linsenkasten-mcp

v2.2.1

Published

8 months ago

MCP server and CLI for 288 FLUX lenses - works with Claude, ChatGPT, Codex CLI via OpenAPI/function calling

Linsenkasten

A cognitive augmentation toolkit that gives AI agents access to 288 FLUX analytical lenses through graph-based navigation, creative thinking tools, and conceptual exploration. Works with Claude, ChatGPT, Codex CLI, and any AI platform via REST API.

What is Linsenkasten?

✨ New in v2.1.0: Cross-platform support! Use Linsenkasten with ChatGPT, Codex CLI, and any AI agent via OpenAPI/function calling schemas. Plus: dialectic triads (thesis/antithesis/synthesis) and learning progressions.

Linsenkasten ("lens box" in German) is a knowledge graph of analytical frameworks from the FLUX Collective newsletter. It transforms 288 conceptual lenses into an explorable graph that AI agents can navigate to:

Make logical leaps through bridge discovery
Navigate concept space systematically
Find paradoxes for dialectic thinking (232 contrast pairs, 100% lens coverage!)
Break habitual patterns with creative provocations
Explore connections between disparate ideas

Quick Start

Add to your Claude Desktop config:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "linsenkasten": {
      "url": "https://linsenkasten.com/api/mcp/v1/sse"
    }
  }
}

Config location:

macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json

Restart Claude Desktop. Done! 🎉

Command Line Interface

Linsenkasten also includes a powerful CLI for exploring lenses directly from your terminal:

# Install globally
npm install -g linsenkasten-mcp

# Search for lenses
linsenkasten search "systems thinking"

# Get lens details
linsenkasten get "Pace Layering"

# Find conceptual journey
linsenkasten journey "Systems Thinking" "Innovation"

# Get random provocation
linsenkasten random

# Analyze thinking gaps (NEW in v1.1.0)
linsenkasten gaps --context "Pace Layering" --context "Innovation"

# Get gap-aware random lens (NEW in v1.1.0)
linsenkasten random --context "Pace Layering" --context "Innovation"

# Find bridge lenses
linsenkasten bridge "Leadership" "Complexity" "Communication"

# Get central lenses
linsenkasten central --measure betweenness --limit 10

# Explore neighborhood
linsenkasten neighborhood "Pace Layering" --radius 2

# Find contrasts
linsenkasten contrasts "Explore vs Exploit"

CLI Features

Colorized output - Beautiful terminal formatting
Flexible queries - Natural language lens names
Scriptable - Pipe-able output for automation
Fast - Direct API access with local caching
Help system - Run linsenkasten help for usage info

CLI Examples

Quick lens lookup:

linsenkasten get "Systems Thinking"

Find connections between concepts:

linsenkasten journey "Pace Layering" "Innovation Cascade"

Creative problem-solving workflow:

# 1. Get random provocation
linsenkasten random

# 2. Bridge back to your domain
linsenkasten bridge "Random Lens Name" "Product Design"

# 3. Explore the bridge
linsenkasten neighborhood "Bridge Lens Name"

Explore the knowledge graph:

# Find most important concepts
linsenkasten central --measure pagerank

# Explore around a concept
linsenkasten neighborhood "Systems Thinking" --radius 2

# Find paradoxes (232 contrast pairs available!)
linsenkasten contrasts "Explore vs Exploit"

Dialectic Thinking Workflow (NEW!):

# Every lens now has at least one contrast pair
linsenkasten contrasts "Kintsugi"
# Returns: Fleet of Theseus (repair vs replacement philosophies)

linsenkasten contrasts "Steelmanning"
# Returns: Blind Spots (engaging vs avoiding opposition)

linsenkasten contrasts "Regression to the Mean"
# Returns: Compounding Loops (returning to average vs amplifying deviation)

Features

15 Tools for Creative Thinking

Core Exploration:

search_lenses - Semantic search across 256+ lenses
get_lens - Detailed lens information
get_related_lenses - Find similar lenses
get_lens_frames - Thematic groupings

Creative Navigation:

find_lens_journey - Discover conceptual paths between ideas
find_bridge_lenses - Connect disparate concepts for lateral thinking
find_contrasting_lenses - Explore paradoxes and tensions (232 pairs, 100% coverage)
get_central_lenses - Identify hub concepts in the network
get_lens_neighborhood - Explore conceptual neighborhoods
random_lens_provocation - Break thinking patterns with randomness (now with gap-aware selection!)

Gap Detection (NEW in v1.1.0):

detect_thinking_gaps - Analyze conceptual coverage across 28 FLUX frames
Gap-aware random selection - 80/15/5 biasing toward unexplored dimensions

Graph-Powered Intelligence

Built on a NetworkX graph with:

288 lenses from FLUX episodes 11-200+
232 dialectic contrast pairs - Every lens has thesis/antithesis relationships
Weighted relationships: AI-discovered, frame-based, temporal, conceptual
Centrality measures: Betweenness, PageRank, eigenvector
Path finding: Navigate between any two concepts

Usage Examples

Find a Conceptual Journey

Use find_lens_journey to discover how "Systems Thinking" connects to "Innovation"

Output shows the intermediate concepts that bridge these ideas.

Bridge Disparate Ideas

Use find_bridge_lenses to find lenses connecting "Leadership", "Complexity", and "Communication"

Discover unexpected connections for creative problem-solving.

Explore Paradoxes (232 Contrast Pairs!)

Use find_contrasting_lenses on "Exploit vs Explore" to find complementary tensions

Every lens now has at least one dialectic contrast. Examples:

Kintsugi ↔ Fleet of Theseus (repair with history vs identity through replacement)
Fuzzy Planning ↔ Draw Me a Bridge (embracing uncertainty vs demanding precision)
Stoicism and Gratitude ↔ Jevons Paradox (contentment vs never-enough)
Composable Alphabets ↔ Conceptual Integrity (flexibility vs coherence)

Find Hub Concepts

Use get_central_lenses with measure="betweenness" to identify key conceptual bridges

Map the conceptual landscape strategically.

Random Provocation

Use random_lens_provocation to get a creative spark

Break out of local thinking patterns.

Gap Detection Workflow (NEW in v1.1.0)

Scenario: You've been exploring lenses about systems and technology. Are you missing important perspectives?

# Check what frames you've covered
linsenkasten gaps --context "Pace Layering" --context "Innovation" --context "Systems Thinking"

# Output:
# Coverage: 7.1% (2/28 frames)
# Unexplored: 26 frames - Balance & Paradox, Communication & Dialogue, Creative Problem Solving...

Get gap-aware suggestions to explore blind spots:

# System biases toward unexplored frames (80% chance)
linsenkasten random --context "Pace Layering" --context "Innovation" --context "Systems Thinking"

# Suggests: "Logic and Gut" (decision-making lens)
# Coverage jumps to 14.3% (4/28 frames)

Continue exploring to build comprehensive coverage:

linsenkasten random --context "Pace Layering" --context "Innovation" --context "Logic and Gut"

# Suggests: "Dancing with Art" (artistic expression evolution)
# Coverage: 18% (5/28 frames)

linsenkasten random --context "Pace Layering" --context "Innovation" --context "Logic and Gut" --context "Dancing with Art"

# Suggests: "The Geometry of Dissent" (organizational dynamics)
# Coverage: 21.4% (6/28 frames)

The Result: Started in tech/systems comfort zone → guided to cognitive processes, creative expression, and social dynamics. Exactly the lateral moves that break habitual thinking!

Creative Workflows

Lateral Thinking:

random_lens_provocation → find_bridge_lenses → combine_lenses

Conceptual Navigation:

find_lens_journey(start, end) → explore intermediate concepts

Dialectic Exploration (232 contrast pairs, 100% coverage!):

find_contrasting_lenses → synthesize thesis/antithesis → generate insights

Strategic Mapping:

get_central_lenses → get_lens_neighborhood → explore territory

Architecture

Zero LLM Costs for You:

Users bring their own AI (Claude Desktop, Cursor, etc.)
Linsenkasten provides structured lens data
All reasoning happens client-side with user's API keys

What Linsenkasten Provides:

NetworkX graph operations (path finding, centrality, etc.)
Supabase queries for lens metadata
Structured JSON responses

Your Costs:

Only your Claude/AI API usage
No hidden charges from Linsenkasten

Cross-Platform Support

Linsenkasten works with multiple AI platforms:

| Platform | Support | Setup Guide | |----------|---------|-------------| | Claude Code | ✅ Full MCP | See Quick Start above | | Claude Desktop | ✅ Full MCP | See Quick Start above | | ChatGPT | ✅ Via GPT Actions | docs/chatgpt-gpt-config.md | | Codex CLI | ✅ Function Calling | docs/codex-cli-integration.md | | Claude.ai | 📋 Project Template | docs/claude-project-template.md | | Any Agent | ✅ REST API | schemas/openapi.yaml |

Export Schemas

Generate schemas for integration with other platforms:

# OpenAI function calling schema (ChatGPT, Codex CLI)
linsenkasten export --format openai > functions.json

# OpenAPI 3.0 specification (any REST client)
linsenkasten export --format openapi > api.yaml

Creating a ChatGPT GPT

Export the OpenAPI schema: linsenkasten export --format openapi
Create a new GPT at https://chatgpt.com/gpts/editor
Add Actions using the OpenAPI schema
Point to API: https://linsenkasten-api-production.up.railway.app/api/v1

See docs/chatgpt-gpt-config.md for detailed instructions.

Installation Options

Option 1: npm Package (Recommended)

Install via npm:

npm install -g linsenkasten-mcp

Add to your Claude Desktop config:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "linsenkasten": {
      "command": "linsenkasten-mcp"
    }
  }
}

Option 2: Local Development

Want to run from source?

# Clone this repo
git clone https://github.com/mistakeknot/Linsenkasten.git
cd linsenkasten

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Run locally
npm start

# Update Claude Desktop config
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "linsenkasten": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/path/to/linsenkasten/index.js"]
    }
  }
}

API Endpoints

All tools are backed by REST API endpoints:

/api/v1/creative/journey - Path finding
/api/v1/creative/bridges - Bridge discovery
/api/v1/creative/contrasts - Paradox detection
/api/v1/creative/central - Centrality measures
/api/v1/creative/neighborhood - Local exploration
/api/v1/creative/random - Random sampling

See docs/API.md for full API documentation.

Resources

Linsenkasten provides three MCP resources:

lens://all - Complete lens catalog (256+ lenses)
lens://frames - Thematic groupings (20+ frames)
lens://graph - Relationship network structure

Use Cases

For AI Agents:

Enhance reasoning with proven analytical frameworks
Make unexpected connections between concepts
Navigate problem spaces systematically
Break out of local optima in thinking

For Knowledge Work:

Research assistance with conceptual navigation
Creative problem-solving through lens combinations
Strategic thinking with hub concept identification
Learning paths through conceptual journeys

For Developers:

Build AI agents with cognitive augmentation
Add analytical frameworks to your tools
Create knowledge navigation interfaces
Integrate FLUX lenses into workflows

About FLUX

FLUX is a weekly newsletter from the FLUX Collective exploring systems thinking, organizational dynamics, and complexity. Each episode introduces analytical lenses for understanding complex systems.

Linsenkasten makes these lenses computationally accessible for AI agents and tools.

Contributing

Contributions welcome! See CONTRIBUTING.md for guidelines.

License

MIT License - see LICENSE