CONTAM

CONTAM Plugin is a Windows-first public toolkit for using CONTAM from AI coding agents and MCP-capable desktop tools.

It combines three layers in one repository:

• a local stdio MCP server for CONTAM command-line tools and ContamX bridge sessions
• a Codex plugin wrapper with workflow guidance for project creation, diagnosis, and simulation
• guard scripts for PRJ hygiene, ContamW-safe result settings, and optional contam_chinese linkage

The project is designed for public use. It helps an agent inspect .prj models, diagnose missing references, run simulations, compare outputs, generate simple ContamW SketchPad layouts, and separate solver failures from ContamW GUI result-display problems.

Quick Use Through MCP

For most users, the easiest setup is an npx-launched local MCP server:

command: npx
args: -y --package github:summer521521/CONTAM_plugin contam-mcp

The binary name remains contam-mcp because it launches the MCP server component. The repository and Codex plugin are named CONTAM_plugin.

Host-specific setup examples are in:

• Host Setup Guide
• Codex Windows App Setup
• Five-Minute Quickstart

Codex Plugin Use

This repository can also be used as a Codex plugin source because the repository root contains:

• .codex-plugin/plugin.json
• .mcp.json
• skills/contam-mcp/SKILL.md
• scripts/start-contam-plugin-mcp.ps1
• scripts/Invoke-ContamProjectGuard.ps1

The plugin adds a CONTAM workflow skill that tells Codex to:

• inspect before editing
• keep case-specific data outside the plugin repository
• run ContamX input checks before GUI work
• keep only one active PRJ in a case folder unless scenarios are intentional
• use GUI-safe output settings when the user will run from ContamW
• record ContamW Building Check errors and fixes in case-local notes

Main Capabilities

• discover bundled or configured CONTAM executables
• list .prj, .sim, .wth, .ctm, and related files
• inspect project metadata and external references
• diagnose broken project references
• update supported .prj file references
• clone baseline projects into named scenario folders
• create and optionally run small case matrices
• apply generated ContamW SketchPad layout data for rectangular rooms, zones, path icons, and source/sink icons
• run contamx3.exe and collect outputs
• run a PRJ guard for encoding, result profile, stale-output cleanup, XLog triage, and basic count checks
• discover and use optional contamxpy bindings for paper-style ContamX API co-simulation
• discover Rhino/Grasshopper ANT availability for model-creation workflows
• upgrade old .prj files with prjup.exe
• compare .sim files with simcomp.exe
• export simread text output
• summarize generic CONTAM text outputs for quick result triage
• start, inspect, advance, and close ContamX bridge sessions

Project Guard

Before handing a generated PRJ to another user or asking someone to run it in ContamW, run:

.\scripts\Invoke-ContamProjectGuard.ps1 `
  -ProjectPath "<case>\model.prj" `
  -Mode InputCheck `
  -ResultProfile GuiSafeResults `
  -CleanOutputs `
  -RequireSingleProject

For a command-line full run:

.\scripts\Invoke-ContamProjectGuard.ps1 `
  -ProjectPath "<case>\model.prj" `
  -Mode Run `
  -ResultProfile GuiSafeResults

The guard does not prove a hand-drawn SketchPad layout is perfect, but it catches common project-sharing and simulation issues before the GUI step.

Link With contam_chinese

CONTAM_plugin can use the localized executables distributed by contam_chinese.

After extracting a contam_chinese release package, link it for the current PowerShell session:

.\scripts\link-contam-chinese.ps1 -Path "<extracted-contam-chinese-release>"

Or persist it for your Windows user:

.\scripts\link-contam-chinese.ps1 -Path "<extracted-contam-chinese-release>" -User

The launcher honors these variables in order:

• explicit tool overrides such as CONTAMX_PATH
• CONTAM_HOME
• CONTAM_CHINESE_HOME
• bundled executables in this repository

Use contam_chinese for localized ContamW and Chinese help. Use CONTAM_plugin for MCP automation, project checks, simulation workflows, and report-oriented result extraction.

Repository Layout

• .codex-plugin/: Codex plugin manifest
• .mcp.json: MCP server launch definition for plugin hosts
• skills/: Codex workflow skill for CONTAM work
• scripts/: launch, guard, localization-link, setup, and maintenance scripts
• contam-mcp/: MCP server source, developer guide, and regression scripts
• docs/: public quickstart and host setup guides
• .github/workflows/: GitHub Actions workflows
• repository root: bundled CONTAM executables and supporting DLLs

Privacy And CI

This repository includes a privacy check that scans tracked files for personal filesystem paths before public sharing:

npm run privacy:check

Run the basic plugin launcher check with:

npm run plugin:check

Run official regression cases with:

npm run regression:official

Example Prompts

• Call discover_contam_installation and confirm CONTAM is available.
• List CONTAM case files in this folder.
• Inspect this PRJ file and summarize its references and date range.
• Run a test input only check for this PRJ.
• Make this PRJ safe for ContamW Building Check and result review.
• Run this PRJ and list the generated outputs.
• Apply a rectangular SketchPad layout to this PRJ so ContamW opens with visible rooms and icons.
• Run a small case matrix from this baseline model.
• Analyze this CONTAM xlog or simread text export.
• Discover whether contamxpy and ANT are available.
• Start a CONTAM bridge session for this project.
• Advance the active bridge session by 300 seconds and return path flow updates.

References

• contam_chinese
• NIST CONTAM Download Page
• NIST CONTAM Software Page
• NIST TN 1887r1
• Model Context Protocol