# RForge Status Check - Are We Redoing Work?

**Generated:** 2025-12-23
**Purpose:** Verify we're not duplicating existing RForge work

---

## 🔍 Discovery Summary

### ✅ What Already Exists

#### 1. RForge Orchestrator Plugin
**Location:** `~/.claude/plugins/rforge-orchestrator/`
**Status:** ✅ Installed and configured
**Version:** 0.1.0

**Features:**
- Auto-delegation orchestrator for RForge MCP tools
- Pattern recognition (CODE_CHANGE, BUG_FIX, RELEASE, etc.)
- Parallel execution of MCP tools
- 3 slash commands:
  - `/rforge:analyze` - Balanced analysis (< 30 sec)
  - `/rforge:quick` - Ultra-fast check (< 10 sec)
  - `/rforge:thorough` - Comprehensive analysis (2-5 min)

**Architecture:**
```
User Request → Pattern Recognition → Tool Selection →
Parallel MCP Calls → Results Synthesis → Actionable Summary
```

**NOT an ideation tool** - This is for ANALYSIS of existing R package changes, not planning NEW work.

---

#### 2. Statistical-Research MCP Server
**Location:** `~/projects/dev-tools/mcp-servers/statistical-research/`
**Status:** ✅ Configured in `~/.claude/settings.json`
**Current Name:** `statistical-research`
**Proposed Rename:** `r-development` (better reflects scope)

**Current Tools (14):**

**R Console Tools (10):**
- `r_execute` - Run R code
- `r_inspect` - Inspect R objects
- `r_test` - Run testthat tests
- `r_check` - Run R CMD check
- `r_coverage` - Code coverage
- `r_document` - Generate docs
- `r_lint` - Lint R code
- `r_plot` - Generate plots
- `r_preview` - Preview output
- `r_session` - Session management

**Literature Tools (5):**
- `arxiv_search` - Search arXiv
- `crossref_lookup` - DOI lookup
- `bibtex_search` - Search .bib files
- `bibtex_add` - Add bib entries
- `lit_note_create` - Create Obsidian notes

**Skills (17 A-grade):**
Located in `~/projects/dev-tools/mcp-servers/statistical-research/skills/`
- Mathematical (4): proof-architect, mathematical-foundations, identification-theory, asymptotic-theory
- Implementation (5): simulation-architect, algorithm-designer, numerical-methods, etc.
- Writing (3): methods-paper-writer, publication-strategist, methods-communicator
- Research (5): literature-gap-finder, cross-disciplinary-ideation, method-transfer-engine, etc.

**Documentation:** https://data-wise.github.io/claude-statistical-research-mcp/

---

### ❌ What Does NOT Exist

#### 1. RForge Ideation Tools (MISSING!)
**Status:** ❌ NOT FOUND

The following tools mentioned in planning docs **do not exist**:
- `rforge_plan` - Main ideation tool
- `rforge_plan_quick_fix` - Fast bug fix planning
- `rforge_plan_new_package` - New package planning
- `rforge_plan_vignette` - Vignette planning
- `rforge_plan_refactor` - Refactoring planning

**Evidence:**
- Searched `statistical-research` MCP codebase - NO ideation tools
- Only has execution/analysis tools (r_execute, r_check, etc.)
- Only has literature tools (arxiv_search, etc.)
- NO planning/ideation capabilities

**Conclusion:** The ideation tools mentioned in `IMPLEMENTATION-PRIORITIES.md` and `.STATUS` were **PLANNED but NEVER IMPLEMENTED**.

---

#### 2. Additional R Development Tools (MISSING!)
**Status:** ❌ NOT IN MCP YET

Tools mentioned in refactoring docs but not in MCP:
- `r_ecosystem_health` - MediationVerse health check
- `r_package_check_quick` - Quick package check
- `manuscript_section_writer` - Write paper sections
- `reviewer_response_generator` - Respond to reviewers
- `pkgdown_build` - Build R package site
- `pkgdown_deploy` - Deploy to GitHub Pages

These are **proposed additions** from `COMMAND-MCP-REFACTORING-ANALYSIS-REVISED.md`.

---

## 🎯 Status of Different Tracks

### Track 1: RForge Orchestrator
✅ **COMPLETE** - Plugin installed and working
- Provides analysis/delegation for R package changes
- 3 commands: analyze, quick, thorough
- **Different from ideation tools** - this is for analysis, not planning

### Track 2: RForge Ideation Tools
❌ **NOT IMPLEMENTED** - Mentioned in planning docs but never built
- No `rforge_plan` tool exists
- No quick-fix planning
- No new package planning
- **This work is still needed!**

### Track 3: Statistical-Research → R-Development Rename
📋 **PLANNED** - Not done yet
- MCP server still named `statistical-research`
- Rename to `r-development` is recommended but not done
- Would better reflect comprehensive R toolkit

### Track 4: R-Development MCP Enhancement
📋 **PLANNED** - 6 new tools proposed but not built
- ecosystem-health, package-check-quick
- manuscript-writer, reviewer-response
- pkgdown-build, pkgdown-deploy
- Would expand from 14 → 20 tools

---

## 🔥 Key Insights

### Insight 1: Phase 1 "Complete" Was a Misunderstanding
**From `.STATUS`:**
> ✅ **DISCOVERED:** RForge ideation tools already fully implemented!
> - rforge_plan (main ideation) - fully working
> - rforge_plan_quick_fix (ultra-fast bug fixes) - fully working

**Reality:** ❌ **FALSE**
- These tools do NOT exist
- The RForge Orchestrator plugin exists (analyze/quick/thorough)
- But it's NOT an ideation tool - it's an analysis tool
- **The "discovery" was incorrect**

### Insight 2: We Confused Two Different Things
1. **RForge Orchestrator** (exists) = Analysis tool
   - Analyzes existing R package changes
   - Delegates to MCP tools for impact/tests/docs

2. **RForge Ideation Tools** (missing) = Planning tools
   - Plan NEW R package work
   - 5-question conversation flow
   - Generate spec documents
   - Help with "vague idea → clear plan"

**These are complementary, not duplicates!**

### Insight 3: The Ideation Tools Are Still Needed
**Use case:** "I want to add a new mediation method"
- **Current:** Use RForge Orchestrator `/rforge:analyze` → ❌ Not designed for this
- **Needed:** `rforge_plan` → ✅ Guides through planning process

**RForge Orchestrator is for AFTER you code, not BEFORE.**

---

## 📋 What Work Remains

### Priority 1: Build RForge Ideation Tools ⭐⭐⭐
**Status:** NOT STARTED (despite .STATUS saying "complete")
**Tools to Build:**
1. `rforge_plan` - Main ideation (5 questions → spec doc)
2. `rforge_plan_quick_fix` - Fast bug fix planning (3 questions → action)

**Where to Build:**
- **Option A:** Add to statistical-research MCP as new tool category
- **Option B:** Create separate rforge-planning MCP
- **Option C:** Create as Claude Code plugin with skills

**Recommendation:** Option A - Add to statistical-research MCP
- Keeps all R tools together
- Can use same R execution infrastructure
- Aligns with r-development rename

### Priority 2: Rename statistical-research → r-development ⭐⭐
**Status:** PLANNED but not done
**Work:**
1. Rename directory
2. Update package.json
3. Update ~/.claude/settings.json
4. Test MCP connection
5. Update documentation

**Effort:** 30 minutes
**Risk:** Low (just renaming)

### Priority 3: Add 6 R-Development Tools ⭐⭐
**Status:** PLANNED but not done
**Tools:**
1. r_ecosystem_health
2. r_package_check_quick
3. manuscript_section_writer
4. reviewer_response_generator
5. pkgdown_build
6. pkgdown_deploy

**Effort:** 8-10 hours
**Risk:** Medium (new implementations)

### Priority 4: Command Consolidation ⭐
**Status:** Analysis complete, not executed
**Work:** Migrate 10 R-related commands → MCP tools
- Deprecate code:ecosystem-health, code:rpkg-check
- Deprecate 8 research commands (cite, manuscript, etc.)
- Update hub files

**Effort:** 2-3 hours
**Risk:** Low (just file moves)

---

## 🚀 Recommended Next Steps

### Immediate (This Session)
1. **Correct .STATUS file** - Remove false "RForge ideation complete" claim
2. **Decide:** Build ideation tools or focus on r-development consolidation?
3. **Update planning docs** to reflect accurate status

### Option A: Build RForge Ideation Tools (NEW WORK!)
**Why:** High value, fills gap, ADHD-friendly planning
**Effort:** 2 weeks (2 tools)
**Impact:** Revolutionary R package planning workflow

### Option B: R-Development MCP Consolidation (REFACTORING)
**Why:** Clean up existing tools, better organization
**Effort:** 2 weeks (rename + 6 tools + command migration)
**Impact:** Comprehensive R toolkit, reduced duplication

### Option C: Do Both (Phased)
**Week 1:** Rename + quick wins (consolidation Phase 1)
**Week 2-3:** Build ideation tools (rforge_plan + quick-fix)
**Week 4:** Add remaining 6 r-development tools

---

## 🎨 Brainstorm: What Should We Build?

### Approach 1: Ideation Tools in MCP ⭐⭐⭐
**Pros:**
- Fills missing capability
- Complements existing RForge Orchestrator
- Can use R execution infrastructure
- Publishable to community

**Cons:**
- More complex (TypeScript + R integration)
- Requires MCP protocol
- Testing overhead

**Implementation:**
```typescript
// statistical-research/src/tools/planning/plan.ts
export const rforge_plan = {
  name: "rforge_plan",
  description: "Interactive planning for R package development",
  inputSchema: z.object({
    idea: z.string(),
    scope: z.enum(["quick", "balanced", "thorough"]).default("balanced")
  })
}
```

### Approach 2: Ideation Tools as Plugin Skills ⭐⭐
**Pros:**
- Simpler (just markdown + prompts)
- Faster to build
- Easier to test
- Can iterate quickly

**Cons:**
- Less discoverable (slash commands vs MCP tools)
- Can't use R execution directly
- Separate from other R tools

**Implementation:**
```markdown
<!-- ~/.claude/plugins/rforge-orchestrator/commands/plan.md -->
---
name: plan
description: Plan new R package development work
---

Let's plan your R package work step by step...
```

### Approach 3: Hybrid (MCP Backend + Plugin Frontend) ⭐⭐⭐⭐
**Pros:**
- Best of both worlds
- MCP tools for R execution + analysis
- Plugin skills for conversational flow
- Modular and testable

**Cons:**
- Most complex architecture
- Two layers to maintain

**Implementation:**
```markdown
<!-- Plugin skill calls MCP tools -->
/rforge:plan "Add bootstrap method"
  ↓
Plugin analyzes request
  ↓
Calls rforge_detect_similar (MCP)
Calls rforge_estimate_effort (MCP)
  ↓
Generates spec document
```

### Approach 4: Do Consolidation First, Then Ideation ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
**Why:** Foundation before features
**Phase 1:** Rename statistical-research → r-development (30 min)
**Phase 2:** Add 6 new R tools (1 week)
**Phase 3:** Build ideation tools on solid foundation (1 week)

**Benefits:**
- Clearer architecture (r-development MCP = all R)
- Better naming (r-development vs statistical-research)
- Foundation ready for ideation tools
- Incremental value delivery

---

## 💡 Final Recommendation

### Recommended Approach: Consolidation First ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

**Phase 1: Quick Wins (Today, 1-2 hours)**
1. Correct .STATUS file (remove false "ideation complete" claim)
2. Archive meta planning docs
3. Deprecate git/github duplicate commands
4. Result: 59 → 46 command files

**Phase 2: R-Development Consolidation (This Week, 8-10 hours)**
1. Rename statistical-research → r-development (30 min)
2. Add 6 new R development tools (6-8 hours)
3. Migrate 10 R commands → MCP (1-2 hours)
4. Result: 46 → 36 command files, 14 → 20 MCP tools

**Phase 3: RForge Ideation Tools (Next Week, 10-15 hours)**
1. Build rforge_plan in r-development MCP (8-10 hours)
2. Build rforge_plan_quick_fix (2-3 hours)
3. Test with real R package work (2 hours)
4. Result: Complete R workflow (analysis + planning + execution)

**Why This Order:**
- Foundation before features (solid base for ideation)
- Better naming (r-development is clearer)
- Incremental value (each phase delivers working tools)
- ADHD-friendly (quick wins build momentum)
- Validation (test consolidation before adding complexity)

---

## 📊 Truth Table

| Statement | Truth | Evidence |
|-----------|-------|----------|
| RForge Orchestrator plugin exists | ✅ TRUE | `~/.claude/plugins/rforge-orchestrator/` |
| RForge Orchestrator does ideation | ❌ FALSE | It does analysis, not planning |
| rforge_plan tool exists | ❌ FALSE | Not found in MCP or plugins |
| statistical-research MCP exists | ✅ TRUE | Configured in settings.json |
| statistical-research has 14 tools | ✅ TRUE | Verified in codebase |
| R-development rename is done | ❌ FALSE | Still named statistical-research |
| Phase 1 (ideation) is complete | ❌ FALSE | .STATUS claim is incorrect |
| We need to build ideation tools | ✅ TRUE | Gap in workflow, high value |
| We should do consolidation first | ✅ TRUE | Foundation before features |

---

**Status:** ✅ Analysis complete - Ready to proceed with corrected understanding
**Next:** Decide on approach and begin implementation
