feat(hf): harvest Hugging Face MCP helpers

Add /hf and /huggingface command routing for Hugging Face MCP setup/status plus a concepts explainer for provider, MCP, and Hub workflows.

Document the settings-generated Hugging Face MCP configuration path and keep the slice offline: no Hub search command, no direct Hugging Face HTTP requests, and no custom URL encoding.

Refs #2709

Harvested from PR #2782 by @idling11

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -57,6 +57,11 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
   helper for future fallback routing. This preserves the requested contract
   without enabling silent runtime provider switches yet (#2574, #2777). Thanks
   @hsdbeebou for the request and @idling11 for the data-model draft.
+- Added `/hf` with `/huggingface` alias for Hugging Face MCP status/setup
+  helpers and `/hf concepts` provider/MCP/Hub guidance. The helper points users
+  to Hugging Face's settings-generated MCP configuration and intentionally does
+  not include Hub search, direct Hugging Face HTTP requests, or upload behavior
+  (#2709, #2782). Thanks @idling11 for the original Hugging Face MCP draft.
 - Added `/sidebar` so users can toggle, show, hide, and optionally persist the
   TUI sidebar from the command line instead of relying on copy-hostile sidebar
   state during long transcript work (#2766, #2788). Thanks @mo-vic for the

crates/tui/CHANGELOG.md

@@ -57,6 +57,11 @@ and this project adheres to [Semantic Versioning](https://semver.org/spec/v2.0.0
   helper for future fallback routing. This preserves the requested contract
   without enabling silent runtime provider switches yet (#2574, #2777). Thanks
   @hsdbeebou for the request and @idling11 for the data-model draft.
+- Added `/hf` with `/huggingface` alias for Hugging Face MCP status/setup
+  helpers and `/hf concepts` provider/MCP/Hub guidance. The helper points users
+  to Hugging Face's settings-generated MCP configuration and intentionally does
+  not include Hub search, direct Hugging Face HTTP requests, or upload behavior
+  (#2709, #2782). Thanks @idling11 for the original Hugging Face MCP draft.
 - Added `/sidebar` so users can toggle, show, hide, and optionally persist the
   TUI sidebar from the command line instead of relying on copy-hostile sidebar
   state during long transcript work (#2766, #2788). Thanks @mo-vic for the

crates/tui/src/commands/hf.rs

@@ -0,0 +1,249 @@
+//! `/hf` - Hugging Face MCP and provider concept helpers.
+
+use crate::mcp::{McpConfig, McpServerConfig};
+use crate::tui::app::App;
+
+use super::CommandResult;
+
+const HF_MCP_SETTINGS_URL: &str = "https://huggingface.co/settings/mcp";
+const HF_MCP_DOCS_URL: &str = "https://huggingface.co/docs/hub/hf-mcp-server";
+const HF_MCP_SERVER_URL: &str = "https://huggingface.co/mcp";
+
+const HF_MCP_CONFIG_SKELETON: &str = r#"{
+  "servers": {
+    "huggingface": {
+      "url": "https://huggingface.co/mcp",
+      "headers": {
+        "Authorization": "Bearer ${HF_TOKEN}"
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}"#;
+
+/// Explainer shown by `/hf concepts`.
+const HF_CONCEPTS: &str = "\
+CodeWhale has three distinct Hugging Face surfaces:
+
+1. Hugging Face provider route - chat inference
+   Switch the active LLM backend to Hugging Face Inference Providers.
+   Use: /provider huggingface
+   Config: provider = \"huggingface\" or [providers.huggingface]
+   Auth: HF_TOKEN or HUGGINGFACE_API_KEY
+
+2. Hugging Face MCP - Hub, docs, datasets, Spaces, and community tools
+   Connect CodeWhale to Hugging Face's MCP server through mcp.json.
+   Use: /hf mcp status or /hf mcp setup
+   Then: /mcp validate or restart CodeWhale so model-visible tools reload.
+
+3. Hugging Face Hub workflows - publish, upload, or manage repositories
+   Use explicit Hub tooling such as huggingface_hub or git-based flows.
+   CodeWhale does not upload to the Hub through /hf.";
+
+pub fn hf(app: &mut App, args: Option<&str>) -> CommandResult {
+    let raw = args.unwrap_or("").trim();
+    if raw.is_empty() {
+        return usage();
+    }
+
+    let mut parts = raw.split_whitespace();
+    let subcommand = parts.next().unwrap_or_default().to_ascii_lowercase();
+    match subcommand.as_str() {
+        "mcp" => hf_mcp(app, parts.next()),
+        "concepts" | "explain" => CommandResult::message(HF_CONCEPTS),
+        _ => CommandResult::error(format!(
+            "Unknown /hf subcommand: {subcommand}. Use /hf mcp <status|setup> or /hf concepts."
+        )),
+    }
+}
+
+fn usage() -> CommandResult {
+    CommandResult::message(
+        "Usage: /hf mcp <status|setup>\n\
+         /hf concepts\n\n\
+         Hugging Face MCP settings: https://huggingface.co/settings/mcp",
+    )
+}
+
+fn hf_mcp(app: &mut App, action: Option<&str>) -> CommandResult {
+    match action.unwrap_or("status").to_ascii_lowercase().as_str() {
+        "status" => hf_mcp_status(app),
+        "setup" => CommandResult::message(hf_mcp_setup_message(app)),
+        other => CommandResult::error(format!(
+            "Unknown /hf mcp subcommand: {other}. Use status or setup."
+        )),
+    }
+}
+
+fn hf_mcp_status(app: &App) -> CommandResult {
+    match crate::mcp::load_config(&app.mcp_config_path) {
+        Ok(config) => {
+            if let Some(server_name) = configured_hf_mcp_server(&config) {
+                CommandResult::message(format!(
+                    "Hugging Face MCP appears configured as `{server_name}` in {}.\n\
+                     Run /mcp validate or restart CodeWhale if tools are not visible yet.",
+                    app.mcp_config_path.display()
+                ))
+            } else {
+                CommandResult::message(format!(
+                    "Hugging Face MCP is not configured in {}.\n\
+                     Run /hf mcp setup for the settings-generated config workflow.",
+                    app.mcp_config_path.display()
+                ))
+            }
+        }
+        Err(err) => CommandResult::error(format!(
+            "Could not read MCP config {}: {err}",
+            app.mcp_config_path.display()
+        )),
+    }
+}
+
+fn hf_mcp_setup_message(app: &App) -> String {
+    format!(
+        "Use Hugging Face's settings-generated MCP configuration when available:\n\
+         1. Open {HF_MCP_SETTINGS_URL} while signed in.\n\
+         2. Choose your MCP client and copy the generated configuration snippet.\n\
+         3. Paste the Hugging Face server entry into {}.\n\
+         4. Restart CodeWhale, or run /mcp reload for the TUI manager snapshot.\n\n\
+         CodeWhale-compatible placeholder shape:\n\n\
+         ```json\n{HF_MCP_CONFIG_SKELETON}\n```\n\n\
+         The placeholder is intentionally not runnable until your private MCP config has a real token value. \
+         Do not commit real Hugging Face tokens.\n\n\
+         Docs: {HF_MCP_DOCS_URL}\n\
+         Server: {HF_MCP_SERVER_URL}",
+        app.mcp_config_path.display()
+    )
+}
+
+fn configured_hf_mcp_server(config: &McpConfig) -> Option<&str> {
+    config
+        .servers
+        .iter()
+        .find(|(name, server)| looks_like_hf_mcp_server(name, server))
+        .map(|(name, _)| name.as_str())
+}
+
+fn looks_like_hf_mcp_server(name: &str, server: &McpServerConfig) -> bool {
+    let compact_name: String = name
+        .chars()
+        .filter(|ch| ch.is_ascii_alphanumeric())
+        .flat_map(|ch| ch.to_lowercase())
+        .collect();
+    if matches!(
+        compact_name.as_str(),
+        "huggingface" | "huggingfacemcp" | "hfmcp" | "hfmcpserver"
+    ) {
+        return true;
+    }
+
+    server.url.as_deref().is_some_and(|url| {
+        let url = url.to_ascii_lowercase();
+        url.contains("huggingface.co/mcp") || url.contains("huggingface.co/api/mcp")
+    })
+}
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use std::fs;
+    use std::path::PathBuf;
+
+    use crate::config::Config;
+    use crate::tui::app::TuiOptions;
+    use tempfile::tempdir;
+
+    use super::*;
+
+    fn app_with_mcp_path(mcp_config_path: PathBuf) -> App {
+        App::new(
+            TuiOptions {
+                model: "deepseek-v4-pro".to_string(),
+                workspace: PathBuf::from("."),
+                config_path: None,
+                config_profile: None,
+                allow_shell: false,
+                use_alt_screen: false,
+                use_mouse_capture: false,
+                use_bracketed_paste: true,
+                max_subagents: 2,
+                skills_dir: PathBuf::from("."),
+                memory_path: PathBuf::from("memory.md"),
+                notes_path: PathBuf::from("notes.txt"),
+                mcp_config_path,
+                use_memory: false,
+                start_in_agent_mode: false,
+                skip_onboarding: true,
+                yolo: false,
+                resume_session_id: None,
+                initial_input: None,
+            },
+            &Config::default(),
+        )
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn hf_mcp_config_skeleton_keeps_token_placeholder_only() {
+        assert!(HF_MCP_CONFIG_SKELETON.contains("${HF_TOKEN}"));
+        assert!(!HF_MCP_CONFIG_SKELETON.contains("hf_"));
+        assert!(!HF_MCP_CONFIG_SKELETON.contains("Bearer hf_"));
+        serde_json::from_str::<serde_json::Value>(HF_MCP_CONFIG_SKELETON)
+            .expect("skeleton should be valid JSON");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn hf_concepts_explains_provider_mcp_and_hub_surfaces() {
+        assert!(HF_CONCEPTS.contains("provider route"));
+        assert!(HF_CONCEPTS.contains("Hugging Face MCP"));
+        assert!(HF_CONCEPTS.contains("Hub workflows"));
+        assert!(HF_CONCEPTS.contains("/provider huggingface"));
+        assert!(HF_CONCEPTS.contains("/hf mcp"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn hf_mcp_status_detects_settings_named_server() {
+        let dir = tempdir().expect("tempdir");
+        let path = dir.path().join("mcp.json");
+        fs::write(
+            &path,
+            r#"{"mcpServers":{"hf-mcp-server":{"url":"https://huggingface.co/mcp"}}}"#,
+        )
+        .expect("write mcp config");
+        let app = app_with_mcp_path(path);
+
+        let result = hf_mcp_status(&app);
+
+        assert!(!result.is_error);
+        let message = result.message.expect("status message");
+        assert!(message.contains("appears configured"));
+        assert!(message.contains("hf-mcp-server"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn hf_mcp_status_reports_missing_server_without_network() {
+        let dir = tempdir().expect("tempdir");
+        let path = dir.path().join("mcp.json");
+        fs::write(&path, r#"{"servers":{"local":{"command":"node"}}}"#).expect("write mcp config");
+        let app = app_with_mcp_path(path);
+
+        let result = hf_mcp_status(&app);
+
+        assert!(!result.is_error);
+        assert!(
+            result
+                .message
+                .as_deref()
+                .unwrap_or_default()
+                .contains("not configured")
+        );
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn hf_usage_and_setup_do_not_advertise_hub_search() {
+        let app = app_with_mcp_path(PathBuf::from("mcp.json"));
+        let usage = usage().message.expect("usage");
+        let setup = hf_mcp_setup_message(&app);
+
+        assert!(!usage.contains("/hf search"));
+        assert!(!setup.contains("/hf search"));
+        assert!(setup.contains(HF_MCP_SETTINGS_URL));
+    }
+}

crates/tui/src/commands/mod.rs

@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ mod core;
 mod debug;
 mod feedback;
 mod goal;
+mod hf;
 mod hooks;
 mod init;
 mod jobs;
@@ -224,6 +225,12 @@ pub const COMMANDS: &[CommandInfo] = &[
         usage: "/feedback [bug|feature|security]",
         description_id: MessageId::CmdFeedbackDescription,
     },
+    CommandInfo {
+        name: "hf",
+        aliases: &["huggingface"],
+        usage: "/hf [mcp <status|setup>|concepts]",
+        description_id: MessageId::CmdHfDescription,
+    },
     CommandInfo {
         name: "home",
         aliases: &["stats", "overview", "zhuye", "shouye"],
@@ -577,6 +584,7 @@ pub fn execute(cmd: &str, app: &mut App) -> CommandResult {
         "agent" | "daili" => agent(app, arg),
         "links" | "dashboard" | "api" | "lianjie" => core::deepseek_links(app),
         "feedback" => feedback::feedback(app, arg),
+        "hf" | "huggingface" => hf::hf(app, arg),
         "home" | "stats" | "overview" | "zhuye" | "shouye" => core::home_dashboard(app),
         "workspace" | "cwd" => core::workspace_switch(app, arg),
         "note" => note::note(app, arg),
@@ -1169,6 +1177,13 @@ mod tests {
                 .contains("right sidebar")
         );
         assert!(COMMANDS.iter().any(|cmd| cmd.name == "links"));
+        let hf = COMMANDS
+            .iter()
+            .find(|cmd| cmd.name == "hf")
+            .expect("hf command should exist");
+        assert_eq!(hf.aliases, &["huggingface"]);
+        assert_eq!(hf.description_id, MessageId::CmdHfDescription);
+        assert!(hf.description_for(Locale::En).contains("Hugging Face"));
         assert!(COMMANDS.iter().any(|cmd| cmd.name == "memory"));
         assert!(!COMMANDS.iter().any(|cmd| cmd.name == "set"));
         assert!(!COMMANDS.iter().any(|cmd| cmd.name == "deepseek"));
@@ -1183,6 +1198,17 @@ mod tests {
         assert_eq!(links.aliases, &["dashboard", "api", "lianjie"]);
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn hf_alias_dispatches_to_concepts_helper() {
+        let mut app = create_test_app();
+        let result = execute("/huggingface concepts", &mut app);
+        assert!(!result.is_error);
+        let message = result.message.expect("concepts message");
+        assert!(message.contains("Hugging Face provider route"));
+        assert!(message.contains("Hugging Face MCP"));
+        assert!(message.contains("Hub workflows"));
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn rlm_slash_command_routes_to_persistent_tool_instruction() {
         let mut app = create_test_app();

crates/tui/src/localization.rs

@@ -268,6 +268,7 @@ pub enum MessageId {
     CmdExitDescription,
     CmdExportDescription,
     CmdFeedbackDescription,
+    CmdHfDescription,
     CmdHelpDescription,
     CmdHomeDescription,
     CmdHooksDescription,
@@ -595,6 +596,7 @@ pub const ALL_MESSAGE_IDS: &[MessageId] = &[
     MessageId::CmdExitDescription,
     MessageId::CmdExportDescription,
     MessageId::CmdFeedbackDescription,
+    MessageId::CmdHfDescription,
     MessageId::CmdHelpDescription,
     MessageId::CmdHomeDescription,
     MessageId::CmdHooksDescription,
@@ -1123,6 +1125,7 @@ fn english(id: MessageId) -> &'static str {
         MessageId::CmdExitDescription => "Exit the application",
         MessageId::CmdExportDescription => "Export conversation to markdown",
         MessageId::CmdFeedbackDescription => "Generate a GitHub feedback URL",
+        MessageId::CmdHfDescription => "Inspect Hugging Face MCP setup and concepts",
         MessageId::CmdHelpDescription => "Show help information",
         MessageId::CmdHomeDescription => "Show home dashboard with stats and quick actions",
         MessageId::CmdHooksDescription => "List configured lifecycle hooks (read-only)",
@@ -1590,6 +1593,7 @@ fn vietnamese(id: MessageId) -> Option<&'static str> {
         MessageId::CmdExitDescription => "Thoát ứng dụng",
         MessageId::CmdExportDescription => "Xuất cuộc trò chuyện sang định dạng Markdown",
         MessageId::CmdFeedbackDescription => "Tạo một URL để gửi phản hồi trên GitHub",
+        MessageId::CmdHfDescription => "Kiểm tra thiết lập và khái niệm Hugging Face MCP",
         MessageId::CmdHelpDescription => "Hiển thị thông tin trợ giúp",
         MessageId::CmdHomeDescription => {
             "Hiển thị bảng điều khiển trang chủ với số liệu thống kê và hành động nhanh"
@@ -2142,6 +2146,7 @@ fn japanese(id: MessageId) -> Option<&'static str> {
         MessageId::CmdExitDescription => "アプリを終了",
         MessageId::CmdExportDescription => "会話を Markdown にエクスポート",
         MessageId::CmdFeedbackDescription => "GitHub フィードバック URL を生成",
+        MessageId::CmdHfDescription => "Hugging Face MCP の設定と概念を確認",
         MessageId::CmdHelpDescription => "ヘルプを表示",
         MessageId::CmdHomeDescription => "統計とクイックアクション付きのホームダッシュボードを表示",
         MessageId::CmdHooksDescription => {
@@ -2593,6 +2598,7 @@ fn chinese_simplified(id: MessageId) -> Option<&'static str> {
         MessageId::CmdExitDescription => "退出应用",
         MessageId::CmdExportDescription => "将对话导出为 Markdown",
         MessageId::CmdFeedbackDescription => "生成 GitHub 反馈链接",
+        MessageId::CmdHfDescription => "检查 Hugging Face MCP 设置和概念",
         MessageId::CmdHelpDescription => "显示帮助信息",
         MessageId::CmdHomeDescription => "显示主页面板，含统计与快捷操作",
         MessageId::CmdHooksDescription => "列出已配置的生命周期钩子（只读）",
@@ -3006,6 +3012,7 @@ fn portuguese_brazil(id: MessageId) -> Option<&'static str> {
         MessageId::CmdExitDescription => "Sair do aplicativo",
         MessageId::CmdExportDescription => "Exportar a conversa para markdown",
         MessageId::CmdFeedbackDescription => "Gerar uma URL de feedback no GitHub",
+        MessageId::CmdHfDescription => "Inspecionar configuracao e conceitos do Hugging Face MCP",
         MessageId::CmdHelpDescription => "Exibir informações de ajuda",
         MessageId::CmdHomeDescription => "Exibir o painel inicial com estatísticas e ações rápidas",
         MessageId::CmdHooksDescription => {
@@ -3491,6 +3498,7 @@ fn spanish_latin_america(id: MessageId) -> Option<&'static str> {
         MessageId::CmdExitDescription => "Salir de la aplicación",
         MessageId::CmdExportDescription => "Exportar la conversación a markdown",
         MessageId::CmdFeedbackDescription => "Generar una URL de feedback en GitHub",
+        MessageId::CmdHfDescription => "Inspeccionar configuracion y conceptos de Hugging Face MCP",
         MessageId::CmdHelpDescription => "Mostrar información de ayuda",
         MessageId::CmdHomeDescription => {
             "Mostrar el panel inicial con estadísticas y acciones rápidas"

docs/MCP.md

@@ -61,6 +61,56 @@ manager snapshot. Config edits made from the TUI are written immediately, but
 the model-visible MCP tool pool is not hot-reloaded; the manager marks this as
 restart-required until the TUI is restarted.
 
+## Hugging Face MCP
+
+Hugging Face provides a hosted MCP server for Hub resources, documentation,
+datasets, Spaces, and community tools. CodeWhale does not call Hugging Face's
+Hub HTTP APIs from `/hf`; it only helps you inspect and set up the MCP config
+that the regular MCP manager will load.
+
+The recommended setup path is Hugging Face's settings-generated configuration:
+
+1. Visit <https://huggingface.co/settings/mcp> while signed in.
+2. Choose the MCP client closest to your CodeWhale config shape and copy the
+   generated server snippet.
+3. Paste the Hugging Face server entry into your resolved MCP config file.
+4. Restart CodeWhale, or run `/mcp reload` for the manager snapshot and restart
+   if the model-visible tool pool still needs to rebuild.
+
+CodeWhale reads both `servers` and `mcpServers`, so settings-generated snippets
+can be adapted without changing the rest of the MCP file. A placeholder-only
+shape looks like this:
+
+```json
+{
+  "servers": {
+    "huggingface": {
+      "url": "https://huggingface.co/mcp",
+      "headers": {
+        "Authorization": "Bearer ${HF_TOKEN}"
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
+```
+
+The placeholder above is not a runnable secret. Use the settings-generated
+value in your private MCP config and never commit real Hugging Face tokens.
+
+Interactive helpers:
+
+```text
+/hf mcp status
+/hf mcp setup
+/hf concepts
+```
+
+`/hf mcp status` checks the configured MCP file for common Hugging Face server
+names or Hugging Face MCP URLs. `/hf concepts` explains the difference between
+the Hugging Face provider route, Hugging Face MCP, and explicit Hub workflows.
+
+Official docs: <https://huggingface.co/docs/hub/hf-mcp-server>
+
 ## Config File Location
 
 Default path:

docs/PROVIDERS.md

@@ -130,6 +130,24 @@ endpoint.
 | `ollama` | `[providers.ollama]` | Optional `OLLAMA_API_KEY` | `OLLAMA_BASE_URL`; default `http://localhost:11434/v1` | `deepseek-coder:1.3b`; provider-hinted custom tags pass through | Self-hosted Ollama OpenAI-compatible route. Localhost deployments commonly omit auth. `OLLAMA_MODEL` is accepted. |
 | `huggingface` | `[providers.huggingface]` | `HUGGINGFACE_API_KEY`, `HF_TOKEN` | `HUGGINGFACE_BASE_URL`; default `https://router.huggingface.co/v1` | `deepseek-ai/DeepSeek-V4-Pro`, `deepseek-ai/DeepSeek-V4-Flash` | Hugging Face Inference Providers OpenAI-compatible route. Org-prefixed model IDs pass through. |
 
+### Hugging Face Provider vs MCP vs Hub
+
+CodeWhale's `huggingface` provider ID is only the OpenAI-compatible chat
+inference route through Hugging Face Inference Providers. It is selected with
+`/provider huggingface`, `CODEWHALE_PROVIDER=huggingface`, or
+`provider = "huggingface"`.
+
+Hugging Face MCP is a separate external-tool route. Configure it through the
+MCP config described in `docs/MCP.md`, preferably using the settings-generated
+snippet from <https://huggingface.co/settings/mcp>. In the TUI, `/hf mcp status`
+checks whether the Hugging Face MCP server appears in the resolved MCP config,
+`/hf mcp setup` prints the settings workflow and a placeholder-only shape, and
+`/hf concepts` explains the provider/MCP/Hub distinction.
+
+Hub publishing or repository management remains explicit user action through
+Hub-native tooling such as `huggingface_hub` or git. The `/hf` helper does not
+upload to Hugging Face and does not perform direct Hugging Face Hub HTTP search.
+
 ### Xiaomi MiMo Notes
 
 `xiaomi-mimo` defaults to `mimo-v2.5-pro` for long-context reasoning and coding