Reference Overview
mcgpib exposes 22 tools, 5 prompts, and 1 resource through the Model Context Protocol. This section documents every parameter, return value, and edge case.
Tools by category
Section titled “Tools by category”Bridge Management
Section titled “Bridge Management”| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
list_bridges | List all configured bridges and their connection status |
bridge_status | Detailed status of a specific bridge (firmware, address, transport) |
connect_bridge | Connect to a bridge and run the initialization sequence |
disconnect_bridge | Close connection to a bridge |
configure_bridge | Change read timeout, auto mode, EOS, or EOI at runtime |
Bus Operations
Section titled “Bus Operations”| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
bus_scan | Discover all listeners on the GPIB bus via ++findlstn |
serial_poll | Read status byte from one or all instruments |
check_srq | Check if the SRQ line is asserted and identify the source |
bus_clear | Send Selected Device Clear (SDC) or Universal Device Clear (DCL) |
bus_trigger | Send Group Execute Trigger (GET) to one or more addresses |
interface_clear | Assert IFC to become Controller-In-Charge |
Instrument Tools
Section titled “Instrument Tools”| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
instrument_query | Send a SCPI query and return the response |
instrument_write | Send a SCPI command with no response expected |
instrument_identify | Send *IDN? and parse the four-field response |
list_instruments | List all discovered instruments across all bridges |
instrument_reset | Send *RST to restore power-on defaults |
instrument_local | Return instrument(s) to front panel control (GTL) |
instrument_remote | Put instrument(s) in remote mode, optionally with lockout |
Low-Level Tools
Section titled “Low-Level Tools”| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
raw_command | Send any ++ command directly to the AR488 bridge |
raw_scpi | Send raw data on the GPIB bus without SCPI interpretation |
bus_diagnostic | Write a test byte to data or control bus lines for 10 seconds |
parallel_poll | Simultaneously read one status bit from each configured device |
Prompts
Section titled “Prompts”5 guided workflows encode domain knowledge about GPIB bench operations.
| Prompt | Description |
|---|---|
initialize_bench | Connect, scan, and identify all instruments on a bridge |
troubleshoot_instrument | Systematic 6-step diagnostic for a non-responsive device |
measurement_sequence | Configure, trigger, and read a measurement |
bus_health_check | Full infrastructure audit across all bridges |
scpi_command_help | Instrument-specific SCPI command reference |
Resources
Section titled “Resources”1 static MCP resource provides protocol documentation without requiring tool calls.
| URI | Description |
|---|---|
gpib://protocol/commands | Complete AR488/Prologix ++ command reference |
Detailed reference pages
Section titled “Detailed reference pages” Bridge Management connect, disconnect, status, configure
Bus Operations scan, poll, clear, trigger, IFC
Instrument Tools query, write, identify, reset, local/remote
Low-Level Tools raw commands, diagnostics, parallel poll
Resources gpib://protocol/commands
Prompts Guided workflows for common tasks
Configuration TOML config file format and search order
AR488 Commands Complete ++ command reference