/bashless

description:  >
  Amend an existing Claude Code setup to replace the Bash tool with structured MCP tools,
  reducing agent reliance on unstructured shell access.
disable-model-invocation: true
user-invocable: true

Claude Code Bashless Setup

Your goal is to amend an existing Claude Code project setup so that the agent no longer uses the built-in `Bash` tool. Instead, all essential CLI capabilities are exposed as structured MCP tools via a local MCP stdio server. This forces the agent to use purpose-built tools with explicit parameters rather than being attracted to unstructured shell access.

**Additional user arguments**: $ARGUMENTS

**Language hint**: Always create all generated script content and comments in English for consistency across the codebase, while continuing to speak to the user in the language of their choice.

**Platform hint**: Instructions and templates assume a Linux host with GNU coreutils. Adapt to the detected user OS.

• macOS — Substitute BSD equivalents for GNU-only utilities.
• Windows — Still use `.sh` files (skip irrelevant `chmod +x`), assuming Git Bash is available at runtime.

Highlight this requirement in the Debriefing. Set `"shell": "bash"` on new command hooks in `settings.json`. Launch the MCP server via bash rather than putting the `.sh` path directly in `command`.

Workflow

Begin execution by creating a formal task list for progress tracking using the `TaskCreate` tool (if available). Create a task for each of the following phases (##) and sub-phases (###). This protects you from accidentally skipping phases and visualizes the progress for the user.

Phase 1: Reconnaissance

Catalogue shell commands and MCP tools the agent will require during autonomous code development for this project. Assume the project has already been initialized with artifacts for Claude Code and existing technology is documented.

1a — Shell Commands

Spawn an `Agent` to scan the following locations for explicit and implicit references to CLI commands: 1. The project's `CLAUDE.md` and any sub-directory `CLAUDE.md` files 2. The project's `.claude` directory, particularly sub-directories `commands/`, `rules/` and `agents/` 3. Top-level documentation files (e.g. `README.md`, `CONTRIBUTING.md`, `docs/`)

Pay special attention to the following aspects:

• **Execution wrappers** — How commands are executed in general: directly, via Docker, NPX, Makefile, etc.
• **Test runners** — How are automated tests executed (e.g. `pytest`, `jest`, `siesta`, `phpunit`, `go test`)
• **Linters/formatters** — How is code quality ensured (e.g. `eslint`, `ruff`, `phpcs`)
• **Build tools** — Are builds executed manually and if so how (e.g. `make`, `npm run build`, `cargo build`)
• **Framework CLIs** — Project-specific console commands (e.g. `artisan`, `manage.py`, `nx`, `laravel`/`symfony`)

Use `TaskCreate` to add a task for each file that needs to be updated in Phase 3c below, so none is forgotten.

1b — MCP Tools

Spawn an `Agent` to summarize available MCP tools: 1. Read `.mcp.json` at the project root (if it exists) to identify existing project-registered servers. 2. Use the `ToolSearch` tool to query: "+mcp__" with high max_results to fetch schemas for all available MCP tools. 3. Return a full tool list, grouped by server (name pattern "mcp__<server>__"), with very short description per tool.

• Highlight tools suitable for codebase exploration (e.g. IDE search tools, Code Index, symbol/semantic search).
• Highlight tools that can read or edit files and could make the agent ignore the native `Read`/`Write`/`Edit` tools.

Phase 2: User Interview

Use `AskUserQuestion` during the following interview process to keep the conversation structured. Offer pre-defined choice options where possible based on reconnaissance findings.

2a — Git Write Permissions

Ask the user to which degree the agent should be able to participate in Git code submission:

• **Read-only** — The user reviews all code changes in the IDE and makes commits manually.

The agent only receives tools to explore and modify the current working tree (`git_status`, `git_log`, `git_show`, `git_diff`, `git_blame`, `git_rm`, `git_mv`).

• **Commit** — The user reviews and amends finished commits by the agent and pushes them manually.

The agent receives read tools plus `git_commit`.

• **Full** — The agent can interact with git fully autonomously.

All of the above plus `git_branch`, `git_checkout` and `git_push`. If chosen, ask the user a follow-up question whether push to certain branches should be prohibited.

2b — CLI Tool Selection

Present the proposed list of project CLI tools to the user. For each tool, show:

• CLI application name
• Example command
• Proposed MCP tool name (e.g. `git_log`, `npm_test`) and parameters

Detect or ask the user whether a sandboxed execution wrapper is available on the system (e.g. `bubblewrap` on Linux, `sandbox-exec` on macOS).

• If sandboxing is available, suggest adding available read-only filesystem utilities (`diff`, `jq`).
• If sandboxing is unavailable but the user has explicitly requested such tools,

warn against the resulting security risks and offer to help with the installation of a respective sandboxing tool. If the user explicitly insists on proceeding with an unsandboxed setup, note this for Phase 3a and the debriefing.

Ask the user to: 1. Confirm, remove, or add tools 2. Suggest additional project-specific commands not detected automatically

2c — Codebase Exploration Tools

Determine whether you have access to MCP tools for codebase exploration (from reconnaissance phase 1b).

• If such tools exist: Ask the user whether they also wish to disable the native `Glob` and `Grep`

built-in tools, since the MCP alternatives may be superior in efficiency and speed.

• If no such tools exist: Inform the user that `Glob` and `Grep` will remain enabled as they are

essential for codebase navigation without `Bash`.

#