arc-1-lsp

An edition of ARC-1 — a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for SAP ABAP development — that delegates all ABAP/ADT interaction to SAP's own embedded adt-ls language server instead of a hand-rolled ADT HTTP client. arc-1-lsp owns the MCP front-end, auth/scopes, write-safety, and orchestration; adt-ls owns CSRF, locking, XML, activation, transport — everything system-specific.

Status: working — connects headless to a SAP system, exposes 39 MCP tools (reads + LSP code-intelligence incl. hover · ATC + ABAP-Unit coverage · a full create→edit→activate→test→delete authoring loop · RAP generation · run-application · service-binding publish · native transport), runs locally over stdio or as a Docker app on SAP BTP Cloud Foundry. Single-tenant / one technical user today; per-user principal propagation is on the roadmap.

Where adt-ls comes from

adt-ls is SAP's language server: the headless core of the Eclipse-based ABAP Development Tools (ADT), shipped inside the official ABAP Development Tools for VS Code extension (sapse.adt-vscode). It exposes three surfaces, and arc-1-lsp drives all of them:

1. standard LSP code-intelligence (textDocument/* — document symbols, go-to- definition, references/where-used, type hierarchy, diagnostics/syntax check, completion) — it is a language server;
2. a private LSP namespace (adtLs/* — destinations, logon, filesystem, activation, transport, unit tests);
3. an embedded experimental MCP server (object creation, activation, RAP generators, transports, …).

arc-1-lsp does not reimplement any of that — it discovers, spawns, and drives the developer-provided adt-ls headless (no Eclipse, no VS Code, no browser). The adt-ls binary is under SAP's Developer License and is never bundled or redistributed — you bring your own (see Prerequisites and ADR-0002).

arc-1-lsp vs. main ARC-1 — which should I use?

Both are MCP servers for SAP ABAP and share the same tool shape. They differ in how they talk to SAP, and therefore in what they can do.

	ARC-1 (main)	arc-1-lsp (this repo)
ADT protocol	Hand-rolled (CSRF, locking, XML, version quirks)	Delegated to SAP's adt-ls
System-specific code to maintain	~29 ADT modules	~zero (it's SAP's job)
Object-type coverage	All — classic and modern (programs, tables, function groups, domains, CDS, classes, RAP, …)	Modern ABAP-Cloud types only (class, interface, CDS, behavior def, service def/binding, …)
Free SQL / data preview	✅	❌ (absent in adt-ls)
Navigation / where-used / type hierarchy	✅	✅ (via adt-ls's standard LSP — textDocument/*)
Syntax check / ATC	✅	✅ syntax check (check_syntax) + ATC (run_atc, system-default variant)
Git (gCTS / abapGit)	✅	❌ (absent in adt-ls)
Maturity	Production, multi-user, write-capable	Working; reads + authoring loop; single technical user

Use main ARC-1 for the broadest coverage (classic objects, free SQL, git, transport release/delete) and production multi-user deployments. Use arc-1-lsp when you want SAP itself to own the ADT protocol — less code to maintain, and behavior that tracks ADT exactly (including its standard LSP code-intelligence) — and your work is on modern ABAP-Cloud objects.

The honest, line-by-line map of what is and isn't wired (and why) lives in docs/arc-1-feature-parity.md; the live-verified capability boundary of adt-ls itself is in docs/adt-ls-reference.md.

What works today

27 MCP tools. Reads work read-only; mutating tools are gated behind ARC1_ALLOW_WRITES + a package allowlist (transport creation additionally needs ARC1_ALLOW_TRANSPORT_WRITES).

• Reads (14): health, list_destinations, list_creatable_objects, search_objects, list_inactive_objects, list_users, list_generators, get_generator_schema, get_object_type_details, get_service_binding, get_service_details, read_source, validate_object, find_transport.
• Code intelligence (9, LSP): document_symbols (outline), go_to_definition, go_to_declaration, find_references, type_hierarchy (super/subtypes + implementations), hover (signature + ABAP-Doc), document_highlight, check_syntax (the ABAP syntax check, no activation needed), completion. adt-ls is a language server — these proxy its standard textDocument/* APIs; target a declared symbol by name or a 1-based line+character.
• Quality & test (3): run_atc (ABAP Test Cockpit static analysis — security/ performance/cloud-readiness, system-default variant), list_atc_variants, run_unit_tests_with_coverage (test result + statement/branch/procedure coverage).
• Runtime & business services (3): run_application (run an if_oo_adt_classrun class or program, capture console output), service_binding_details, publish_service_binding (publish/unpublish a SRVB → live OData; write-gated).
• Authoring loop (5, write-gated): create_object, update_source, activate_object, run_unit_tests, delete_object — a full create → edit → activate → test → delete cycle, by object name, for modern ABAP-Cloud types. activate_object returns ranged syntax diagnostics so an agent can self-correct.
• Generation + transport (5, gated): generate_objects runs a RAP generator (scaffolds a full table/CDS/behavior/service set); create_transport opens a CTS request; assign_transport pins an existing TR to an object (returns a structured {assigned, object, transport}); list_transports (capped to limit, default 100, with an optional query filter — the system can hold thousands of requests) + get_lock_status (reads). For transportable (non-$TMP) packages the flow is validate_object → find_transport → (create_transport) → create_object/generate_objects (pass the TR as transport).

Out of scope here (use main ARC-1): classic object types (program/table/ function group/domain/…), free SQL, transport release/delete, and git. These are honest limits of adt-ls's headless surface, not missing features — details in docs/arc-1-feature-parity.md.

The SAP session behind adt-ls self-heals: if it expires (idle timeout → "logged off"), arc-1-lsp transparently re-logs on and retries the call once.

Architecture

agent (Claude / Copilot / Cursor / …)
   │  MCP (stdio | http-streamable)
   ▼
arc-1-lsp  (Node/TS — discovers, spawns & supervises adt-ls; auth + scopes; owns SAP logon)
   ├─ LSP over pipe ───────────▶ adt-ls (headless, BYO)   ← bootstrap, destinations, logon, filesystem, activation
   └─ HTTP localhost ─────────▶ adt-ls's own /mcp         ← federated tools
                                      │ HTTPS
                                      ▼
                          TLS reverse proxy (CN=localhost, in arc-1-lsp)
                                      │  DIRECT ───────────────▶ SAP ABAP (internet-reachable)
                                      └  CC ─▶ connectivity bridge ─▶ BTP Connectivity ─▶ Cloud Connector ─▶ SAP ABAP

adt-ls requires an HTTPS backend and validates its hostname; SAP's default self-signed cert (CN=*.dummy.nodomain) fails that. So arc-1-lsp runs a local TLS-terminating reverse proxy (cert CN=localhost, trusted via a truststore built from adt-ls's own JRE) and re-originates to the real backend — directly, or through the connectivity bridge on BTP. Logon is headless reentrance-ticket emulation (no browser). Full recipe + decisions: docs/adt-ls-headless-notes.md + docs/adr/.

Prerequisites

1. Node.js 22+.
2. A developer-provided adt-ls (BYO — never redistributed). Install the official ABAP Development Tools for VS Code extension (sapse.adt-vscode, which accepts SAP's Developer License) and arc-1-lsp finds its adt-ls automatically. Discovery order:
   1. ARC1_ADT_LS_PATH (explicit path)
   2. vendor/adt-ls/<platform>/… (build-time injection, for containers)
   3. the newest installed sapse.adt-vscode-* VS Code extension
3. A reachable SAP ABAP system to connect to (optional — the server also starts disconnected and still serves health/tools). Runtime cert/proxy deps: openssl + keytool (the latter ships inside adt-ls's JRE). See docs/native-deps.md.

Compatibility: arc-1-lsp drives adt-ls's private adtLs/* protocol, which can change between releases. This build is verified against sapse.adt-vscode 1.0.0 / adt-ls 1.0.0.202605281240; on a different version arc-1-lsp logs a startup warning and you should re-verify against docs/adt-ls-reference.md.

Install & run

From source (stdio)

npm install
npm run build
node dist/index.js          # or: npm run dev (tsx, no build)

Point an MCP client at the process over stdio. With no SAP vars set it starts disconnected (handy for inspecting the tool list); set ARC1_SAP_* to auto-connect (see Connect a SAP system).

As a CLI (npm)

npm install -g @arc-mcp/arc-1-lsp
arc1-lsp                    # stdio MCP server (honors the same env/flags)

The npm package ships the Node wrapper only — it still discovers your BYO adt-ls (it does not contain any SAP binary).

Docker / http-streamable

The container bundles a build-time-injected linux adt-ls and serves MCP over http-streamable behind an API key — this is the artifact deployed to BTP CF.

# stage the linux adt-ls (admin provides the licensed VSIX → vendor/)
node scripts/extract-adt-ls.mjs
# build the linux/amd64 image (host-builds dist; only prod deps + adt-ls are amd64)
IMAGE=arc-1-lsp:dev bash scripts/docker-build.sh
# run
docker run -e ARC1_API_KEYS=devkey -p 8080:8080 arc-1-lsp:dev

GET /healthz (no auth) for health checks; POST /mcp with Authorization: Bearer <key> for MCP.

Connect a SAP system

Set the ARC1_SAP_* vars (or --sap-* flags) and arc-1-lsp logs on at startup.

ARC1_SAP_HOST=a4h.example.com ARC1_SAP_PORT=50001 \
ARC1_SAP_USER=DEVELOPER ARC1_SAP_PASSWORD=… ARC1_SAP_DESTINATION=A4H \
node dist/index.js

health then reports connectedDestination, and list_creatable_objects returns the system's object catalog. Two connection modes:

• DIRECT (default) — the reverse proxy connects straight to an internet-reachable backend. All four of HOST/PORT/USER/PASSWORD must be set.
• CC (on-prem via Cloud Connector, on BTP) — bind the connectivity + destination services and set only ARC1_SAP_DESTINATION <btp-destination-name>; the engine resolves it and routes through the connectivity bridge automatically.

Auth (DIRECT mode): basic (user + password, default), sso (interactive browser logon), or clientcert (passwordless X.509 mutual TLS — no browser, no password, silent re-auth; set ARC1_SAP_CLIENT_CERT/_KEY). The client-cert path has its own guide covering the AS ABAP server setup and how to obtain/store certificates (incl. enterprise / SAP Secure Login Service): docs/client-cert-auth-setup.md.

Connect an MCP client

// Claude Code (HTTP):
//   claude mcp add --transport http arc1lsp https://<host>/mcp \
//     --header "Authorization: Bearer <api-key>"
//
// Cursor / Claude Desktop / VS Code — mcp.json:
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "arc1lsp": {
      "url": "https://<host>/mcp",
      "headers": { "Authorization": "Bearer <api-key>" }
    }
  }
}

For local stdio, point the client at the node dist/index.js (or arc1-lsp) process instead of a URL. GUI inspector: npx @modelcontextprotocol/inspector.

Configuration (precedence: CLI flag > env var > default)

Env prefix is ARC1_*, not SAP_*. The main ARC-1 server uses SAP_* vars; arc-1-lsp uses ARC1_* (e.g. ARC1_ALLOW_TRANSPORT_WRITES, ARC1_SAP_USER). A SAP_* var is ignored — arc-1-lsp logs a startup warning naming the ARC1_* twin it expected so a migrated config doesn't silently lose a setting.

Env / flag	Default	Meaning
ARC1_ADT_LS_PATH / --adt-ls-path	(discovered)	explicit adt-ls binary
ARC1_ADT_LS_MCP_PORT / --adt-ls-mcp-port	2240	port for adt-ls's own MCP server
ARC1_ADT_LS_MCP_TOKEN / --adt-ls-mcp-token	(generated)	bearer for adt-ls's MCP server
ARC1_TRANSPORT / --transport	stdio	stdio | http-streamable
ARC1_PORT / --port	8080	HTTP port (http-streamable; CF $PORT honored)
ARC1_API_KEYS / --api-keys	(none)	edge auth: key[:label-or-profile][,key2…]; empty disables auth (local only). A profile suffix :viewer/:developer/:admin assigns scopes (per-tool enforcement arrives with the XSUAA edge — see ADR-0007); any other suffix is a free label (defaults to developer)
ARC1_ALLOW_WRITES / --allow-writes	false	enable mutating tools (create/update/activate/delete/generate)
ARC1_ALLOW_TRANSPORT_WRITES / --allow-transport-writes	false	enable CTS transport creation (create_transport) — also requires ARC1_ALLOW_WRITES
ARC1_ALLOWED_PACKAGES / --allowed-packages	$TMP	packages writes may target — exact / PREFIX* / *
ARC1_LOG_LEVEL	info	debug|info|warn|error (stderr only)
SAP connection — DIRECT mode (internet-reachable backend)
ARC1_SAP_HOST / --sap-host	—	backend host
ARC1_SAP_PORT / --sap-port	—	backend HTTPS port
ARC1_SAP_AUTH / --sap-auth	basic	basic (headless user+password), sso (interactive browser logon — local desktop only; no password, but startup blocks until you sign in and re-auth re-opens the browser on your next call), or clientcert (passwordless X.509 mutual TLS — fully headless, no browser, silent re-auth; needs ARC1_SAP_CLIENT_CERT/_KEY).
ARC1_SAP_USER / --sap-user	—	SAP user (basic: the reentrance ticket is fetched with these creds; sso / clientcert: an optional destination hint — the real user comes from the cert mapping)
ARC1_SAP_PASSWORD / --sap-password	—	SAP password (basic mode; set via env / cf set-env, never committed). Not used in sso / clientcert mode.
ARC1_SAP_CLIENT_CERT / --sap-client-cert	—	PEM client-certificate file path (clientcert mode); the subject must map to a SAP user via CERTRULE. Where to get it — and why your everyday "it just works" SSO cert usually can't be used (short-lived / non-exportable): see Obtaining a client certificate.
ARC1_SAP_CLIENT_KEY / --sap-client-key	—	PEM private-key file path (clientcert mode).
ARC1_SAP_DESTINATION / --sap-destination	SAP	adt-ls destination id (DIRECT) or BTP destination name (CC)
ARC1_SAP_CLIENT / --sap-client	001	SAP client
ARC1_SAP_LANGUAGE / --sap-language	EN	SAP logon language
ARC1_SAP_INSECURE / --sap-insecure	true	accept the backend's self-signed cert (the proxy's own TLS is trusted separately)
SAP connection — CC mode (on-prem via Cloud Connector)
ARC1_SAP_DESTINATION	—	BTP Destination Service name; resolved when connectivity is bound

Config is read from CLI flags and the process environment only (no .env auto-loading) — export the vars in your shell or set them via cf set-env.

Deploy to BTP Cloud Foundry

The image deploys to CF as a docker app (see manifest.yml). Secrets stay out of git — the API key, SAP creds, and the registry pull token are passed at deploy time:

docker push ghcr.io/<owner>/arc-1-lsp:0.1.0
# secrets via cf set-env (never committed):
cf set-env arc-1-lsp ARC1_API_KEYS "$(openssl rand -hex 16)"
cf set-env arc-1-lsp ARC1_SAP_HOST   <host>
cf set-env arc-1-lsp ARC1_SAP_PORT   50001
cf set-env arc-1-lsp ARC1_SAP_USER   <user>
cf set-env arc-1-lsp ARC1_SAP_PASSWORD <secret>
cf set-env arc-1-lsp ARC1_SAP_DESTINATION <id>
cf set-env arc-1-lsp ARC1_ALLOW_WRITES true          # optional, to enable the authoring loop
cf set-env arc-1-lsp ARC1_ALLOWED_PACKAGES '$TMP'    # scope writes
# re-push (stop first if the org memory quota is tight — avoids a transient 2×2G):
cf stop arc-1-lsp
CF_DOCKER_PASSWORD=$(gh auth token) cf push arc-1-lsp -f manifest.yml

cf logs shows engine: connected destination …; the MCP health tool reports connectedDestination. cf push preserves cf set-env vars not listed in the manifest. If the ghcr image is private, CF pulls it with CF_DOCKER_PASSWORD; make the package public to drop that.

Test a running instance (local or CF)

The /mcp endpoint is stateless StreamableHTTP — a bare tools/call works, no session handshake.

ARC1_URL=https://<host>/mcp ARC1_KEY=<api-key> bash scripts/smoke-remote.sh
# → /healthz ok · health {connectedDestination} · tools/list · list_creatable_objects

Documentation

Doc	What it covers
docs/adt-ls-reference.md	The authoritative, live-verified adt-ls capability map — URI model, the getLsUri name→URI resolver, the method/tool matrix, the object-type boundary, the proven lifecycle, session self-heal, gotchas
docs/arc-1-feature-parity.md	arc-1 vs arc-1-lsp coverage, per-capability "implemented? why / why not"
docs/research/adt-ls-capability-map.md	The complete DECOMPILED adt-ls surface (ground truth — CFR-decompiled com.sap.adt.ls): all 23 adtLs/* segments / ~92 methods with DTO shapes + per-capability usefulness triage + wiring gap. Corrects hover/ATC/formatting verdicts; documents the embedded MCP server's dynamic tool collection
docs/research/whats-left-on-sap.md	The earlier extension-front-end inventory (superseded in part by the capability map above) — strategic "what's reachable-but-unwired vs blocked-on-SAP" framing
docs/adt-ls-headless-notes.md	The reverse-engineered headless connection recipe (initialize, reentrance-ticket logon, TLS/truststore)
docs/adr/	Architecture Decision Records — each decision, its context, and when to revisit it
docs/assumptions-and-future-changes.md	The watch-list: what to re-verify against new adt-ls releases, and what would let us delete complexity
docs/native-deps.md	System libraries adt-ls needs in a slim container
docs/journey.md	The chronological story, including dead-ends (so they aren't re-walked)

Contributing? See CONTRIBUTING.md (setup, tests, conventions) and SECURITY.md (reporting vulnerabilities). Working with Claude Code? CLAUDE.md is the design + codebase map. Releases are automated from Conventional Commits via release-please.

Status & roadmap

✅ foundation → ✅ containerize → ✅ deploy to BTP CF → ✅ headless connect (DIRECT) → ✅ read + authoring-loop + generation/transport tools → ✅ session self-heal → ✅ LSP code-intelligence + ATC + coverage + run + native transport (39 tools).

Next: CC-mode deploy (code ready; needs a running Cloud Connector + bound connectivity/destination), then per-user principal propagation (one adt-ls session per user via the BTP Destination Service). Roadmap detail in docs/plans/ and docs/assumptions-and-future-changes.md.

License & credits

MIT © 2026 Marian Zeis and contributors.

Built on the shell of ARC-1 (MIT, © Alice Vinogradova and contributors) — arc-1-lsp reuses its MCP server, configuration, authorization model, audit, and logging patterns. SAP's adt-ls is not included or redistributed (SAP Developer License) — bring your own; see ADR-0002.