Actor Critic Thinking + Roo Code: Complete MCP Integration

Actor Critic Thinking is a MCP server that Actor-critic thinking for performance evaluation.

When integrated with Roo Code, you can:

• Alternate between actor and critic viewpoints for comprehensive evaluation
• Structured multi-round analysis with progress tracking
• Multi-dimensional performance evaluation framework

This guide provides step-by-step instructions to set up Actor Critic Thinking in Roo Code, including configuration, examples, and troubleshooting.

What You'll Achieve

After completing this setup:

• Actor Critic Thinking will be fully integrated and operational
• You can use Actor Critic Thinking tools directly in Roo Code
• All Actor Critic Thinking capabilities will be available for your workflows
• Access to 4 different tools

Prerequisites

Before starting, ensure you have:

• Node.js
• npm
• TypeScript support
• Roo Code installed and configured
• Compatible operating system (Windows, macOS, Linux)

Installation

Step 1: Install Actor Critic Thinking

Install using npm:

npx -y mcp-server-actor-critic-thinking

Verify installation:

npx mcp-server-actor-critic-thinking --help

Configuration

Step 2: Configure Roo Code

1. Locate your configuration file:

   • Windows: %USERPROFILE%\.roo\mcp_settings.json
   • macOS: ~/.roo/mcp_settings.json
   • Linux: ~/.roo/mcp_settings.json

2. Add server configuration:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "actor-critic-thinking": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": ["-y", "actor-critic-thinking"],
      "env": {
        
      }
    }
  }
}

3. Restart Roo Code

Completely quit and restart Roo Code to load the new configuration.

Examples

Once configured, you can use Actor Critic Thinking in Roo Code:

Product Name Evaluation

Analyze effectiveness of noise-canceling headphone product name

Ask Roo Code: "Evaluate the product name "SilentMax Pro" for noise-canceling headphones using actor-critic analysis"

Expected Result: Multi-round analysis alternating between creative appreciation and practical critique of the name

Marketing Campaign Assessment

Evaluate marketing campaign concept from multiple perspectives

Ask Roo Code: "Analyze our "Digital Transformation Made Simple" campaign using 5 rounds of actor-critic evaluation"

Expected Result: Comprehensive evaluation covering creative impact, practical implementation, and market effectiveness

Feature Development Review

Assess new software feature proposal

Ask Roo Code: "Use actor-critic thinking to evaluate the proposed "Smart Auto-Save" feature for our text editor"

Expected Result: Balanced analysis of feature benefits, technical challenges, and user experience implications

Business Strategy Evaluation

Analyze strategic business decision with structured feedback

Ask Roo Code: "Apply actor-critic analysis to our plan for expanding into the European market"

Expected Result: Systematic evaluation of opportunities, risks, and implementation considerations

Testing Your Setup

1. Start a new conversation in Roo Code
2. Ask Roo Code to list available tools
3. Try using Actor Critic Thinking functionality

Test prompts:

• "Type @ and verify Actor Critic Thinking appears in the tools list"
• "Ask: "Use Actor Critic Thinking to help with my task""
• "Check Roo Code output panel for server connection status"

Troubleshooting

Common Issues

Invalid Total Thoughts Parameter

Symptoms: Parameter validation errors, Odd number requirement failures

Cause: totalThoughts parameter must be odd number ≥3

Solution:

• Ensure totalThoughts is an odd number (3, 5, 7, etc.)
• Use minimum value of 3 for basic analysis
• Verify parameter is numeric, not string
• Check parameter validation in client configuration

Role Parameter Not Recognized

Symptoms: Invalid role errors, Perspective switching failures

Cause: Role parameter must be exactly "actor" or "critic"

Solution:

• Use exact values: "actor" or "critic"
• Check for typos or case sensitivity issues
• Ensure role alternates between rounds
• Verify role matches current thought number

Evaluation Sequence Broken

Symptoms: Out of sequence errors, Round tracking failures

Cause: thoughtNumber not matching expected sequence or round progression

Solution:

• Start thoughtNumber at 1 for first round
• Increment thoughtNumber for each subsequent round
• Ensure thoughtNumber ≤ totalThoughts
• Reset sequence for new evaluation sessions

TypeScript Compilation Errors

Symptoms: Build failures, Type definition errors

Cause: Missing TypeScript dependencies or configuration issues

Solution:

• Install TypeScript: npm install -g typescript
• Verify tsconfig.json configuration
• Install type definitions: npm install @types/node
• Clear build cache: npm run clean && npm run build

MCP Server Not Connecting

Symptoms: Server not appearing in tools list, Connection timeout, MCP tools unavailable

Cause: Incorrect configuration or server not starting

Solution:

• Verify mcp_settings.json syntax is correct
• Check that Node.js and npx are installed and in PATH
• View Roo Code output panel for error messages
• Test server command manually in terminal: npx -y {server_id}
• Ensure environment variables are properly set

Permission Denied Errors

Symptoms: Cannot execute commands, File access denied, Terminal commands blocked

Cause: Roo Code requires explicit permission for file and command operations

Solution:

• Review and approve permission requests when prompted
• Check VS Code workspace trust settings
• Enable necessary permissions in Roo Code settings
• Verify file and folder permissions on your system

API Key or Model Issues

Symptoms: Authentication failed, Model not responding, No AI completions

Cause: AI model API key not configured or invalid

Solution:

• Verify API key is correctly set in Roo Code settings
• Check API key has sufficient credits/quota
• Test with a different AI model provider
• Review Roo Code output panel for API error details

Custom Mode Not Working with MCP

Symptoms: MCP tools not available in custom mode, Mode cannot access server

Cause: Custom mode configuration does not include MCP tool permissions

Solution:

• Edit custom mode configuration to include MCP tools
• Add "Use MCP" to available tools in mode definition
• Ensure mode has appropriate permissions for external tools
• Test with default mode first to verify MCP server works

Extension Conflicts

Symptoms: Roo Code not responding, VS Code performance issues, Unexpected behavior

Cause: Conflicts with other AI coding extensions

Solution:

• Disable other AI coding extensions (Cline, Continue, etc.)
• Restart VS Code after disabling conflicting extensions
• Check VS Code extension logs for conflict errors
• Use only one AI coding assistant extension at a time

Actor Critic Thinking not appearing in Roo Code

Symptoms: Server not listed, Tools not available

Cause: Configuration or installation issue

Solution:

• Verify configuration syntax
• Check Actor Critic Thinking installation
• Restart Roo Code
• Check logs for error messages

Next Steps

Now that Actor Critic Thinking is integrated with Roo Code:

• Explore all Actor Critic Thinking capabilities through Roo Code
• Check out other MCP servers that work with Roo Code
• Join the MCP community for tips and support
• Consider contributing to Actor Critic Thinking development

Need Help?

• Search for Actor Critic Thinking documentation
• Check the Roo Code MCP guide
• Join the MCP community discussions