# Ghidra MCP v1.5.0 Release Notes

**Release Date**: 2025-10-10
**Version**: 1.5.0
**Build Status**: ✅ SUCCESS

## Overview

Version 1.5.0 introduces **9 new workflow optimization tools** designed to dramatically reduce API call overhead and improve reverse engineering workflow efficiency. This release reduces the number of API calls required for typical function documentation from 15-20 calls down to 5-9 calls, representing a **40-55% improvement** in workflow efficiency.

## New Features (9 Workflow Optimization Tools)

### Batch Operations

#### 1. `batch_set_comments` - Unified Comment Management
**Reduces**: 4+ API calls → 1 API call (75% reduction)

Set all comment types in a single atomic operation:
- Plate comments (function header)
- Decompiler comments (PRE_COMMENT)
- Disassembly comments (EOL_COMMENT)

```python
batch_set_comments(
    function_address="0x6fae7e70",
    plate_comment="Invokes a virtual method from the object's vtable",
    decompiler_comments=[
        {"address": "0x6fae7e70", "comment": "Virtual method invocation wrapper"},
        {"address": "0x6fae7e75", "comment": "Load vtable pointer from object+0x00"}
    ],
    disassembly_comments=[
        {"address": "0x6fae7e71", "comment": "Get vtable"},
        {"address": "0x6fae7e74", "comment": "Call method at offset"}
    ]
)
```

#### 2. `batch_rename_function_components` - Atomic Rename Operations
**Reduces**: 3-5 API calls → 1 API call (67-80% reduction)

Rename function, parameters, and local variables atomically:

```python
batch_rename_function_components(
    old_function_name="FUN_6fae7e70",
    new_function_name="InvokeVirtualMethod",
    parameter_renames={"param_1": "objectInstance", "param_2": "methodOffset"},
    variable_renames={"local_8": "vtablePointer", "local_c": "methodAddress"}
)
```

#### 3. `batch_apply_data_types` - Multiple Type Applications
**Reduces**: 5+ API calls → 1 API call (80% reduction)

Apply multiple data types in a single operation:

```python
batch_apply_data_types([
    {"address": "0x6fb835b8", "type_name": "VTable"},
    {"address": "0x6fb835c0", "type_name": "DWORD"},
    {"address": "0x6fb835c4", "type_name": "pointer"}
])
```

### Function Inspection

#### 4. `get_function_variables` - Variable Enumeration
**Enables**: Programmatic variable discovery (previously required manual parsing)

List all variables in a function:

```json
{
  "function_name": "InvokeVirtualMethod",
  "parameters": [
    {"name": "objectInstance", "type": "void*", "storage": "ECX"}
  ],
  "local_variables": [
    {"name": "vtablePointer", "type": "void**", "storage": "Stack[-0x8]"},
    {"name": "methodAddress", "type": "void*", "storage": "Stack[-0xc]"}
  ]
}
```

#### 5. `analyze_function_completeness` - Quality Verification
**Enables**: Automated quality assurance (previously manual inspection)

Check function documentation completeness:

```json
{
  "function_name": "InvokeVirtualMethod",
  "has_descriptive_name": true,
  "has_plate_comment": true,
  "undefined_variables": 0,
  "generic_names": [],
  "missing_types": [],
  "completeness_score": 100,
  "status": "COMPLETE"
}
```

### Documentation Tools

#### 6. `set_plate_comment` - Function Header Comments
**Enables**: Previously impossible operation

Set function-level documentation:

```python
set_plate_comment(
    function_address="0x6fae7e70",
    comment="Invokes a virtual method from an object's vtable.\n\nParameters:\n- objectInstance: The object whose method to call\n\nReturns: Method return value"
)
```

### Type System

#### 7. `get_valid_data_types` - Type Discovery
**Enables**: Self-documenting type system (resolves "Unknown type" errors)

List all valid type strings:

```json
{
  "builtin_types": ["void", "byte", "char", "short", "int", "long", "pointer"],
  "windows_types": ["BOOL", "DWORD", "HANDLE", "LPVOID", "HWND"],
  "ghidra_types": ["undefined", "undefined1", "undefined2", "undefined4"],
  "user_defined": ["VTable", "MyStruct", "ConfigData"]
}
```

#### 8. `validate_data_type` - Type Validation
**Enables**: Pre-flight type checking (prevents failed operations)

Validate data type before applying:

```json
{
  "address": "0x6fb835b8",
  "type_name": "VTable",
  "can_apply": true,
  "sufficient_space": true,
  "aligned": true,
  "conflicts": []
}
```

#### 9. `suggest_data_type` - Type Inference
**Enables**: AI-assisted type detection

Get type suggestions based on memory content:

```json
{
  "address": "0x6fb835b8",
  "suggested_types": ["pointer", "VTable*", "void*"],
  "confidence": "high",
  "reasoning": "Memory contains valid pointer addresses, dereferenced in 5 functions"
}
```

## Performance Improvements

| Metric | Before v1.5.0 | After v1.5.0 | Improvement |
|--------|---------------|--------------|-------------|
| **API calls per function** | 15-20 calls | 5-9 calls | **40-55% reduction** |
| **Comment operations** | 4 calls | 1 call | **75% reduction** |
| **Rename operations** | 3-5 calls | 1 call | **67-80% reduction** |
| **Type application** | 5+ calls | 1 call | **80% reduction** |

### Real-World Example: InvokeVirtualMethod Function

**Before v1.5.0**: 18 API calls required
```
1. decompile_function
2. get_function_xrefs
3. get_function_callees
4. rename_function
5-7. rename_variable (3 calls)
8. set_function_prototype
9-12. set_decompiler_comment (4 calls)
13-17. set_disassembly_comment (5 calls)
18. decompile_function (verification)
```

**After v1.5.0**: 6 API calls required
```
1. decompile_function
2. get_function_xrefs
3. get_function_callees
4. batch_rename_function_components (replaces 3-5 calls)
5. set_function_prototype
6. batch_set_comments (replaces 9 calls)
7. analyze_function_completeness (verification)
```

**Reduction**: 18 → 7 calls = **61% fewer API calls**

## Technical Implementation

### Java Plugin Changes
- **File**: `src/main/java/com/xebyte/GhidraMCPPlugin.java`
- **Lines Added**: ~770 lines
- **New Endpoints**: 9 REST endpoints
- **Thread Safety**: All operations use `SwingUtilities.invokeAndWait()`
- **Atomicity**: Batch operations wrapped in single Ghidra transaction

### Python MCP Bridge Changes
- **File**: `bridge_mcp_ghidra.py`
- **Lines Added**: ~220 lines
- **New Tools**: 9 MCP tools with `@mcp.tool()` decorators
- **Input Validation**: All tools validate addresses and function names
- **Error Handling**: Comprehensive error messages for debugging

### Build System
- **Maven Version**: Updated to 1.5.0 in `pom.xml`
- **Build Command**: `mvn clean package assembly:single`
- **Artifacts**:
  - `target/GhidraMCP.jar` (94KB)
  - `target/GhidraMCP-1.5.0.zip` (93KB)

## Installation

### From ZIP File (Recommended)
1. Download `GhidraMCP-1.5.0.zip` from releases
2. In Ghidra: **File → Install Extensions**
3. Click **Add Extension** → Select ZIP file
4. Restart Ghidra
5. Verify plugin loaded: **Tools → Ghidra MCP** should appear

### From Source
```bash
# Build the extension
mvn clean package assembly:single

# Install to Ghidra
cp target/GhidraMCP-1.5.0.zip "<ghidra_install>/Extensions/"
# Then use Ghidra GUI to install the extension
```

### Python Bridge Setup
```bash
# Install dependencies
pip install -r requirements.txt

# Run MCP bridge
python bridge_mcp_ghidra.py

# Or with custom server URL
python bridge_mcp_ghidra.py --ghidra-server http://127.0.0.1:8089/
```

## Compatibility

- **Ghidra Version**: 11.4.2 (backward compatible with 11.x)
- **Java Version**: 21 LTS
- **Python Version**: 3.8+
- **MCP Protocol**: Compatible with Claude Code, Claude Desktop, and all MCP clients

## Known Issues

### Deprecation Warnings
The following Ghidra APIs used in this release are deprecated but still functional:
- `CodeUnit.PRE_COMMENT`
- `CodeUnit.EOL_COMMENT`
- `Function.setComment(String)`

These will be migrated to new Ghidra APIs in a future release but do not affect current functionality.

## Documentation

New documentation files created:
- `GHIDRA_ANALYSIS_PROMPT.md` - Original analysis workflow template
- `MCP_ENHANCEMENT_RECOMMENDATIONS.md` - Gap analysis and tool proposals
- `OPTIMIZED_ANALYSIS_PROMPT.md` - Improved workflow with verification steps
- `IMPLEMENTATION_V1.5.0.md` - Comprehensive implementation guide
- `RELEASE_NOTES_V1.5.0.md` - This file

## Migration Guide

### Upgrading from v1.4.0

**1. Uninstall Old Version**
```bash
# In Ghidra: File → Manage Extensions → Uninstall GhidraMCP v1.4.0
# Restart Ghidra
```

**2. Install New Version**
```bash
# Follow installation instructions above
```

**3. Update Workflows**

**Old workflow (v1.4.0)**:
```python
# Set comments separately (4 calls)
set_decompiler_comment(addr1, comment1)
set_decompiler_comment(addr2, comment2)
set_disassembly_comment(addr3, comment3)
set_disassembly_comment(addr4, comment4)
```

**New workflow (v1.5.0)**:
```python
# Set all comments in one call
batch_set_comments(
    function_address=func_addr,
    plate_comment="Function summary",
    decompiler_comments=[
        {"address": addr1, "comment": comment1},
        {"address": addr2, "comment": comment2}
    ],
    disassembly_comments=[
        {"address": addr3, "comment": comment3},
        {"address": addr4, "comment": comment4}
    ]
)
```

**Old workflow (v1.4.0)**:
```python
# Rename components separately (4 calls)
rename_function("FUN_6fae7e70", "InvokeVirtualMethod")
rename_variable("InvokeVirtualMethod", "param_1", "objectInstance")
rename_variable("InvokeVirtualMethod", "local_8", "vtablePointer")
set_function_prototype("0x6fae7e70", "void InvokeVirtualMethod(void* objectInstance)")
```

**New workflow (v1.5.0)**:
```python
# Rename all components atomically (1 call)
batch_rename_function_components(
    old_function_name="FUN_6fae7e70",
    new_function_name="InvokeVirtualMethod",
    parameter_renames={"param_1": "objectInstance"},
    variable_renames={"local_8": "vtablePointer"}
)
# Still need separate call for prototype
set_function_prototype("0x6fae7e70", "void InvokeVirtualMethod(void* objectInstance)")
```

## Testing

### Unit Tests
```bash
pytest tests/unit/ -v
```

### Integration Tests (requires Ghidra running)
```bash
# Start Ghidra with plugin and load a binary
pytest tests/integration/ -v
```

### Functional Tests (requires Ghidra + binary)
```bash
pytest tests/functional/ -v
```

## Future Roadmap

Potential v1.6.0 features (not committed):
- Control flow graph generation
- Automated vtable reconstruction
- Binary diffing tools
- Collaborative analysis features

## Credits

- **Primary Development**: Implementation of 9 workflow optimization tools
- **Based on**: Original Ghidra MCP Plugin architecture
- **MCP Framework**: FastMCP by Anthropic
- **Ghidra**: NSA Ghidra reverse engineering platform

## License

Apache License 2.0 - See LICENSE file for details

## Support

- **Issues**: https://github.com/bethington/ghidra-mcp/issues
- **Documentation**: https://github.com/bethington/ghidra-mcp/wiki
- **API Reference**: docs/API_REFERENCE.md

---

**Build Info**:
- Build Date: 2025-10-10
- Build Status: ✅ SUCCESS
- JAR Size: 94KB
- ZIP Size: 93KB
- Total Tests: Pending (see Testing section)
