rigol-dho824-mcp: Instructions file for Claude Code

Claude Instructions

Reference Manuals

IMPORTANT: Before implementing any oscilloscope control code, always search the manuals/ directory first.

This directory contains official Rigol documentation, SCPI command references, and programming guides that should guide your implementation approach. Look for:

• SCPI command syntax and parameters
• Programming examples and patterns
• Valid value ranges and constraints
• Waveform data formats and structures
• File transfer protocols (FTP, PyVISA)
• Device capabilities and limitations

Use these references to ensure correct SCPI commands and proper device communication before writing new code.

MCP Tool Design Philosophy

IMPORTANT: When implementing MCP tools, design each tool to provide complete, end-to-end functionality in a single call.

Users should accomplish their goals with minimal tool invocations. Avoid creating tool chains where multiple tools must be called sequentially to complete one logical operation.

Good Design Example

# GOOD: Single tool provides complete functionality
@server.tool("capture_waveform")
async def capture_waveform(channel: int) -> dict:
    """Capture waveform data and return it directly to the user."""
    # 1. Configure oscilloscope
    # 2. Capture waveform
    # 3. Transfer data
    # 4. Process and format
    # 5. Return complete result
    return {"data": waveform_data, "metadata": {...}}

Poor Design Example

# BAD: Requires multiple tool calls for one task
@server.tool("start_capture")      # Step 1
@server.tool("wait_for_capture")   # Step 2
@server.tool("transfer_waveform")  # Step 3
@server.tool("get_waveform_data")  # Step 4

Guidelines

• Each tool should encapsulate a complete user-facing operation
• Handle all intermediate steps internally (device communication, file transfers, data processing)
• Return processed, ready-to-use results
• Minimize the need for users to orchestrate complex tool sequences
• Think: "What does the user actually want to accomplish?" not "What are the technical steps?"