CutList/CLAUDE.md

CLAUDE.md

Important

: Always keep this document updated when functionality changes, entities are added/modified, new pages or services are created, or architectural patterns evolve.

This file provides guidance to Claude Code (claude.ai/code) when working with code in this repository.

Project Overview

CutList is a 1D bin packing optimization application that helps users optimize material cutting. It calculates efficient bin packing solutions to minimize waste when cutting stock materials into required parts.

The solution contains four projects:

Project	Framework	Purpose
CutList	.NET 8.0 Windows Forms	Original desktop UI (MVP pattern)
CutList.Core	.NET 8.0 Class Library	Domain models and packing algorithms (platform-agnostic)
CutList.Web	.NET 8.0 Blazor Server	Web-based UI + REST API, EF Core + SQL Server
CutList.Mcp	.NET 10.0 Console (stdio)	MCP server exposing CutList.Web's REST API as tools for Claude

Key Dependencies: Math-Expression-Evaluator (input parsing), Newtonsoft.Json (serialization), Entity Framework Core (data access), Bootstrap 5 + Bootstrap Icons (UI), ModelContextProtocol SDK (CutList.Mcp)

Build Commands

# Build entire solution
dotnet build CutList.sln

# Build specific projects
dotnet build CutList/CutList.csproj
dotnet build CutList.Core/CutList.Core.csproj
dotnet build CutList.Web/CutList.Web.csproj
dotnet build CutList.Mcp/CutList.Mcp.csproj

# Run applications
dotnet run --project CutList/CutList.csproj        # WinForms
dotnet run --project CutList.Web/CutList.Web.csproj # Blazor + REST API (default http://localhost:5270)

# EF Core migrations (always apply immediately after creating)
dotnet ef migrations add <Name> --project CutList.Web
dotnet ef database update --project CutList.Web

# Clean build
dotnet clean CutList.sln

Deploying CutList.Web as a Windows Service

powershell -ExecutionPolicy Bypass -File scripts/Deploy-CutListWeb.ps1 -ServiceName CutListWeb -InstallDir C:\Services\CutListWeb -Urls "http://*:5270" -OpenFirewall

Publishes, (re)creates the CutListWeb Windows service with auto-restart recovery, and optionally opens the firewall port. See docs/deploy-script-guide.md (global docs) for the template this follows.

Publishing CutList.Mcp

CutList.Mcp is an stdio MCP server, not a hosted service — it's published to ~/.claude/mcp/CutList.Mcp/ and registered in ~/.claude/settings.local.json (see global CLAUDE.md MCP Server Publishing table). It talks to CutList.Web's REST API at http://localhost:5270, so CutList.Web must be running (dev dotnet run or the deployed Windows service) for the MCP tools to work.

Architecture

CutList.Core — Domain & Algorithms

Key Domain Models:

• BinItem: Item to be packed (label, length)
• MultiBin: Stock bin type with length, quantity (-1 = unlimited), priority
• Bin: Packed bin containing items, tracks remaining length
• Tool: Cutting tool with kerf/blade width

Packing Engine:

• MultiBinEngine coordinates packing across bin types
• AdvancedFitEngine performs 1D bin packing (first-fit decreasing with optimization)
• PackingStrategy.AdvancedFit is the standard strategy

Unit Handling:

• ArchUnits — Converts feet/inches/fractions to decimal inches (accepts "12'", "6"", "12 1/2"", etc.)
• FormatHelper — Converts decimals to mixed fractions for display
• Internal calculations use inches; format on display

Patterns:

• Result<T> for standardized error handling (Success/Failure instead of exceptions)
• IEngineFactory for swappable algorithm implementations
• Lower priority number = used first in bin selection

CutList (WinForms) — Desktop UI

• MVP pattern: MainForm implements IMainView, MainFormPresenter orchestrates logic
• Document holds application state
• CutListService bridges UI models to core packing algorithms
• DocumentService handles JSON file persistence

CutList.Web (Blazor Server) — Web UI + REST API

Database: SQL Server via Entity Framework Core (connection string: DefaultConnection)

Service Registration (Program.cs): All services registered as Scoped — MaterialService, SupplierService, StockItemService, JobService, CutListPackingService, ReportService, PurchaseItemService, CatalogService. IDbContextFactory<ApplicationDbContext> is used (not a scoped DbContext directly) for Blazor Server circuit safety.

REST API (Controllers/): JobsController, MaterialsController, StockItemsController, SuppliersController, CuttingToolsController, PackingController, CatalogController — Swagger/OpenAPI enabled in Development. This API is the integration surface CutList.Mcp calls into; the Blazor UI talks to the services directly and does not go through it.

Error handling: UseExceptionHandler("/Error", ...) in non-Development environments routes to Components/Pages/Error.razor.

CutList.Mcp — MCP Server

Stdio-transport MCP server (ModelContextProtocol SDK) exposing CutList.Web's REST API as tools for Claude Code. Registers tools via WithToolsFromAssembly; logging is disabled entirely so it doesn't interfere with the stdio transport.

• ApiClient.cs — typed HttpClient wrapper for CutList.Web's REST API (BaseAddress hardcoded to http://localhost:5270)
• JobTools.cs — job CRUD, parts/stock, optimization (OptimizeJob), cutting tools
• InventoryTools.cs — suppliers, materials, stock items, supplier offerings
• CutListTools.cs — static helpers shared across tool classes
• Models.cs — shared DTOs distinct from CutList.Web's own DTOs (kept intentionally thin for MCP tool responses)

CutList.Web Entities

Material

• Shape (MaterialShape enum): Round Bar, Round Tube, Flat Bar, Square Bar, Square Tube, Rectangular Tube, Angle, Channel, I-Beam, Pipe
• Type (MaterialType enum): Steel, Aluminum, Stainless, Brass, Copper
• Grade (string?), Size (string), Description (string?), IsActive (bool), SortOrder (int)
• DisplayName: "{Shape} - {Size}"
• Relationships: Dimensions (1:1 MaterialDimensions), StockItems (1:many), JobParts (1:many)

MaterialDimensions (TPC Inheritance)

Abstract base with TPC (Table Per Concrete type) mapping — each shape gets its own standalone table (DimAngle, DimChannel, DimFlatBar, DimIBeam, DimPipe, DimRectangularTube, DimRoundBar, DimRoundTube, DimSquareBar, DimSquareTube) with no base table. Each table has its own Id (shared sequence) and MaterialId FK. Each generates its own SizeString and SortOrder.

StockItem

• MaterialId, LengthInches (decimal), QuantityOnHand (int), IsActive
• Unique constraint: (MaterialId, LengthInches)
• Relationships: Material, SupplierOfferings (1:many), Transactions (1:many StockTransaction)

StockTransaction

• StockItemId, Quantity (signed delta), Type (Received/Used/Adjustment/Scrapped/Returned)
• Optional: JobId, SupplierId, UnitPrice

Supplier

• Name (required), ContactInfo, Notes, IsActive
• Relationships: Offerings (1:many SupplierOffering)

SupplierOffering

• Links Supplier to StockItem with optional PartNumber, Price, Notes
• Unique constraint: (SupplierId, StockItemId)

CuttingTool

• Name, KerfInches (decimal), IsDefault (bool), IsActive
• Seeded: Bandsaw (0.0625"), Chop Saw (0.125"), Cold Cut Saw (0.0625"), Hacksaw (0.0625")

Job

• JobNumber (auto-generated "JOB-#####", unique), Name, Customer, CuttingToolId, Notes
• LockedAt (DateTime?) — set when materials ordered; IsLocked computed property
• OptimizationResultJson (string?, nvarchar(max)) — serialized optimization results
• OptimizedAt (DateTime?) — when optimization was last run
• Relationships: Parts (1:many JobPart), Stock (1:many JobStock), CuttingTool

JobPart

• JobId, MaterialId, Name, LengthInches (decimal), Quantity (int), SortOrder

JobStock

• JobId, MaterialId, StockItemId?, LengthInches, Quantity (-1 = unlimited), IsCustomLength, Priority (lower = used first), SortOrder

PurchaseItem

• StockItemId, SupplierId?, JobId?, Quantity, Status (Pending/Ordered/Received), Notes

CutList.Web Services

MaterialService

• CRUD with soft delete, dimension management (CreateWithDimensionsAsync, UpdateWithDimensionsAsync)
• Search by dimension (e.g., SearchRoundBarByDiameterAsync, SearchAngleByLegAsync) with tolerance
• CreateDimensionsForShape(shape) factory method

StockItemService

• CRUD with soft delete
• Stock transactions: AddStockAsync, UseStockAsync, AdjustStockAsync, ScrapStockAsync
• GetTransactionHistoryAsync, RecalculateQuantityAsync
• Pricing: GetAverageCostAsync, GetLastPurchasePriceAsync

SupplierService

• CRUD for suppliers and offerings
• GetOfferingsForStockItemAsync — all supplier options for a stock item

JobService

• Job CRUD: CreateAsync (auto-generates JobNumber), DuplicateAsync (deep copy), QuickCreateAsync
• Lock/Unlock: LockAsync(id), UnlockAsync(id) — controls job editability after ordering
• Parts: AddPartAsync, UpdatePartAsync, DeletePartAsync (all update job timestamp + clear optimization results)
• Stock: AddStockAsync, UpdateStockAsync, DeleteStockAsync (all clear optimization results)
• Optimization: SaveOptimizationResultAsync, ClearOptimizationResultAsync
• Cutting tools: full CRUD with single-default enforcement

CutListPackingService

• PackAsync(parts, kerfInches, jobStock?) — runs optimization per material group
• Separates results into InStockBins (from inventory) and ToBePurchasedBins
• GetSummary(result) — calculates total bins, pieces, waste, efficiency %
• SerializeResult(result) / LoadSavedResult(json) — JSON round-trip via DTO layer (SavedOptimizationResult etc.)

PurchaseItemService

• CRUD + CreateBulkAsync for batch creation from optimization results
• UpdateStatusAsync(id, status), UpdateSupplierAsync(id, supplierId)

ReportService

• FormatLength(inches), GroupItems(items) for print report formatting

CatalogService

• ExportAsync() — dumps active suppliers, cutting tools, and materials (with dimensions + stock items + supplier offerings) into a shape-grouped CatalogData DTO for bulk export/import tooling
• Backs the CatalogController REST endpoint and the scripts/ExportData / scripts/AlroCatalog data-loading workflows

CutList.Web Pages

Route	Page	Purpose
/	Home	Welcome page with feature cards and workflow guide
/jobs	Jobs/Index	Job list with pagination, lock icons, Quick Create, Duplicate, Delete
/jobs/new	Jobs/Edit	New job form (details only)
/jobs/{Id}	Jobs/Edit	Tabbed editor (Details, Parts, Stock, Results); locked jobs show banner + disable editing
/materials	Materials/Index	Material list with MaterialFilter, pagination
/materials/new, /materials/{Id}	Materials/Edit	Material + dimension form (varies by shape)
/stock	Stock/Index	Stock items with MaterialFilter, quantity badges
/stock/new, /stock/{Id}	Stock/Edit	Stock item form
/orders	Orders/Index	Tabbed (Pending/Ordered/All), supplier assignment, status transitions
/orders/add	Orders/Add	Manual purchase item creation
/suppliers	Suppliers/Index	Supplier list with CRUD
/suppliers/{Id}	Suppliers/Edit	Supplier + offerings management
/tools	Tools/Index	Cutting tools CRUD
/Error	Error	Unhandled exception page (registered via UseExceptionHandler)

Shared Components

Component	Purpose
ConfirmDialog	Modal confirmation for destructive actions (Show/Hide methods, OnConfirm callback)
LengthInput	Architectural unit input — parses "12'", "6"", "12 1/2""; reformats on blur; two-way binding via Value or NullableValue
Pager	Pagination with "Showing X-Y of Z", prev/next, smart page window with ellipsis
MaterialFilter	Reusable filter: Shape, Type, Grade dropdowns + search text; used on Materials, Stock, Orders pages

Key Patterns & Conventions

• Nullable reference types enabled — handle nulls explicitly
• Soft deletes — Materials, Suppliers, StockItems, CuttingTools use IsActive flag
• Job locking — LockedAt timestamp set when materials ordered; Edit page disables all modification via <fieldset disabled>, hides add/edit/delete buttons; Unlock button to re-enable editing
• Pagination — All list pages use Pager with pageSize = 25
• ConfirmDialog — All destructive actions use the shared ConfirmDialog component
• Material selection flow — Shape dropdown -> Size dropdown -> Length input -> Quantity (conditional dropdowns)
• Stock priority — Lower number = used first; -1 quantity = unlimited
• Job stock — Jobs can use auto-discovered inventory OR define custom stock lengths
• Optimization persistence — Results saved as JSON in Job.OptimizationResultJson; DTO layer (SavedOptimizationResult etc.) handles serialization since Core types use encapsulated collections; results auto-cleared when parts, stock, or cutting tool change
• Purchase flow — Optimize job -> "Add to Order List" creates PurchaseItems + locks job -> Orders page manages status (Pending -> Ordered -> Received)
• Timestamps — CreatedAt defaults to GETUTCDATE(); UpdatedAt set on modifications
• Collections — Encapsulated in Core; use AsReadOnly(), access via Add* methods
• Priority system — Lower priority bins used first in packing algorithm
• UI ↔ MCP split — The Blazor UI calls services directly (in-process); CutList.Mcp and any other external integration go through the REST API in Controllers/. Keep both paths in sync when changing service method signatures used by controllers.

Supporting Scripts (scripts/)

• Deploy-CutListWeb.ps1 — publishes and installs CutList.Web as a Windows Service (see Build Commands above)
• ExportData/ — standalone console project that exercises CutList.Web's data layer to import/export catalog seed data (e.g. Data/SeedData/oneals-catalog.json)
• AlroCatalog/ — Python scraper (scrape_alro.py) for pulling material/size/grade data from the Alro Steel SmartGrid site into a JSON catalog for import; see SCRAPE_PLAN.md for scraper status and cascading-dropdown navigation notes. Not part of the .NET build.

Key Files

File	Purpose
CutList.Core/Nesting/AdvancedFitEngine.cs	Core 1D bin packing algorithm
CutList.Core/Nesting/MultiBinEngine.cs	Multi-bin type orchestration
CutList.Core/ArchUnits.cs	Architectural unit parsing/conversion
CutList.Core/Formatting/FormatHelper.cs	Display formatting
CutList.Web/Data/ApplicationDbContext.cs	EF Core context with all DbSets and configuration
CutList.Web/Services/JobService.cs	Job orchestration (CRUD, parts, stock, tools, lock/unlock)
CutList.Web/Services/CutListPackingService.cs	Bridges web entities to Core packing engine
CutList.Web/Components/Pages/Jobs/Edit.razor	Job editor (tabbed: Details, Parts, Stock, Results)
CutList.Mcp/ApiClient.cs	HTTP client the MCP server uses to call CutList.Web's REST API
CutList.Mcp/Program.cs	MCP server entrypoint (stdio transport, tool registration)
CutList/Presenters/MainFormPresenter.cs	WinForms business logic orchestrator