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# MCP Solver
[](https://modelcontextprotocol.io/) [](https://opensource.org/licenses/MIT) [](https://www.python.org/)
A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that exposes constraint solving, SAT, SMT, and ASP capabilities to Large Language Models.
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## Overview
The *MCP Solver* integrates constraint solving, SAT, SMT, and ASP with LLMs through the Model Context Protocol, enabling AI models to interactively create, edit, and solve:
- Constraint models in [MiniZinc](https://www.minizinc.org/)
- SAT models in [PySAT](https://pysathq.github.io/)
- MaxSAT optimization problems in [PySAT](https://pysathq.github.io/)
- SMT formulas in [Z3 Python](https://ericpony.github.io/z3py-tutorial/guide-examples.htm)
- Answer Set Programs in [Clingo](https://potassco.org/clingo/)
For a detailed description of the *MCP Solver's* system architecture and theoretical foundations, see the accompanying research paper: Stefan Szeider, ["Bridging Language Models and Symbolic Solvers via the Model Context Protocol"](https://doi.org/10.4230/LIPIcs.SAT.2025.30), SAT 2025.
## Available Tools
In the following, *item* refers to some part of the (MiniZinc/PySAT/Z3/ASP) code, and *model* to the encoding.
| Tool Name | Description |
| -------------- | --------------------------------------------- |
| `clear_model` | Remove all items from the model |
| `add_item` | Add new item at a specific index |
| `delete_item` | Delete item at index |
| `replace_item` | Replace item at index |
| `get_model` | Get current model content with numbered items |
| `solve_model` | Solve the model (with timeout parameter) |
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## System Requirements
- Python and project manager [uv](https://docs.astral.sh/uv/)
- Python 3.11+
- Mode-specific requirements: MiniZinc, PySAT, Python Z3 (required packages are installed via pip)
- Operating systems: macOS, Windows, Linux (with appropriate adaptations)
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## Installation
MCP Solver requires Python 3.11+, the `uv` package manager, and solver-specific dependencies (MiniZinc, Z3, or PySAT).
For detailed installation instructions for Windows, macOS, and Linux, see [INSTALL.md](INSTALL.md).
Quick start:
```bash
git clone https://github.com/szeider/mcp-solver.git
cd mcp-solver
uv venv
source .venv/bin/activate
uv pip install -e ".[all]" # Install all solvers
```
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## Available Modes / Solving Backends
The MCP Solver provides five distinct operational modes, each integrating with a different constraint solving backend. Each mode requires specific dependencies and offers unique capabilities for addressing different classes of problems.
### MiniZinc Mode
MiniZinc mode provides integration with the MiniZinc constraint modeling language with the following features:
- Rich constraint expression with global constraints
- Integration with the Chuffed constraint solver
- Optimization capabilities
- Access to solution values via `get_solution`
**Dependencies**: Requires the `minizinc` package (`uv pip install -e ".[mzn]"`)
**Configuration**: To run in MiniZinc mode, use:
```
mcp-solver-mzn
```
### PySAT Mode
PySAT mode allows interaction with the Python SAT solving toolkit with the following features:
- Propositional constraint modeling using CNF (Conjunctive Normal Form)
- Access to various SAT solvers (Glucose3, Glucose4, Lingeling, etc.)
- Cardinality constraints (at_most_k, at_least_k, exactly_k)
- Support for boolean constraint solving
**Dependencies**: Requires the `python-sat` package (`uv pip install -e ".[pysat]"`)
**Configuration**: To run in PySAT mode, use:
```
mcp-solver-pysat
```
### MaxSAT Mode
MaxSAT mode provides specialized support for optimization problems with PySAT, featuring:
- Weighted Conjunctive Normal Form (WCNF) support
- Integration with the RC2 MaxSAT solver
- Optimization capabilities with objective tracking
- Support for both hard and soft constraints
**Dependencies**: Requires the `python-sat` package (`uv pip install -e ".[pysat]"`)
**Configuration**: To run in MaxSAT mode, use:
```
mcp-solver-maxsat
```
### Z3 Mode
Z3 mode provides access to Z3 SMT (Satisfiability Modulo Theories) solving capabilities with the following features:
- Rich type system: booleans, integers, reals, bitvectors, arrays
- Constraint solving with quantifiers
- Optimization capabilities
- Template library for common modeling patterns
**Dependencies**: Requires the `z3-solver` package (`uv pip install -e ".[z3]"`)
**Configuration**: To run in Z3 mode, use:
```
mcp-solver-z3
```
### ASP Mode
ASP (Answer Set Programming) mode provides integration with ASP solvers (e.g., Clingo) for declarative problem solving with logic programs. Features include:
- Expressive logic programming for combinatorial and knowledge representation problems
- Support for constraints, choice rules, aggregates, and optimization statements
- Integration with the Clingo solver for efficient answer set computation
- Access to answer sets and model inspection
**Dependencies**: Requires the `clingo` package (`uv pip install -e ".[asp]"` or included in `[all]`)
**Configuration**: To run in ASP mode, use:
```
mcp-solver-asp
```
## MCP Test Client
The MCP Solver includes an MCP client for development, experimentation, and diagnostic purposes, based on the *ReAct* agent framework. This client serves as an intermediary between an LLM and the MCP server, facilitating the translation of natural language problem statements into formal constraint programming solutions.
### Installation
```bash
# Install client dependencies
uv pip install -e ".[client]"
# Verify client installation and configuration
uv run test-setup-client
```
The client requires an **API key** from an LLM provider. For Anthropic (the default LLM is Claude Sonnet 3.7), set the `ANTHROPIC_API_KEY` environment variable. This can be set in your environment or included in a `.env` file in the project root.
The client also supports other LLM providers including OpenAI, Google (Gemini), OpenRouter and even local models via LM Studio. You can specify which model to use with the `--mc` command line flag. See [INSTALL.md](INSTALL.md) for details on model code formats.
### Usage
The client provides specialized commands for each solver backend:
```bash
# MiniZinc mode
uv run run-test mzn --problem <path/to/problem.md>
# PySAT mode
uv run run-test pysat --problem <path/to/problem.md>
# MaxSAT mode
uv run run-test maxsat --problem <path/to/problem.md>
# Z3 mode
uv run run-test z3 --problem <path/to/problem.md>
# ASP mode
uv run run-test asp --problem <path/to/problem.md>
```
------
## Examples
### Example 1: Casting Problem (MiniZinc)
This is based on an example by George Johnson (NYT, July 13, 1999).
**User**
> Suppose that a theatrical director feels obligated to cast either his ingenue, Actress Alvarez, or his nephew, Actor Cohen, in a production. But Miss Alvarez won't be in a play with Mr. Cohen (her former lover), and she demands that the cast include her new flame, Actor Davenport. The producer, with her own favors to repay, insists that Actor Branislavsky have a part. But Mr. Branislavsky won't be in any play with Miss Alvarez or Mr. Davenport. Can the director cast the play?
**System:** **`clear_model`**
> ```
> Model cleared
> ```
**System:** **`add_item`** (multiple)
> ```minizinc
> var bool: alvarez;
> var bool: cohen;
> var bool: branislavsky;
> var bool: davenport;
> constraint alvarez \/ cohen; % Must cast either Alvarez or Cohen
> constraint not (alvarez /\ cohen); % Alvarez won't work with Cohen
> constraint alvarez -> davenport; % If Alvarez is cast, Davenport must be cast
> constraint branislavsky; % Branislavsky must be cast
> constraint not (branislavsky /\ alvarez); % Branislavsky won't work with Alvarez
> constraint not (branislavsky /\ davenport); % Branislavsky won't work with Davenport
> solve satisfy;
> ```
**System:** **`solve_model`**
> ```
> {'status': 'SAT', 'solution': Solution(alvarez=False, cohen=True, branislavsky=True, davenport=False, _checker=''), 'solve_time': 0.0}
> ```
The solution (cast Cohen and Branislavsky, but not Alvarez or Davenport) satisfies all constraints.
### Example 2: N-Queens Problem (MiniZinc)
**User**
> Check whether you can place n Queens on an nxn chessboard. Try n=10,20,30,40 and compare the solving times
**System:** **`clear_model`**
> ```
> Model cleared
> ```
**System:** **`add_item`** (multiple)
> ```minizinc
> int: n = 10;
> array[1..n] of var 1..n: queens;
> constraint alldifferent(queens);
> constraint alldifferent([queens[i] + i | i in 1..n]);
> constraint alldifferent([queens[i] - i | i in 1..n]);
> solve satisfy;
> ```
**System:** **`solve_model`** (with n=10, 20, 30, and 40 by changing the value of n)
Solve times comparison: n=10: 0.001s n=20: 0.005s n=30: 0.040s n=40: 0.043s
Solutions exist for all tested board sizes. Time complexity increases non-linearly but remains manageable up to n=40.
### Example 3: Traveling Salesperson Problem (MiniZinc)
**User**
> A saleswoman based in Vienna needs to plan her upcoming tour through Austria, visiting each province capital once. Help find the shortest route. Distances in km: 1=Vienna, 2=St. Pölten, 3=Eisenstadt, 4=Linz, 5=Graz, 6=Klagenfurt, 7=Salzburg, 8=Innsbruck, 9=Bregenz
>
> [Distance matrix table provided in user message]
**System:** **`add_item`** (multiple)
> ```minizinc
> include "globals.mzn";
> int: n = 9;
> array[1..n,1..n] of int: dist = [|0,65,60,184,195,319,299,478,631|65,0,125,119,130,254,234,413,566|60,125,0,184,157,281,261,440,593|184,119,184,0,208,252,136,315,468|195,130,157,208,0,136,280,459,629|319,254,281,252,136,0,217,391,566|299,234,261,136,280,217,0,188,343|478,413,440,315,459,391,188,0,157|631,566,593,468,629,566,343,157,0|];
> array[1..n] of var 1..n: succ;
> var int: total_dist = sum(i in 1..n)(dist[i,succ[i]]);
> constraint circuit(succ);
> solve minimize total_dist;
> ```
**System:** **`solve_model`**
> ```
> {'status': 'SAT', 'solution': Solution(objective=1564, succ=[2, 4, 1, 7, 3, 5, 9, 6, 8], _checker=''), 'solve_time': 0.002}
> ```
Optimal route: Vienna → St. Pölten → Linz → Salzburg → Bregenz → Innsbruck → Klagenfurt → Graz → Eisenstadt → Vienna with a total distance of 1,564 km.
## Feedback
You can provide feedback to the author via this [form](https://form.jotform.com/szeider/mcp-solver-feedback-form).
## Disclaimer
This MCP Solver is in its prototype stage and should be used with caution. Users are encouraged to experiment, but any use in critical environments is at their own risk.
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## License
This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the [LICENSE](https://claude.ai/chat/LICENSE) file for details.
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