Built-in MCP Server Tools
CTX provides several tools that can be enabled or disabled through environment variables. Below is a description of each tool, how to configure them, and how to use advanced features like JSON Schema, conditional arguments, and template processing.
Environment Variables Configuration
The tools system can be configured using environment variables to enable or disable specific features:
General Configuration
| Variable | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
MCP_CUSTOM_TOOLS_ENABLE | Enable/disable custom tools | true |
MCP_TOOL_MAX_RUNTIME | Maximum runtime for a command in seconds | 30 |
MCP_TOOL_COMMAND_EXECUTION | Enable/disable command execution | true |
MCP_FILE_OPERATIONS | Master switch for all file operation tools | true |
MCP_FILE_WRITE | Enable/disable file write operations | true |
MCP_FILE_DIRECTORIES_LIST | Enable/disable directory listing | true |
MCP_DOCS_TOOLS_ENABLED | Enable/disable Context7 documentation tools | true |
MCP_PROJECT_OPERATIONS | Enable/disable project operations | true |
Available Tool Categories
File Operations
Master switch for all file operation tools. When set to false, all below file tools are disabled regardless of their individual settings.
| Tool Key | Description | Environment Variable | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
file-read | Read content from a file | Always available when file operations are enabled | - |
directory-list | List files and directories in a specified path | MCP_FILE_DIRECTORIES_LIST | true |
file-write | Create new files or modify existing ones | MCP_FILE_WRITE | true |
Context Operations
Tools for working with context information.
| Tool Key | Description | Environment Variable | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
context-request | Request context information using filters and modifiers | Always available when context operations are enabled | - |
context-get | Get a specific context document | Always available when context operations are enabled | - |
context | List all available contexts | Always available when context operations are enabled | - |
Prompt Operations
Experimental tools for working with prompts.
| Tool Key | Description | Environment Variable | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
prompt-get | Retrieve a specific prompt | MCP_PROMPT_OPERATIONS | false (experimental) |
prompts-list | List all available prompts | MCP_PROMPT_OPERATIONS | false (experimental) |
Docs Tools
Tools for searching and retrieving documentation from the Context7 service.
| Tool Key | Description | Environment Variable | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
library-search | Search for available documentation libraries in Context7 | MCP_DOCS_TOOLS_ENABLED | true |
find-docs | Find and retrieve documentation for a specific library | MCP_DOCS_TOOLS_ENABLED | true |
library-search Tool
Search for available documentation libraries in the Context7 service.
Parameters:
| Parameter | Type | Required | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
query | string | Yes | - | Search query to find libraries |
maxResults | integer | No | 5 | Maximum number of results (1-10) |
Response: Returns a JSON array of matching libraries with their IDs, names, and descriptions.
find-docs Tool
Retrieve documentation content for a specific library from Context7.
Parameters:
| Parameter | Type | Required | Default | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
id | string | Yes | - | Library ID (obtained from library-search) |
tokens | integer | No | - | Maximum number of tokens to retrieve |
topic | string | No | - | Specific topic within the library to focus on |
Response: Returns the documentation content as text, filtered by the specified topic and token limit if provided.
Project Operations
Tools for managing and switching between different project contexts.
| Tool Key | Description | Environment Variable | Default |
|---|---|---|---|
projects-list | List all registered projects with their configuration details | MCP_PROJECT_OPERATIONS | true |
project-switch | Switch to a different project by path or alias | MCP_PROJECT_OPERATIONS | true |
- Projects must be registered using the
project:addcommand before they can be switched to - The tool validates project existence before attempting to switch
- Provides helpful error messages with available options when a project is not found
- Supports both absolute and relative paths, with automatic path normalization
Note: Read more about project management in the Project Management section.
Always Available Tools
These tools are always available regardless of environment configuration:
| Tool Key | Description |
|---|---|
project-structure | Get information about the project structure |
filesystem-operations | Perform basic filesystem queries |
list-resources | List all available resources |
json-schema | Get JSON schema for various entities |
document-content | Get document content by ID |
list-tools | List all available tools (what you're using now) |