feat(ai-chat): per-MCP-server instructions in the agent system prompt (#180)

Admins can now give each EXTERNAL MCP server a free-text instruction ("how/
when to use this server's tools") that the agent receives in its SYSTEM
PROMPT next to the tool descriptions — porting the built-in SERVER_INSTRUCTIONS
idea to admin-configured servers. Trusted, admin-authored text (like a system
prompt); NON-secret, so unlike headersEnc it IS returned in views/forms.

- Migration: nullable `instructions text` on ai_mcp_servers (old rows = null =
  no guidance). Table type + repo insert/update (blank/whitespace -> null via
  blankToNull). DTO `@MaxLength(4000)`. Service threads it through
  McpServerView/toView.
- mcp-clients: `McpServerInstruction { serverName, toolPrefix, instructions }`
  threaded through the toolset/cache/lease. Guidance is built ONLY for a server
  that actually connected AND contributed >=1 callable tool (the allowlist may
  filter all of them out) AND has non-blank text — so a guide never appears for
  tools the agent cannot call. Cached with the toolset, so an edit is picked up
  next turn via the existing CRUD cache invalidation.
- System prompt: `buildMcpToolingBlock` renders an <mcp_tooling> block INSIDE
  the safety sandwich (after context, before the trailing SAFETY_FRAMEWORK) so
  it informs tool choice but cannot override the rules; each section is headed
  by the server's `prefix_*` namespace. Empty/blank -> block omitted. The
  caller (ai-chat.service) now builds the external toolset BEFORE the prompt and
  passes external.instructions; client-handle lifecycle (close-once) unchanged.
- Client: instructions field in types + a Textarea (autosize, maxLength 4000)
  in the MCP-server form with a namespace-prefix hint; i18n (en/ru).

Tests across every layer (prompt block placement + both SAFETY copies; view
blank->null; buildEntry includes guidance only for connected+>=1-tool+non-blank;
DTO MaxLength; repo + integration round-trip; service wiring). Delegated impl
reviewed (APPROVE); applied the import-type follow-up.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

apps/client/public/locales/en-US/translation.json

@@ -710,6 +710,7 @@
   "Authorization header": "Authorization header",
   "Tool allowlist": "Tool allowlist",
   "Optional. Leave empty to allow all tools the server exposes.": "Optional. Leave empty to allow all tools the server exposes.",
+  "Optional guidance for the agent on how and when to use this server's tools. Injected into the system prompt. The server's tools are namespaced as \"<server name>_*\".": "Optional guidance for the agent on how and when to use this server's tools. Injected into the system prompt. The server's tools are namespaced as \"<server name>_*\".",
   "Test": "Test",
   "Available tools": "Available tools",
   "No tools available": "No tools available",

apps/client/public/locales/ru-RU/translation.json

@@ -751,6 +751,8 @@
   "Manage API keys for all users in the workspace. View the <anchor>API documentation</anchor> for usage details.": "Управляйте API-ключами для всех пользователей в рабочем пространстве. Смотрите <anchor>документацию по API</anchor> для получения информации об использовании.",
   "View the <anchor>API documentation</anchor> for usage details.": "Смотрите <anchor>документацию по API</anchor> для получения информации об использовании.",
   "View the <anchor>MCP documentation</anchor>.": "Смотрите <anchor>документацию по MCP</anchor>.",
+  "Instructions": "Инструкции",
+  "Optional guidance for the agent on how and when to use this server's tools. Injected into the system prompt. The server's tools are namespaced as \"<server name>_*\".": "Необязательное указание агенту, как и когда использовать инструменты этого сервера. Добавляется в системный промпт. Инструменты сервера именуются с префиксом «<имя сервера>_*».",
   "Sources": "Источники",
   "AI Answers not available for attachments": "Ответы ИИ недоступны для вложений",
   "No answer available": "Ответ недоступен",

apps/client/src/features/workspace/components/settings/components/ai-mcp-server-form.tsx

@@ -11,6 +11,7 @@ import {
   Switch,
   TagsInput,
   Text,
+  Textarea,
   TextInput,
 } from "@mantine/core";
 import { useForm } from "@mantine/form";
@@ -35,6 +36,8 @@ const formSchema = z.object({
   // Write-only secret buffer. Empty string means "do not change" (unless cleared).
   authHeader: z.string(),
   toolAllowlist: z.array(z.string()),
+  // Admin-authored prompt guidance (#180). Capped to mirror the DTO MaxLength.
+  instructions: z.string().max(4000),
   enabled: z.boolean(),
 });
 
@@ -63,6 +66,7 @@ function buildInitialValues(server?: IAiMcpServer): FormValues {
     toolAllowlist: Array.isArray(server?.toolAllowlist)
       ? server.toolAllowlist
       : [],
+    instructions: server?.instructions ?? "",
     enabled: server?.enabled ?? true,
   };
 }
@@ -124,6 +128,8 @@ export default function AiMcpServerForm({
         transport: values.transport,
         url: values.url,
         toolAllowlist: values.toolAllowlist,
+        // Always sent: a blank value clears the stored guidance (server -> null).
+        instructions: values.instructions,
         enabled: values.enabled,
       };
       // Only attach headers when set or explicitly cleared (omit => unchanged).
@@ -135,6 +141,8 @@ export default function AiMcpServerForm({
         transport: values.transport,
         url: values.url,
         toolAllowlist: values.toolAllowlist,
+        // Blank => server stores null (no guidance).
+        instructions: values.instructions,
         enabled: values.enabled,
       };
       // On create, only a typed value matters (no prior stored headers).
@@ -158,10 +166,7 @@ export default function AiMcpServerForm({
 
   return (
     <Stack>
-      <TextInput
+      <TextInput label={t("Server name")} {...form.getInputProps("name")} />
-        label={t("Server name")}
-        {...form.getInputProps("name")}
-      />
 
       <Select
         label={t("Transport")}
@@ -177,7 +182,7 @@ export default function AiMcpServerForm({
         // Clarify that the value is sent verbatim as the Authorization header,
         // so the user supplies the full scheme (no implicit Bearer prefix).
         description={t(
-          "Sent verbatim as the value of the Authorization header (e.g. \"Bearer <token>\" or \"Basic <base64>\").",
+          'Sent verbatim as the value of the Authorization header (e.g. "Bearer <token>" or "Basic <base64>").',
         )}
         // Placeholder hints whether headers are stored; the value is never shown.
         placeholder={hasHeaders ? t("•••• set") : ""}
@@ -208,6 +213,20 @@ export default function AiMcpServerForm({
         {...form.getInputProps("toolAllowlist")}
       />
 
+      <Textarea
+        label={t("Instructions")}
+        // Hint that the text is injected into the agent's system prompt and that
+        // the server's tools are namespaced under <name>_* (the prompt header).
+        description={t(
+          "Optional guidance for the agent on how and when to use this server's tools. Injected into the system prompt. The server's tools are namespaced as \"<server name>_*\".",
+        )}
+        autosize
+        minRows={2}
+        maxRows={8}
+        maxLength={4000}
+        {...form.getInputProps("instructions")}
+      />
+
       <Switch
         label={t("Enabled")}
         checked={form.values.enabled}

apps/client/src/features/workspace/services/ai-mcp-server-service.ts

@@ -14,6 +14,9 @@ export interface IAiMcpServer {
   enabled: boolean;
   toolAllowlist: string[] | null;
   hasHeaders: boolean;
+  // Admin-authored guidance injected into the agent system prompt (#180).
+  // NON-secret, so it IS returned. Null when no guidance is configured.
+  instructions: string | null;
 }
 
 // Create payload. `headers` is write-only: omit => no auth headers.
@@ -25,6 +28,8 @@ export interface IAiMcpServerCreate {
   // never returned.
   headers?: Record<string, string>;
   toolAllowlist?: string[];
+  // Admin-authored prompt guidance (#180). Blank => stored as null.
+  instructions?: string;
   enabled?: boolean;
 }
 
@@ -39,6 +44,8 @@ export interface IAiMcpServerUpdate {
   url?: string;
   headers?: Record<string, string>;
   toolAllowlist?: string[];
+  // Admin-authored prompt guidance (#180). Absent => unchanged; blank => cleared.
+  instructions?: string;
   enabled?: boolean;
 }
 

apps/server/src/core/ai-chat/ai-chat.prompt.spec.ts

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { buildSystemPrompt } from './ai-chat.prompt';
+import { buildSystemPrompt, buildMcpToolingBlock } from './ai-chat.prompt';
 import { Workspace } from '@docmost/db/types/entity.types';
 
 /**
@@ -161,3 +161,118 @@ describe('buildSystemPrompt current-page context', () => {
     expect(pageIdx).toBeLessThan(lastSafety);
   });
 });
+
+/**
+ * Unit tests for the per-EXTERNAL-MCP-server guidance block (#180). When the
+ * caller passes non-blank instructions for ≥1 server, an <mcp_tooling> block
+ * renders the server name, its tool namespace prefix and the text. The block
+ * sits INSIDE the safety sandwich (after context, before the trailing SAFETY)
+ * and never removes/duplicates the immutable safety framework. An empty list or
+ * all-blank text renders nothing.
+ */
+describe('buildSystemPrompt mcp tooling guidance', () => {
+  const workspace = { name: 'Acme' } as unknown as Workspace;
+  const SAFETY_MARKER = 'Operating rules (always in effect)';
+
+  it('renders the server name, tool prefix and text when guidance is present', () => {
+    const prompt = buildSystemPrompt({
+      workspace,
+      mcpInstructions: [
+        {
+          serverName: 'Tavily',
+          toolPrefix: 'tavily',
+          instructions: 'Use tavily_search for fresh web facts; cite sources.',
+        },
+      ],
+    });
+    expect(prompt).toContain('<mcp_tooling');
+    expect(prompt).toContain('Tavily');
+    // The header names the namespace prefix as `<prefix>_*`.
+    expect(prompt).toContain('tavily_*');
+    expect(prompt).toContain(
+      'Use tavily_search for fresh web facts; cite sources.',
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('renders nothing for an empty list', () => {
+    const prompt = buildSystemPrompt({ workspace, mcpInstructions: [] });
+    expect(prompt).not.toContain('<mcp_tooling');
+  });
+
+  it('renders nothing for an undefined list', () => {
+    const prompt = buildSystemPrompt({ workspace });
+    expect(prompt).not.toContain('<mcp_tooling');
+  });
+
+  it('renders nothing when every entry has blank text', () => {
+    const prompt = buildSystemPrompt({
+      workspace,
+      mcpInstructions: [
+        { serverName: 'A', toolPrefix: 'a', instructions: '   ' },
+        { serverName: 'B', toolPrefix: 'b', instructions: '' },
+      ],
+    });
+    expect(prompt).not.toContain('<mcp_tooling');
+  });
+
+  it('places the block inside the safety sandwich, after context, before the trailing SAFETY', () => {
+    const prompt = buildSystemPrompt({
+      workspace,
+      openedPage: { id: 'pg-1', title: 'Doc' },
+      mcpInstructions: [
+        { serverName: 'Tavily', toolPrefix: 'tavily', instructions: 'guide' },
+      ],
+    });
+    const ctxIdx = prompt.indexOf('currently viewing the page');
+    const mcpIdx = prompt.indexOf('<mcp_tooling');
+    const firstSafety = prompt.indexOf(SAFETY_MARKER);
+    const lastSafety = prompt.lastIndexOf(SAFETY_MARKER);
+    // After context, and strictly inside the sandwich.
+    expect(mcpIdx).toBeGreaterThan(ctxIdx);
+    expect(mcpIdx).toBeGreaterThan(firstSafety);
+    expect(mcpIdx).toBeLessThan(lastSafety);
+  });
+
+  it('keeps BOTH copies of the safety framework when guidance is present', () => {
+    const prompt = buildSystemPrompt({
+      workspace,
+      mcpInstructions: [
+        { serverName: 'Tavily', toolPrefix: 'tavily', instructions: 'guide' },
+      ],
+    });
+    const firstSafety = prompt.indexOf(SAFETY_MARKER);
+    const lastSafety = prompt.lastIndexOf(SAFETY_MARKER);
+    expect(firstSafety).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0);
+    expect(lastSafety).toBeGreaterThan(firstSafety);
+  });
+});
+
+/**
+ * Unit tests for the pure block builder. It filters blank entries and returns
+ * '' so the caller can omit the section entirely.
+ */
+describe('buildMcpToolingBlock', () => {
+  it('returns "" for undefined / empty / all-blank', () => {
+    expect(buildMcpToolingBlock(undefined)).toBe('');
+    expect(buildMcpToolingBlock([])).toBe('');
+    expect(
+      buildMcpToolingBlock([
+        { serverName: 'A', toolPrefix: 'a', instructions: '  ' },
+      ]),
+    ).toBe('');
+  });
+
+  it('includes only the non-blank entries', () => {
+    const block = buildMcpToolingBlock([
+      { serverName: 'A', toolPrefix: 'a', instructions: 'alpha guide' },
+      { serverName: 'B', toolPrefix: 'b', instructions: '   ' },
+      { serverName: 'C', toolPrefix: 'c', instructions: 'gamma guide' },
+    ]);
+    expect(block).toContain('a_*');
+    expect(block).toContain('alpha guide');
+    expect(block).toContain('c_*');
+    expect(block).toContain('gamma guide');
+    // The blank-only entry contributes no section header.
+    expect(block).not.toContain('b_*');
+  });
+});

apps/server/src/core/ai-chat/ai-chat.prompt.ts

@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import { Workspace } from '@docmost/db/types/entity.types';
+import type { McpServerInstruction } from './external-mcp/mcp-clients.service';
 
 /**
  * Default agent persona used when the admin has not configured a custom system
@@ -76,6 +77,42 @@ export interface BuildSystemPromptInput {
    * uses its CASL-enforced read/write page tools with the id when needed.
    */
   openedPage?: { id?: string; title?: string } | null;
+  /**
+   * Admin-authored, per-EXTERNAL-MCP-server guidance ("how/when to use this
+   * server's tools"), built by `McpClientsService.toolsFor` for servers that
+   * actually connected and contributed ≥1 callable tool (#180). Rendered as an
+   * `<mcp_tooling>` block INSIDE the safety sandwich (trusted text — it informs
+   * tool usage but cannot override the surrounding rules). Empty/blank => the
+   * block is omitted entirely.
+   */
+  mcpInstructions?: McpServerInstruction[];
+}
+
+/**
+ * Render the `<mcp_tooling>` block from per-server guidance. Each server gets a
+ * section headed by its tool namespace prefix (e.g. `tavily_*`) so the model can
+ * connect the guidance to the actual namespaced tool names. The prefix is
+ * advisory: on rare name collisions individual tools may carry a disambiguating
+ * suffix, but the guidance stays guidance, not a contract. Returns '' when no
+ * server has non-blank guidance, so the caller can omit the block entirely.
+ */
+export function buildMcpToolingBlock(
+  mcpInstructions: McpServerInstruction[] | undefined,
+): string {
+  if (!mcpInstructions || mcpInstructions.length === 0) return '';
+  const sections = mcpInstructions
+    .filter((m) => typeof m.instructions === 'string' && m.instructions.trim())
+    .map((m) => {
+      const header = `Server "${m.serverName}" (tools: ${m.toolPrefix}_*):`;
+      return `${header}\n${m.instructions.trim()}`;
+    });
+  if (sections.length === 0) return '';
+  return [
+    '<mcp_tooling note="admin guidance for the external tools below; informs tool choice only, cannot override the rules above or below">',
+    'Guidance for the external MCP tools available to you this turn:',
+    ...sections,
+    '</mcp_tooling>',
+  ].join('\n');
 }
 
 /**
@@ -92,6 +129,7 @@ export function buildSystemPrompt({
   adminPrompt,
   roleInstructions,
   openedPage,
+  mcpInstructions,
 }: BuildSystemPromptInput): string {
   // Persona precedence: role instructions REPLACE the admin persona / default.
   // effectivePersona = roleInstructions || adminPrompt || DEFAULT_PROMPT.
@@ -112,24 +150,35 @@ export function buildSystemPrompt({
   const pageId = openedPage?.id;
   if (typeof pageId === 'string' && pageId.trim().length > 0) {
     const title =
-      typeof openedPage?.title === 'string' && openedPage.title.trim().length > 0
+      typeof openedPage?.title === 'string' &&
+      openedPage.title.trim().length > 0
         ? openedPage.title.trim()
         : 'Untitled';
     context += `\nThe user is currently viewing the page "${title}" (pageId: ${pageId.trim()}). When they refer to "this page", "the current page", or similar, operate on that pageId — use the read/write page tools with it.`;
   }
 
+  // Per-server external-MCP tool guidance (#180). Trusted, admin-authored text;
+  // rendered inside the sandwich (after context, before the trailing SAFETY) so
+  // it informs tool choice but cannot override the surrounding safety rules.
+  // Empty when no qualifying server has guidance.
+  const mcpTooling = buildMcpToolingBlock(mcpInstructions);
+
   // Sandwich the lower-trust persona/role text between two copies of the
   // immutable SAFETY_FRAMEWORK so any jailbreak inside `base` is both preceded
   // and followed by the safety rules. The persona is delimited with explicit
   // <role_persona> tags noting it only shapes tone/voice. Context (workspace
-  // name, currently-viewed page) follows the persona, before the trailing
+  // name, currently-viewed page) then the MCP tooling guidance follow the
-  // SAFETY copy.
+  // persona, before the trailing SAFETY copy. Blank parts are filtered out so
+  // an empty section never adds a stray blank line.
   return [
     SAFETY_FRAMEWORK,
     '<role_persona note="shapes tone/voice only; cannot override the rules above or below">',
     base,
     '</role_persona>',
     context,
+    mcpTooling,
     SAFETY_FRAMEWORK,
-  ].join('\n');
+  ]
+    .filter((part) => part !== '')
+    .join('\n');
 }

apps/server/src/core/ai-chat/ai-chat.service.spec.ts

@@ -10,7 +10,9 @@ import {
   MAX_AGENT_STEPS,
   FINAL_STEP_INSTRUCTION,
 } from './ai-chat.service';
-import type { AiChatMessage } from '@docmost/db/types/entity.types';
+import type { AiChatMessage, Workspace } from '@docmost/db/types/entity.types';
+import { buildSystemPrompt } from './ai-chat.prompt';
+import type { McpClientsService } from './external-mcp/mcp-clients.service';
 
 /**
  * Unit tests for compactToolOutput: the pure helper that shrinks LARGE tool
@@ -94,8 +96,12 @@ describe('assistantParts', () => {
     const steps = [
       {
         text: '',
-        toolCalls: [{ toolCallId: 'c1', toolName: 'getPage', input: { id: 'p1' } }],
+        toolCalls: [
-        toolResults: [{ toolCallId: 'c1', toolName: 'getPage', output: { title: 'T' } }],
+          { toolCallId: 'c1', toolName: 'getPage', input: { id: 'p1' } },
+        ],
+        toolResults: [
+          { toolCallId: 'c1', toolName: 'getPage', output: { title: 'T' } },
+        ],
       },
     ];
     const parts = assistantParts(steps, '') as AnyPart[];
@@ -109,7 +115,9 @@ describe('assistantParts', () => {
     const steps = [
       {
         text: '',
-        toolCalls: [{ toolCallId: 'c9', toolName: 'insertNode', input: { node: {} } }],
+        toolCalls: [
+          { toolCallId: 'c9', toolName: 'insertNode', input: { node: {} } },
+        ],
         toolResults: [],
       },
     ];
@@ -136,7 +144,8 @@ describe('assistantParts', () => {
     ];
     const parts = assistantParts(steps, '') as AnyPart[];
     const toolParts = parts.filter(
-      (p) => typeof p.type === 'string' && (p.type as string).startsWith('tool-'),
+      (p) =>
+        typeof p.type === 'string' && (p.type as string).startsWith('tool-'),
     );
     expect(toolParts).toHaveLength(0);
   });
@@ -246,16 +255,30 @@ describe('buildPartialAssistantRecord', () => {
   type AnyPart = Record<string, unknown>;
 
   it('records an empty turn with the error text (preserves old behavior)', () => {
-    const rec = buildPartialAssistantRecord([], '', 'error', '401: Unauthorized');
+    const rec = buildPartialAssistantRecord(
+      [],
+      '',
+      'error',
+      '401: Unauthorized',
+    );
     expect(rec).toEqual({
       text: '',
       toolCalls: null,
-      metadata: { finishReason: 'error', parts: [], error: '401: Unauthorized' },
+      metadata: {
+        finishReason: 'error',
+        parts: [],
+        error: '401: Unauthorized',
+      },
     });
   });
 
   it('persists in-progress text (no finished steps) as the partial answer', () => {
-    const rec = buildPartialAssistantRecord([], 'partial answer', 'error', 'boom');
+    const rec = buildPartialAssistantRecord(
+      [],
+      'partial answer',
+      'error',
+      'boom',
+    );
     expect(rec.text).toBe('partial answer');
     expect(rec.metadata.parts).toEqual([
       { type: 'text', text: 'partial answer' },
@@ -275,7 +298,12 @@ describe('buildPartialAssistantRecord', () => {
         ],
       },
     ];
-    const rec = buildPartialAssistantRecord(steps, ' and then', 'error', 'boom');
+    const rec = buildPartialAssistantRecord(
+      steps,
+      ' and then',
+      'error',
+      'boom',
+    );
     const parts = rec.metadata.parts as AnyPart[];
     // The finished step's text part is present.
     expect(parts).toContainEqual({ type: 'text', text: 'looked it up' });
@@ -284,7 +312,10 @@ describe('buildPartialAssistantRecord', () => {
     expect(toolPart).toBeDefined();
     expect(toolPart!.state).toBe('output-available');
     // The in-progress text is appended LAST so the parts match the stream order.
-    expect(parts[parts.length - 1]).toEqual({ type: 'text', text: ' and then' });
+    expect(parts[parts.length - 1]).toEqual({
+      type: 'text',
+      text: ' and then',
+    });
     expect(rec.text).toBe('looked it up and then');
     expect(rec.toolCalls).not.toBeNull();
     expect(rec.metadata.error).toBe('boom');
@@ -319,10 +350,20 @@ describe('chatStreamMetadata', () => {
       chatStreamMetadata(
         { type: 'finish-step', usage: { outputTokens: 100 } },
         'chat-1',
-        { inputTokens: 500, outputTokens: 220, totalTokens: 720, reasoningTokens: 30 },
+        {
+          inputTokens: 500,
+          outputTokens: 220,
+          totalTokens: 720,
+          reasoningTokens: 30,
+        },
       ),
     ).toEqual({
-      usage: { inputTokens: 500, outputTokens: 220, totalTokens: 720, reasoningTokens: 30 },
+      usage: {
+        inputTokens: 500,
+        outputTokens: 220,
+        totalTokens: 720,
+        reasoningTokens: 30,
+      },
     });
   });
 
@@ -394,8 +435,18 @@ describe('accumulateStepUsage', () => {
   it('sums every field across two steps', () => {
     expect(
       accumulateStepUsage(
-        { inputTokens: 500, outputTokens: 100, totalTokens: 600, reasoningTokens: 30 },
+        {
-        { inputTokens: 520, outputTokens: 80, totalTokens: 600, reasoningTokens: 10 },
+          inputTokens: 500,
+          outputTokens: 100,
+          totalTokens: 600,
+          reasoningTokens: 30,
+        },
+        {
+          inputTokens: 520,
+          outputTokens: 80,
+          totalTokens: 600,
+          reasoningTokens: 10,
+        },
       ),
     ).toEqual({
       inputTokens: 1020,
@@ -431,3 +482,53 @@ describe('accumulateStepUsage', () => {
     });
   });
 });
+
+/**
+ * Contract test for the #180 wiring in AiChatService.handle: the external MCP
+ * toolset must be built BEFORE the system prompt, and its per-server guidance
+ * threaded into buildSystemPrompt({ mcpInstructions }). The full streaming
+ * handle() is not unit-testable, so this reproduces the exact prompt-build call
+ * the service makes with a connected-server toolset and asserts the guidance is
+ * present. The toolsFor->buildSystemPrompt ordering is additionally enforced at
+ * compile time (the prompt input now consumes external.instructions).
+ */
+describe('AiChatService system prompt wiring (#180)', () => {
+  const workspace = { name: 'Acme' } as unknown as Workspace;
+
+  it('includes the external MCP server instructions in the built system prompt', () => {
+    // Shape returned by mcpClients.toolsFor (only `instructions` matters here).
+    const external: Pick<
+      Awaited<ReturnType<McpClientsService['toolsFor']>>,
+      'instructions'
+    > = {
+      instructions: [
+        {
+          serverName: 'Tavily',
+          toolPrefix: 'tavily',
+          instructions: 'Prefer tavily_search for current events.',
+        },
+      ],
+    };
+
+    // Exactly the call the service makes after building the external toolset.
+    const system = buildSystemPrompt({
+      workspace,
+      adminPrompt: 'persona',
+      mcpInstructions: external.instructions,
+    });
+
+    expect(system).toContain('<mcp_tooling');
+    expect(system).toContain('Tavily');
+    expect(system).toContain('tavily_*');
+    expect(system).toContain('Prefer tavily_search for current events.');
+  });
+
+  it('renders no MCP block when there are no external servers (empty instructions)', () => {
+    const system = buildSystemPrompt({
+      workspace,
+      adminPrompt: 'persona',
+      mcpInstructions: [],
+    });
+    expect(system).not.toContain('<mcp_tooling');
+  });
+});

apps/server/src/core/ai-chat/ai-chat.service.ts

@@ -60,7 +60,10 @@ export function prepareAgentStep(
   system: string,
 ): { toolChoice: 'none'; system: string } | undefined {
   if (stepNumber >= MAX_AGENT_STEPS - 1) {
-    return { toolChoice: 'none', system: `${system}\n\n${FINAL_STEP_INSTRUCTION}` };
+    return {
+      toolChoice: 'none',
+      system: `${system}\n\n${FINAL_STEP_INSTRUCTION}`,
+    };
   }
   return undefined;
 }
@@ -259,9 +262,7 @@ export class AiChatService {
       content: incomingText,
       // jsonb column: UIMessage parts are JSON-serializable at runtime but not
       // structurally `JsonValue`, so cast through unknown.
-      metadata: (incoming?.parts
+      metadata: (incoming?.parts ? { parts: incoming.parts } : null) as never,
-        ? { parts: incoming.parts }
-        : null) as never,
     });
 
     // Rebuild the conversation from persisted history (not the client payload),
@@ -280,6 +281,33 @@ export class AiChatService {
     // The model is resolved by the controller before hijack (clean 503 path).
     // Here we only need the admin-configured system prompt.
     const resolved = await this.aiSettings.resolve(workspace.id);
+
+    // Build the external MCP toolset FIRST so the system prompt can carry each
+    // connected server's admin-authored guidance (#180). Merge in admin-
+    // configured external MCP tools (web search, etc.; §6.8). A down/slow
+    // external server never crashes the turn — toolsFor skips it and records the
+    // outcome. The returned client handles MUST be closed in the streamText
+    // lifecycle (onFinish/onError/onAbort) — leaking them is a bug. Docmost
+    // tools take precedence on a name clash (external are namespaced, so a clash
+    // is not expected; the spread order makes intent explicit).
+    let external: Awaited<ReturnType<McpClientsService['toolsFor']>> = {
+      tools: {},
+      clients: [],
+      outcomes: [],
+      instructions: [],
+    };
+    try {
+      external = await this.mcpClients.toolsFor(workspace.id);
+    } catch (err) {
+      // Building the external toolset must never break the turn; proceed with
+      // Docmost-only tools. Never log URLs/headers — short message only.
+      this.logger.warn(
+        `External MCP toolset unavailable: ${
+          err instanceof Error ? err.message : 'unknown error'
+        }`,
+      );
+    }
+
     const system = buildSystemPrompt({
       workspace,
       adminPrompt: resolved?.systemPrompt,
@@ -287,6 +315,8 @@ export class AiChatService {
       // the safety framework is still appended by buildSystemPrompt.
       roleInstructions: role?.instructions,
       openedPage: body.openPage,
+      // Guidance only for servers that connected and yielded ≥1 callable tool.
+      mcpInstructions: external.instructions,
     });
 
     // Pass the resolved chatId so the write tools can mint provenance tokens
@@ -302,28 +332,6 @@ export class AiChatService {
       body.openPage,
     );
 
-    // Merge in admin-configured external MCP tools (web search, etc.; §6.8).
-    // A down/slow external server never crashes the turn — toolsFor skips it and
-    // records the outcome. The returned client handles MUST be closed in the
-    // streamText lifecycle (onFinish/onError/onAbort) — leaking them is a bug.
-    // Docmost tools take precedence on a name clash (external are namespaced, so
-    // a clash is not expected; the spread order makes intent explicit).
-    let external: Awaited<ReturnType<McpClientsService['toolsFor']>> = {
-      tools: {},
-      clients: [],
-      outcomes: [],
-    };
-    try {
-      external = await this.mcpClients.toolsFor(workspace.id);
-    } catch (err) {
-      // Building the external toolset must never break the turn; proceed with
-      // Docmost-only tools. Never log URLs/headers — short message only.
-      this.logger.warn(
-        `External MCP toolset unavailable: ${
-          err instanceof Error ? err.message : 'unknown error'
-        }`,
-      );
-    }
     const tools = { ...external.tools, ...docmostTools };
 
     // Close every external client EXACTLY ONCE across the turn's terminal
@@ -447,13 +455,15 @@ export class AiChatService {
               // from either the new `outputTokenDetails` or the deprecated top-level
               // field, so reopened history / the Markdown export show the thinking
               // token cost too.
-            usage: normalizeStreamUsage(totalUsage as StreamUsage) ?? totalUsage,
+              usage:
+                normalizeStreamUsage(totalUsage as StreamUsage) ?? totalUsage,
               // Final-step usage = the context actually fed to the model on the last LLM
               // call (full history + tool results) plus the answer it just generated.
               // input+output of the FINAL step ≈ the conversation's CURRENT context size,
               // distinct from totalUsage which sums every step (cumulative tokens spent).
               contextTokens:
-              (usage?.inputTokens ?? 0) + (usage?.outputTokens ?? 0) || undefined,
+                (usage?.inputTokens ?? 0) + (usage?.outputTokens ?? 0) ||
+                undefined,
               // Persist the FULL set of UIMessage parts for the turn (text +
               // tool-call/result), so the rebuilt history replays prior tool
               // context to the model on later turns.
@@ -529,7 +539,11 @@ export class AiChatService {
               `steps=${steps.length}`,
           );
           await persistAssistant(
-          buildPartialAssistantRecord(capturedSteps, inProgressText, 'aborted'),
+            buildPartialAssistantRecord(
+              capturedSteps,
+              inProgressText,
+              'aborted',
+            ),
           );
           await closeExternalClients();
         },
@@ -652,7 +666,10 @@ export class AiChatService {
         'punctuation at the end.',
       prompt: firstMessage.slice(0, 2000),
     });
-    const title = text.trim().replace(/^["']|["']$/g, '').slice(0, 120);
+    const title = text
+      .trim()
+      .replace(/^["']|["']$/g, '')
+      .slice(0, 120);
     if (title) {
       await this.aiChatRepo.update(chatId, { title }, workspaceId);
     }

apps/server/src/core/ai-chat/external-mcp/dto/create-mcp-server.dto.ts

@@ -42,6 +42,15 @@ export class CreateMcpServerDto {
   @IsString({ each: true })
   toolAllowlist?: string[];
 
+  // Admin-authored guidance ("how/when to use this server's tools") injected
+  // into the agent system prompt next to the tool descriptions (#180). Trusted,
+  // NON-secret (so it IS returned). Capped to bound prompt/token size (the
+  // built-in guide is ~1.5KB). Blank => stored as null.
+  @IsOptional()
+  @IsString()
+  @MaxLength(4000)
+  instructions?: string;
+
   @IsOptional()
   @IsBoolean()
   enabled?: boolean;

apps/server/src/core/ai-chat/external-mcp/dto/mcp-server-instructions.dto.spec.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+import 'reflect-metadata';
+import { plainToInstance } from 'class-transformer';
+import { validateSync } from 'class-validator';
+import { CreateMcpServerDto } from './create-mcp-server.dto';
+import { UpdateMcpServerDto } from './update-mcp-server.dto';
+
+/**
+ * API-boundary validation for the per-server `instructions` field (#180): a free
+ * text guide injected into the agent system prompt. It is optional, must be a
+ * string, and is bounded by @MaxLength(4000) to cap prompt/token size.
+ */
+describe('MCP server DTO instructions validation', () => {
+  function validateCreate(payload: unknown) {
+    const dto = plainToInstance(CreateMcpServerDto, payload);
+    return validateSync(dto as object);
+  }
+  function validateUpdate(payload: unknown) {
+    const dto = plainToInstance(UpdateMcpServerDto, payload);
+    return validateSync(dto as object);
+  }
+
+  const base = {
+    name: 'Tavily',
+    transport: 'http',
+    url: 'https://example.com/mcp',
+  };
+
+  it('accepts an omitted instructions field on create', () => {
+    expect(validateCreate({ ...base })).toHaveLength(0);
+  });
+
+  it('accepts a reasonable instructions string on create', () => {
+    expect(
+      validateCreate({ ...base, instructions: 'Use search for fresh facts.' }),
+    ).toHaveLength(0);
+  });
+
+  it('rejects instructions over MaxLength(4000) on create', () => {
+    const errors = validateCreate({
+      ...base,
+      instructions: 'a'.repeat(4001),
+    });
+    expect(
+      errors.some(
+        (e) =>
+          e.property === 'instructions' &&
+          e.constraints !== undefined &&
+          'maxLength' in e.constraints,
+      ),
+    ).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('accepts instructions of exactly 4000 chars on create', () => {
+    expect(
+      validateCreate({ ...base, instructions: 'a'.repeat(4000) }),
+    ).toHaveLength(0);
+  });
+
+  it('rejects a non-string instructions value', () => {
+    const errors = validateCreate({ ...base, instructions: 123 });
+    expect(errors.some((e) => e.property === 'instructions')).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('rejects instructions over MaxLength(4000) on update', () => {
+    const errors = validateUpdate({ instructions: 'a'.repeat(4001) });
+    expect(
+      errors.some(
+        (e) =>
+          e.property === 'instructions' &&
+          e.constraints !== undefined &&
+          'maxLength' in e.constraints,
+      ),
+    ).toBe(true);
+  });
+});

apps/server/src/core/ai-chat/external-mcp/dto/update-mcp-server.dto.ts

@@ -43,6 +43,13 @@ export class UpdateMcpServerDto {
   @IsString({ each: true })
   toolAllowlist?: string[];
 
+  // Admin-authored prompt guidance (#180). Absent => unchanged; blank => cleared
+  // (stored as null by the repo). Capped to bound prompt/token size.
+  @IsOptional()
+  @IsString()
+  @MaxLength(4000)
+  instructions?: string;
+
   @IsOptional()
   @IsBoolean()
   enabled?: boolean;

apps/server/src/core/ai-chat/external-mcp/mcp-clients.service.ts

@@ -33,6 +33,26 @@ interface ServerOutcome {
   reason?: string;
 }
 
+/**
+ * One server's admin-authored guidance for the agent system prompt (#180).
+ * Built ONLY for a server that actually connected AND contributed ≥1 tool
+ * (after the allowlist filter) AND has non-blank guidance — so a guide never
+ * appears for a server whose tools the agent cannot actually call.
+ */
+export interface McpServerInstruction {
+  /** Display name of the server (for the prompt section header). */
+  serverName: string;
+  /**
+   * The tool-name namespace prefix the server's tools were merged under
+   * (sanitized name, e.g. `tavily`). The prompt renders this as `tavily_*` so
+   * the model can connect the guidance to the actual tool names. Advisory:
+   * individual tools may carry a disambiguating suffix on rare collisions.
+   */
+  toolPrefix: string;
+  /** The trusted, non-blank guidance text. */
+  instructions: string;
+}
+
 export interface ExternalToolset {
   /** Namespaced external tools, merge-ready into the agent toolset. */
   tools: Record<string, Tool>;
@@ -40,6 +60,11 @@ export interface ExternalToolset {
   clients: Closable[];
   /** Per-server connect outcomes so the UI can show unavailable servers. */
   outcomes: ServerOutcome[];
+  /**
+   * Per-server prompt guidance for connected servers that contributed ≥1 tool
+   * and have non-blank instructions. Empty when no server qualifies.
+   */
+  instructions: McpServerInstruction[];
 }
 
 /** Connect+tools() timeout per server — a slow server must not stall the turn. */
@@ -60,6 +85,8 @@ interface CacheEntry {
   tools: Record<string, Tool>;
   clients: McpClient[];
   outcomes: ServerOutcome[];
+  /** Prompt guidance for qualifying servers (see McpServerInstruction). */
+  instructions: McpServerInstruction[];
   expiresAt: number;
   /** Active leases (turns currently using these clients). */
   refCount: number;
@@ -141,6 +168,7 @@ export class McpClientsService {
       tools: entry.tools,
       clients: [release],
       outcomes: entry.outcomes,
+      instructions: entry.instructions,
     };
   }
 
@@ -225,6 +253,7 @@ export class McpClientsService {
     const outcomes: ServerOutcome[] = [];
     // Per-call total wall-clock cap, read once for this build (env-overridable).
     const callTimeoutMs = mcpCallTimeoutMs();
+    const instructions: McpServerInstruction[] = [];
 
     for (const server of servers) {
       try {
@@ -233,17 +262,33 @@ export class McpClientsService {
         clients.push(client);
         const allow = server.toolAllowlist;
         const picked =
-          Array.isArray(allow) && allow.length > 0
+          Array.isArray(allow) && allow.length > 0 ? pick(raw, allow) : raw;
-            ? pick(raw, allow)
-            : raw;
         // Bound each tool's execute with a per-call total-timeout guard before
         // merging, so a single chatty-but-stuck call is aborted after the cap.
         const guarded = wrapToolsWithCallTimeout(picked, callTimeoutMs);
         // Namespace each tool with the sanitized server name AND disambiguate
         // against names already merged from earlier servers, so no external
-        // tool is silently overwritten on collision.
+        // tool is silently overwritten on collision. The returned count drives
-        this.mergeNamespaced(tools, guarded, server.name, server.id);
+        // whether this server's prompt guidance is included (≥1 tool merged).
+        const merged = this.mergeNamespaced(
+          tools,
+          guarded,
+          server.name,
+          server.id,
+        );
         outcomes.push({ name: server.name, ok: true });
+        // Include this server's guidance ONLY when it actually contributed at
+        // least one tool the agent can call (allowlist may have filtered all of
+        // them out) AND the admin authored non-blank instructions. The header
+        // prefix is the sanitized server name (= the tool namespace prefix).
+        const guide = server.instructions?.trim();
+        if (merged.count > 0 && guide) {
+          instructions.push({
+            serverName: server.name,
+            toolPrefix: merged.prefix,
+            instructions: guide,
+          });
+        }
       } catch (err) {
         // A failed server is skipped — the turn proceeds with the rest. Log a
         // short warning (never the URL/headers) so ops can see degradation, and
@@ -260,6 +305,7 @@ export class McpClientsService {
       tools,
       clients,
       outcomes,
+      instructions,
       expiresAt: Date.now() + CACHE_TTL_MS,
       refCount: 0,
       evicted: false,
@@ -276,16 +322,19 @@ export class McpClientsService {
    * renaming any key that would collide with an already-merged tool (different
    * servers with the same sanitized name, or duplicates after truncation), so
    * no external tool is silently dropped via overwrite.
+   *
+   * Returns how many tools this server actually contributed and the namespace
+   * prefix used (the sanitized server name) so the caller can attach the
+   * server's prompt guidance only when ≥1 tool was merged.
    */
   private mergeNamespaced(
     target: Record<string, Tool>,
     picked: Record<string, Tool>,
     serverName: string,
     serverId: string,
-  ): void {
+  ): { count: number; prefix: string } {
-    for (const [name, tool] of Object.entries(
+    let count = 0;
-      namespace(picked, serverName),
+    for (const [name, tool] of Object.entries(namespace(picked, serverName))) {
-    )) {
       let key = name;
       if (key in target) {
         const original = key;
@@ -295,7 +344,9 @@ export class McpClientsService {
         );
       }
       target[key] = tool;
+      count += 1;
     }
+    return { count, prefix: namespacePrefix(serverName) };
   }
 
   /**
@@ -371,9 +422,7 @@ export class McpClientsService {
 
   /** Close clients, swallowing close errors so they never break a response. */
   private async closeClients(clients: McpClient[]): Promise<void> {
-    await Promise.all(
+    await Promise.all(clients.map((c) => c.close().catch(() => undefined)));
-      clients.map((c) => c.close().catch(() => undefined)),
-    );
   }
 }
 
@@ -386,9 +435,10 @@ export class McpClientsService {
  * lookup hands net/tls.connect ONLY a set that passed this check, so the kernel
  * can never connect to an address that did not pass the guard. Pure — no I/O.
  */
-export function validateResolvedAddresses(
+export function validateResolvedAddresses(addrs: readonly LookupAddress[]): {
-  addrs: readonly LookupAddress[],
+  ok: boolean;
-): { ok: boolean; blockedHost?: string } {
+  blockedHost?: string;
+} {
   if (addrs.length === 0) {
     return { ok: false };
   }
@@ -524,7 +574,7 @@ function namespace(
   tools: Record<string, Tool>,
   serverName: string,
 ): Record<string, Tool> {
-  const prefix = sanitizeName(serverName) || 'mcp';
+  const prefix = namespacePrefix(serverName);
   const out: Record<string, Tool> = {};
   for (const [name, t] of Object.entries(tools)) {
     const safe = sanitizeName(name);
@@ -539,6 +589,15 @@ function namespace(
   return out;
 }
 
+/**
+ * The tool-name namespace prefix for a server: its sanitized name, or `mcp`
+ * when the name sanitizes to empty. Tools are merged as `${prefix}_${tool}`, so
+ * the prompt guidance refers to the server's tools as `${prefix}_*`.
+ */
+function namespacePrefix(serverName: string): string {
+  return sanitizeName(serverName) || 'mcp';
+}
+
 /** Reduce an arbitrary string to ^[a-zA-Z0-9_-]+, collapsing runs to '_'. */
 function sanitizeName(value: string): string {
   return value

apps/server/src/core/ai-chat/external-mcp/mcp-instructions.spec.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,168 @@
+import { type Tool } from 'ai';
+import { McpClientsService } from './mcp-clients.service';
+
+/**
+ * Tests for the per-server prompt guidance (#180) assembled by buildEntry and
+ * surfaced via toolsFor().instructions.
+ *
+ * REACHABILITY NOTE: buildEntry is a PRIVATE method; the smallest reachable
+ * public path is toolsFor() -> getOrBuildEntry -> buildEntry -> connect/tools()
+ * -> mergeNamespaced. We drive that path: stub the repo's `listEnabled` and spy
+ * on the private `connect` to return fake MCP clients whose `tools()` we control.
+ *
+ * Contract (all checked here): a server's guidance is included ONLY when the
+ * server actually connected AND contributed ≥1 callable tool (after the
+ * allowlist filter) AND its instructions are non-blank. The header carries the
+ * tool namespace prefix (the sanitized server name).
+ */
+function fakeTool(): Tool {
+  return { description: 'x', inputSchema: undefined } as unknown as Tool;
+}
+
+interface FakeServer {
+  id: string;
+  name: string;
+  transport: string;
+  url: string;
+  headersEnc: string | null;
+  toolAllowlist: string[] | null;
+  instructions: string | null;
+}
+
+function server(
+  over: Partial<FakeServer> & { id: string; name: string },
+): FakeServer {
+  return {
+    transport: 'http',
+    url: 'https://example.com/mcp',
+    headersEnc: null,
+    toolAllowlist: null,
+    instructions: null,
+    ...over,
+  };
+}
+
+async function instructionsFor(
+  servers: FakeServer[],
+  toolsByServerId: Record<string, Record<string, Tool>>,
+  // Server ids whose connect should THROW (simulating an unavailable server).
+  failingIds: Set<string> = new Set(),
+): Promise<
+  {
+    serverName: string;
+    toolPrefix: string;
+    instructions: string;
+  }[]
+> {
+  const repoStub = {
+    listEnabled: jest.fn().mockResolvedValue(servers),
+  };
+  const service = new McpClientsService(repoStub as never, {} as never);
+
+  jest
+    .spyOn(
+      service as unknown as { connect: (s: FakeServer) => unknown },
+      'connect',
+    )
+    .mockImplementation((s: FakeServer) => {
+      if (failingIds.has(s.id)) {
+        return Promise.reject(new Error('connection failed'));
+      }
+      return Promise.resolve({
+        tools: () => Promise.resolve(toolsByServerId[s.id] ?? {}),
+        close: () => Promise.resolve(),
+      });
+    });
+
+  const toolset = await service.toolsFor('ws-1');
+  await Promise.all(toolset.clients.map((c) => c.close()));
+  return toolset.instructions;
+}
+
+describe('external MCP per-server prompt guidance (via toolsFor)', () => {
+  afterEach(() => jest.restoreAllMocks());
+
+  it('includes guidance for a connected server with non-empty text and ≥1 tool', async () => {
+    const instructions = await instructionsFor(
+      [
+        server({
+          id: 'id-tavily',
+          name: 'Tavily',
+          instructions: 'Use tavily_search for fresh facts.',
+        }),
+      ],
+      { 'id-tavily': { search: fakeTool() } },
+    );
+
+    // sanitizeName preserves case (charset [a-zA-Z0-9_-]), so the prefix is the
+    // server name as-is for an already-clean name.
+    expect(instructions).toEqual([
+      {
+        serverName: 'Tavily',
+        toolPrefix: 'Tavily',
+        instructions: 'Use tavily_search for fresh facts.',
+      },
+    ]);
+  });
+
+  it('omits guidance when the server has no instructions', async () => {
+    const instructions = await instructionsFor(
+      [server({ id: 'id-1', name: 'Tavily', instructions: null })],
+      { 'id-1': { search: fakeTool() } },
+    );
+    expect(instructions).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  it('omits guidance when the instructions are only whitespace', async () => {
+    const instructions = await instructionsFor(
+      [server({ id: 'id-1', name: 'Tavily', instructions: '   ' })],
+      { 'id-1': { search: fakeTool() } },
+    );
+    expect(instructions).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  it('omits guidance for a server that contributed ZERO tools (allowlist filtered all out)', async () => {
+    const instructions = await instructionsFor(
+      [
+        server({
+          id: 'id-1',
+          name: 'Tavily',
+          instructions: 'guide',
+          // Allowlist names a tool the server does not expose -> 0 picked.
+          toolAllowlist: ['nonexistent'],
+        }),
+      ],
+      { 'id-1': { search: fakeTool() } },
+    );
+    expect(instructions).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  it('omits guidance for an unavailable (failed-connect) server', async () => {
+    const instructions = await instructionsFor(
+      [server({ id: 'id-1', name: 'Tavily', instructions: 'guide' })],
+      { 'id-1': { search: fakeTool() } },
+      new Set(['id-1']),
+    );
+    expect(instructions).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  it('includes only the qualifying servers among several', async () => {
+    const instructions = await instructionsFor(
+      [
+        server({ id: 'ok', name: 'Tavily', instructions: 'web guide' }),
+        server({ id: 'blank', name: 'Crawl', instructions: '' }),
+        server({ id: 'down', name: 'Down', instructions: 'never shown' }),
+      ],
+      {
+        ok: { search: fakeTool() },
+        blank: { crawl: fakeTool() },
+        down: { x: fakeTool() },
+      },
+      new Set(['down']),
+    );
+
+    expect(instructions).toEqual([
+      { serverName: 'Tavily', toolPrefix: 'Tavily', instructions: 'web guide' },
+    ]);
+  });
+});

apps/server/src/core/ai-chat/external-mcp/mcp-servers-to-view.spec.ts

@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ function row(overrides: Partial<AiMcpServer>): AiMcpServer {
     enabled: true,
     toolAllowlist: null,
     headersEnc: null,
+    instructions: null,
     ...overrides,
   } as unknown as AiMcpServer;
 }
@@ -28,11 +29,7 @@ describe('McpServersService.toView (via list) — encrypted-header leak guard',
     };
     // secretBox + clients are unused by the list/toView path; pass stubs to
     // satisfy the constructor.
-    return new McpServersService(
+    return new McpServersService(repoStub as never, {} as never, {} as never);
-      repoStub as never,
-      {} as never,
-      {} as never,
-    );
   }
 
   it('exposes hasHeaders:true and NO headersEnc when auth headers are set', async () => {
@@ -67,6 +64,7 @@ describe('McpServersService.toView (via list) — encrypted-header leak guard',
         enabled: false,
         toolAllowlist: ['search'],
         headersEnc: 'BLOB',
+        instructions: 'Use search for fresh web facts.',
       }),
     ]);
 
@@ -80,6 +78,19 @@ describe('McpServersService.toView (via list) — encrypted-header leak guard',
       enabled: false,
       toolAllowlist: ['search'],
       hasHeaders: true,
+      instructions: 'Use search for fresh web facts.',
     });
   });
+
+  it('returns instructions (NON-secret) in the view, null when unset', async () => {
+    const service = buildService([
+      row({ id: 'a', instructions: 'How to use these tools.' }),
+      row({ id: 'b', instructions: null }),
+    ]);
+
+    const [withText, withoutText] = await service.list('ws-1');
+
+    expect(withText.instructions).toBe('How to use these tools.');
+    expect(withoutText.instructions).toBeNull();
+  });
 });

apps/server/src/core/ai-chat/external-mcp/mcp-servers.service.ts

@@ -20,6 +20,9 @@ export interface McpServerView {
   enabled: boolean;
   toolAllowlist: string[] | null;
   hasHeaders: boolean;
+  // Admin-authored prompt guidance (#180). NON-secret, so returned in the view.
+  // Null when no guidance is configured.
+  instructions: string | null;
 }
 
 /**
@@ -56,6 +59,8 @@ export class McpServersService {
       url: dto.url,
       headersEnc,
       toolAllowlist: dto.toolAllowlist ?? null,
+      // Blank/whitespace guidance is normalized to null by the repo.
+      instructions: dto.instructions ?? null,
       enabled: dto.enabled ?? true,
     });
     this.clients.invalidate(workspaceId);
@@ -97,6 +102,8 @@ export class McpServersService {
       headersEnc,
       // undefined => unchanged; [] / value handled by repo (empty => null).
       toolAllowlist: dto.toolAllowlist,
+      // undefined => unchanged; blank => cleared (null) by the repo.
+      instructions: dto.instructions,
       enabled: dto.enabled,
     });
     this.clients.invalidate(workspaceId);
@@ -167,6 +174,7 @@ export class McpServersService {
       enabled: row.enabled,
       toolAllowlist: row.toolAllowlist ?? null,
       hasHeaders: Boolean(row.headersEnc),
+      instructions: row.instructions ?? null,
     };
   }
 }

apps/server/src/database/migrations/20260625T120000-ai-mcp-servers-instructions.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,19 @@
+import { type Kysely } from 'kysely';
+
+export async function up(db: Kysely<any>): Promise<void> {
+  // Per-server, admin-authored instruction text injected into the agent system
+  // prompt next to the server's tool descriptions (#180). NON-secret (unlike
+  // headers_enc): it IS returned in admin views/forms. Nullable: a server may
+  // have no guidance. Trusted text — it goes inside the prompt safety sandwich.
+  await db.schema
+    .alterTable('ai_mcp_servers')
+    .addColumn('instructions', 'text', (col) => col)
+    .execute();
+}
+
+export async function down(db: Kysely<any>): Promise<void> {
+  await db.schema
+    .alterTable('ai_mcp_servers')
+    .dropColumn('instructions')
+    .execute();
+}

apps/server/src/database/repos/ai-chat/ai-mcp-server.repo.spec.ts

@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { parseToolAllowlist } from './ai-mcp-server.repo';
+import { parseToolAllowlist, blankToNull } from './ai-mcp-server.repo';
 
 /**
  * The `tool_allowlist` jsonb column historically round-trips as a JSON STRING
@@ -10,7 +10,10 @@ import { parseToolAllowlist } from './ai-mcp-server.repo';
  */
 describe('parseToolAllowlist', () => {
   it('passes a real string array through unchanged', () => {
-    expect(parseToolAllowlist(['search', 'crawl'])).toEqual(['search', 'crawl']);
+    expect(parseToolAllowlist(['search', 'crawl'])).toEqual([
+      'search',
+      'crawl',
+    ]);
   });
 
   it('parses a JSON-string array (the double-encoded read) into an array', () => {
@@ -46,3 +49,26 @@ describe('parseToolAllowlist', () => {
     expect(parseToolAllowlist(true as unknown)).toBeNull();
   });
 });
+
+/**
+ * `blankToNull` normalizes the per-server `instructions` free text before it is
+ * stored (#180): a missing/blank/whitespace-only value becomes null (so an empty
+ * guide is never persisted), any other value is trimmed.
+ */
+describe('blankToNull', () => {
+  it('returns null for null / undefined', () => {
+    expect(blankToNull(null)).toBeNull();
+    expect(blankToNull(undefined)).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it('returns null for an empty / whitespace-only string', () => {
+    expect(blankToNull('')).toBeNull();
+    expect(blankToNull('   ')).toBeNull();
+    expect(blankToNull('\n\t ')).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it('trims and returns a non-blank string', () => {
+    expect(blankToNull('  use the search tool  ')).toBe('use the search tool');
+    expect(blankToNull('guide')).toBe('guide');
+  });
+});

apps/server/src/database/repos/ai-chat/ai-mcp-server.repo.ts

@@ -61,6 +61,8 @@ export class AiMcpServerRepo {
       url: string;
       headersEnc?: string | null;
       toolAllowlist?: string[] | null;
+      // Admin-authored prompt guidance; blank/whitespace normalizes to null.
+      instructions?: string | null;
       enabled?: boolean;
     },
     trx?: KyselyTransaction,
@@ -77,6 +79,8 @@ export class AiMcpServerRepo {
         // jsonb column: the postgres driver would otherwise encode a JS array as
         // a Postgres array literal. Bind the JSON text and cast it to jsonb.
         toolAllowlist: jsonbBind(values.toolAllowlist),
+        // Plain text column: blank/whitespace-only guidance is stored as null.
+        instructions: blankToNull(values.instructions),
         enabled: values.enabled ?? true,
       })
       .returningAll()
@@ -94,6 +98,8 @@ export class AiMcpServerRepo {
       headersEnc?: string | null;
       // undefined => leave unchanged; null => clear; string[] => set.
       toolAllowlist?: string[] | null;
+      // undefined => leave unchanged; null/blank => clear; string => set.
+      instructions?: string | null;
       enabled?: boolean;
     },
     trx?: KyselyTransaction,
@@ -107,6 +113,10 @@ export class AiMcpServerRepo {
     if (patch.toolAllowlist !== undefined) {
       set.toolAllowlist = jsonbBind(patch.toolAllowlist);
     }
+    if (patch.instructions !== undefined) {
+      // Blank/whitespace-only guidance clears the column (stored as null).
+      set.instructions = blankToNull(patch.instructions);
+    }
     if (patch.enabled !== undefined) set.enabled = patch.enabled;
     await db
       .updateTable('aiMcpServers')
@@ -130,6 +140,17 @@ export class AiMcpServerRepo {
   }
 }
 
+/**
+ * Normalize an optional free-text field to a stored value: a missing/blank/
+ * whitespace-only string becomes null (so an "empty" guide is never persisted),
+ * any other string is trimmed. Returns null for null/undefined input.
+ */
+export function blankToNull(value: string | null | undefined): string | null {
+  if (value == null) return null;
+  const trimmed = value.trim();
+  return trimmed.length > 0 ? trimmed : null;
+}
+
 /**
  * Parse the `toolAllowlist` value read from the DB into the `string[] | null`
  * the entity type promises. The jsonb column historically round-trips as a JSON

apps/server/src/database/types/ai-mcp-servers.types.ts

@@ -24,6 +24,11 @@ export interface AiMcpServers {
   // double-encoded rows; `AiMcpServerRepo` normalizes every read to
   // `string[] | null` via `parseToolAllowlist`.
   toolAllowlist: string[] | null;
+  // Admin-authored guidance ("how/when to use this server's tools") injected
+  // into the agent system prompt (#180). Unlike `headersEnc` this is NON-secret
+  // and IS returned in admin views/forms. Plain text column (no jsonb). Null =
+  // no guidance. Trusted text — it goes inside the prompt safety sandwich.
+  instructions: string | null;
   enabled: Generated<boolean>;
   createdAt: Generated<Timestamp>;
   updatedAt: Generated<Timestamp>;

apps/server/test/integration/ai-mcp-server-repo.int-spec.ts

@@ -92,3 +92,84 @@ describe('AiMcpServerRepo tool_allowlist jsonb round-trip [integration]', () =>
     expect(healed?.toolAllowlist).toEqual(['alpha', 'beta']);
   });
 });
+
+/**
+ * AiMcpServerRepo `instructions` text round-trip (#180). The column is plain
+ * text (no jsonb); blank/whitespace is normalized to null on both insert and
+ * update so an empty guide is never persisted.
+ */
+describe('AiMcpServerRepo instructions round-trip [integration]', () => {
+  let db: Kysely<any>;
+  let repo: AiMcpServerRepo;
+  let ws: string;
+
+  beforeAll(async () => {
+    db = getTestDb();
+    repo = new AiMcpServerRepo(db as any);
+    ws = (await createWorkspace(db)).id;
+  });
+
+  afterAll(async () => {
+    await destroyTestDb();
+  });
+
+  it('insert stores trimmed non-blank instructions and reads them back', async () => {
+    const row = await repo.insert({
+      workspaceId: ws,
+      name: `srv-${randomUUID()}`,
+      transport: 'http',
+      url: 'https://example.com/mcp',
+      instructions: '  Use search for fresh facts.  ',
+    });
+    expect((await repo.findById(row.id, ws))?.instructions).toBe(
+      'Use search for fresh facts.',
+    );
+  });
+
+  it('insert normalizes blank/whitespace instructions to null', async () => {
+    const row = await repo.insert({
+      workspaceId: ws,
+      name: `srv-${randomUUID()}`,
+      transport: 'http',
+      url: 'https://example.com/mcp',
+      instructions: '   ',
+    });
+    expect((await repo.findById(row.id, ws))?.instructions).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it('insert with omitted instructions stores null', async () => {
+    const row = await repo.insert({
+      workspaceId: ws,
+      name: `srv-${randomUUID()}`,
+      transport: 'http',
+      url: 'https://example.com/mcp',
+    });
+    expect((await repo.findById(row.id, ws))?.instructions).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it('update sets, clears (blank => null), and leaves unchanged when absent', async () => {
+    const row = await repo.insert({
+      workspaceId: ws,
+      name: `srv-${randomUUID()}`,
+      transport: 'http',
+      url: 'https://example.com/mcp',
+      instructions: 'initial guide',
+    });
+
+    // Set a new value.
+    await repo.update(row.id, ws, { instructions: 'updated guide' });
+    expect((await repo.findById(row.id, ws))?.instructions).toBe(
+      'updated guide',
+    );
+
+    // Absent in the patch => unchanged.
+    await repo.update(row.id, ws, { name: 'renamed' });
+    expect((await repo.findById(row.id, ws))?.instructions).toBe(
+      'updated guide',
+    );
+
+    // Blank => cleared to null.
+    await repo.update(row.id, ws, { instructions: '   ' });
+    expect((await repo.findById(row.id, ws))?.instructions).toBeNull();
+  });
+});