Fix dev apps form: union types, textarea support, JSON parsing

src/fastmcp/cli/apps_dev.py

@@ -871,6 +871,30 @@ def _model_from_schema(tool_name: str, input_schema: dict[str, Any]) -> type[Any
     field_definitions: dict[str, Any] = {}
     for prop_name, prop in properties.items():
         json_type = prop.get("type", "string")
+
+        # Handle anyOf / oneOf (union types like str | dict | None)
+        for key in ("anyOf", "oneOf"):
+            if key in prop:
+                non_null = [
+                    t
+                    for t in prop[key]
+                    if isinstance(t, dict) and t.get("type") != "null"
+                ]
+                if non_null:
+                    types = [t.get("type") for t in non_null if "type" in t]
+                    for candidate in (
+                        "object",
+                        "array",
+                        "integer",
+                        "number",
+                        "boolean",
+                        "string",
+                    ):
+                        if candidate in types:
+                            json_type = candidate
+                            break
+                break
+
         match json_type:
             case "integer":
                 py_type: type = int
@@ -878,6 +902,9 @@ def _model_from_schema(tool_name: str, input_schema: dict[str, Any]) -> type[Any
                 py_type = float
             case "boolean":
                 py_type = bool
+            case "object" | "array":
+                # Render as a string textarea; api_launch parses JSON later
+                py_type = str
             case _:
                 py_type = str
 
@@ -897,10 +924,20 @@ def _model_from_schema(tool_name: str, input_schema: dict[str, Any]) -> type[Any
             from typing import Literal
 
             py_type = Literal[tuple(prop["enum"])]  # type: ignore[assignment]
-        if prop.get("format") == "textarea" or (
-            isinstance(prop.get("json_schema_extra"), dict)
-            and prop["json_schema_extra"].get("ui", {}).get("type") == "textarea"
-        ):
+
+        # Textarea detection:
+        # 1. Explicit format: "textarea" in JSON schema
+        # 2. UI annotation: {"ui": {"type": "textarea"}} (json_schema_extra merged flat)
+        # 3. Object/array types need multiline JSON editing
+        use_textarea = (
+            prop.get("format") == "textarea"
+            or (
+                isinstance(prop.get("ui"), dict)
+                and prop["ui"].get("type") == "textarea"
+            )
+            or json_type in ("object", "array")
+        )
+        if use_textarea:
             extra["json_schema_extra"] = {"ui": {"type": "textarea"}}
 
         field_definitions[prop_name] = (
@@ -1219,8 +1256,21 @@ def _make_dev_app(
         """Picker form submits here; returns a /launch URL string for OpenLink."""
         data = await request.json()
         tool = data.pop("tool", "")
-        # Remaining keys are tool arguments; pass all including empty optionals
-        tool_args = dict(data)
+        # Remaining keys are tool arguments.  Form inputs always produce
+        # strings, but some parameters expect dicts/lists — try to parse
+        # string values that look like JSON objects or arrays.
+        tool_args: dict[str, Any] = {}
+        for k, v in data.items():
+            if isinstance(v, str):
+                stripped = v.strip()
+                if stripped and stripped[0] in ("{", "["):
+                    try:
+                        parsed = json.loads(stripped)
+                        if isinstance(parsed, (dict, list)):
+                            v = parsed
+                    except (json.JSONDecodeError, TypeError):
+                        pass
+            tool_args[k] = v
         args_json = quote(json.dumps(tool_args))
         url = f"/launch?tool={tool}&args={args_json}"
         return Response(

src/fastmcp/types.py

@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+"""Reusable type annotations for FastMCP tool parameters.
+
+These types can be used in tool function signatures to influence how
+parameters are presented in UIs (e.g. ``fastmcp dev apps``) and
+serialized in JSON Schema.
+
+Example::
+
+    from fastmcp import FastMCP
+    from fastmcp.types import Textarea
+
+    mcp = FastMCP("demo")
+
+    @mcp.tool()
+    def run_query(sql: Textarea) -> str:
+        ...
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from typing import Annotated
+
+from pydantic import Field
+
+Textarea = Annotated[str, Field(json_schema_extra={"format": "textarea"})]
+"""A string rendered as a multiline textarea in form-based UIs.
+
+Produces ``"format": "textarea"`` in the JSON Schema, which
+``fastmcp dev apps`` picks up automatically.
+"""
+
+__all__ = ["Textarea"]