i) => i !== pkgIdx && templateArgs[i] !== '-y')
+          .filter(a => a.length > 0)
+      };
+    }
+  }
+
+  return {
+    command: basename(command).replace(/\.exe$/, ''),
+    args: templateArgs.filter(a => a.length > 0)
+  };
+}
+
+/**
+ * Try to get server info via MCP initialize handshake.
+ * @param {string} command
+ * @param {string[]} args
+ * @param {Object<string,string>} env
+ * @returns {Promise<{name?: string, version?: string} | null>}
+ */
+export async function probeServer(command, args = [], env = {}) {
+  const initMsg = JSON.stringify({
+    jsonrpc: '2.0',
+    id: 1,
+    method: 'initialize',
+    params: {
+      protocolVersion: '2024-11-05',
+      capabilities: {},
+      clientInfo: { name: 'mcp-manifest-generate', version: '0.1.0' }
+    }
+  });
+
+  try {
+    const { spawn } = await import('child_process');
+    return new Promise((resolve) => {
+      const proc = spawn(command, args, {
+        env: { ...process.env, ...env },
+        stdio: ['pipe', 'pipe', 'pipe']
+      });
+
+      let output = '';
+      const timeout = setTimeout(() => {
+        proc.kill();
+        resolve(null);
+      }, 5000);
+
+      proc.stdout.on('data', (data) => {
+        output += data.toString();
+        // Try to parse JSON-RPC response
+        try {
+          const lines = output.split('\n').filter(l => l.trim());
+          for (const line of lines) {
+            // Skip Content-Length headers
+            if (line.startsWith('{')) {
+              const resp = JSON.parse(line);
+              if (resp.result?.serverInfo) {
+                clearTimeout(timeout);
+                proc.kill();
+                resolve(resp.result.serverInfo);
+                return;
+              }
+            }
+          }
+        } catch { /* partial data, keep reading */ }
+      });
+
+      proc.on('error', () => {
+        clearTimeout(timeout);
+        resolve(null);
+      });
+
+      proc.on('exit', () => {
+        clearTimeout(timeout);
+        resolve(null);
+      });
+
+      // Send the initialize message with Content-Length header
+      const content = initMsg;
+      proc.stdin.write(`Content-Length: ${Buffer.byteLength(content)}\r\n\r\n${content}`);
+    });
+  } catch {
+    return null;
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Generate a manifest from an MCP server settings entry.
+ * @param {string} name - Server name from settings key
+ * @param {McpServerEntry} entry - The settings entry
+ * @param {{ probe?: boolean }} options
+ * @returns {Promise<object>} Draft mcp-manifest.json object
+ */
+export async function generateManifest(name, entry, options = {}) {
+  const { command, args = [], env = {} } = entry;
+  const install = inferInstall(command, args);
+  const config = extractConfig(args, env);
+  const template = buildSettingsTemplate(command, args, config);
+
+  let serverInfo = { name, displayName: humanize(name), version: '1.0.0' };
+
+  // Try MCP handshake if requested
+  if (options.probe) {
+    const probed = await probeServer(command, args, env);
+    if (probed) {
+      if (probed.name) serverInfo.name = probed.name.toLowerCase().replace(/\s+/g, '-');
+      if (probed.name) serverInfo.displayName = probed.name;
+      if (probed.version) serverInfo.version = probed.version;
+    }
+  }
+
+  const manifest = {
+    $schema: 'https://mcp-manifest.dev/schema/v0.1.json',
+    version: '0.1',
+    server: {
+      name: serverInfo.name,
+      displayName: serverInfo.displayName,
+      description: `TODO: Add description for ${serverInfo.displayName}`,
+      version: serverInfo.version
+    },
+    install: install ? [{ ...install, priority: 0 }] : [],
+    transport: 'stdio',
+    config,
+    scopes: ['global'],
+    settings_template: template
+  };
+
+  return manifest;
+}

src/index.js

@@ -42,6 +42,13 @@ export function validateManifest(manifest) {
     if (dupes.length > 0) {
       errors.push(`duplicate config keys: ${[...new Set(dupes)].join(', ')}`);
     }
+
+    // Validate options and options_from aren't both set
+    for (const cfg of manifest.config) {
+      if (cfg.options && cfg.options_from) {
+        errors.push(`config "${cfg.key}": cannot have both "options" and "options_from"`);
+      }
+    }
   }
 
   if (manifest.settings_template) {
@@ -66,7 +73,17 @@ export function validateManifest(manifest) {
 export async function discover(input) {
   const errors = [];
 
-  // 1. Local file
+  // 1. Installed tool: try {command} --manifest
+  if (!input.startsWith('http') && !input.startsWith('/') && !input.includes('\\') && !input.endsWith('.json')) {
+    try {
+      const manifest = await tryCommandManifest(input);
+      if (manifest) {
+        return { manifest, source: `command: ${input} --manifest`, errors: [] };
+      }
+    } catch { /* not an installed command */ }
+  }
+
+  // 2. Local file path
   try {
     const { existsSync, readFileSync: readSync } = await import('fs');
     if (existsSync(input)) {
@@ -79,7 +96,7 @@ export async function discover(input) {
     }
   } catch { /* not a file path */ }
 
-  // 2. Direct URL to .json
+  // 3. Direct URL to .json
   if (input.startsWith('http') && input.endsWith('.json')) {
     try {
       const res = await fetch(input, { signal: AbortSignal.timeout(10000) });
@@ -94,12 +111,12 @@ export async function discover(input) {
     return { manifest: null, source: input, errors };
   }
 
-  // 3. Normalize to base URL
+  // 4. Normalize to base URL
   let baseUrl = input;
   if (!baseUrl.startsWith('http')) baseUrl = `https://${baseUrl}`;
   baseUrl = baseUrl.replace(/\/+$/, '');
 
-  // 4. Try well-known URL
+  // 5. Try well-known URL
   const wellKnown = `${baseUrl}/.well-known/mcp-manifest.json`;
   try {
     const res = await fetch(wellKnown, { signal: AbortSignal.timeout(10000) });
@@ -112,7 +129,7 @@ export async function discover(input) {
     errors.push(`well-known: ${e.message}`);
   }
 
-  // 5. Fetch HTML and parse <link rel="mcp-manifest">
+  // 6. Fetch HTML and parse <link rel="mcp-manifest">
   try {
     const res = await fetch(baseUrl, { signal: AbortSignal.timeout(10000) });
     if (res.ok) {
@@ -146,6 +163,31 @@ export async function discover(input) {
   return { manifest: null, source: baseUrl, errors };
 }
 
+/**
+ * Try running {command} --manifest and parse the output as a manifest.
+ * @param {string} command
+ * @returns {Promise<object|null>}
+ */
+async function tryCommandManifest(command) {
+  const { exec } = await import('child_process');
+  const { promisify } = await import('util');
+  const execAsync = promisify(exec);
+
+  try {
+    const cmd = process.platform === 'win32' ? command.replace(/\.exe$/, '') : command;
+    const { stdout, stderr } = await execAsync(`${cmd} --manifest`, { timeout: 10000 });
+
+    if (!stdout || !stdout.trim()) return null;
+
+    const manifest = JSON.parse(stdout.trim());
+    // Basic sanity check — must have server.name
+    if (manifest?.server?.name) return manifest;
+    return null;
+  } catch {
+    return null;
+  }
+}
+
 /**
  * Check if a command exists on PATH.
  * @param {string} command