Tools¶

Tools let Colossus inspect files, search a repository, run commands, keep durable work, and use configured services. The active list depends on your workspace, configuration, and available integrations.

See the active tools¶

Enter /tools in the terminal UI:

/tools

The result lists model-visible tools. This shortened example wraps the fields onto separate lines for readability:

◆ Tools
  • echo
    Description: Return the supplied text without performing an external effect.
    Max output bytes: 32768
  • filesystem.read
    Description: Read one policy-permitted UTF-8 text file.
    Effect action: filesystem.read · Capability: filesystem.read
    Max output bytes: 1048576
  • filesystem.write
    Description: Create, overwrite, or append bounded UTF-8 workspace text.
    Effect action: filesystem.write · Capability: filesystem.write
    Max output bytes: 1048576

The name is what the model calls. Description explains its task. Effect action names the operation evaluated by policy; a pure tool such as echo has no effect action. Capability identifies the resource authority an effect requires. Max output bytes is a result-size ceiling.

A listed tool is available to the model, but a call may still need approval or be denied for a specific file, command, or destination. See Access and approvals for those decisions.

Find the right family¶

To do this	Tools to look for
Explore code	`repo.map` for file paths (`rg --files` style), `filesystem.search` for regex or literal file contents, `repo.symbol_search` for structural declarations, `repo.references` for exact symbols, `repo.file_summary` for a file overview
Read and search files	`filesystem.list`, `filesystem.read`, `filesystem.search`
Check Git state	`git.status`, `git.diff`, `git.show`
Edit and verify	`filesystem.write`, `filesystem.replace`, `patch.preview`, `patch.apply`
Run a command	`shell.run`
Track work	`task.`, `decision.`, `plan.`, `goal.`, `agent.*`
Remember context	`memory.create`, `memory.search`, `memory.supersede`
Use external sources	`web.`, `docs.fetch`, `network.http`, `mcp.`

For exact built-in names, action mappings, and effect boundaries, use Tools and action classes. Configured integrations and MCP servers can add tools to the active list. See MCP servers to inspect those external sources in the TUI.

Inspect from the CLI¶

colossus tools list
colossus config effective

tools list prints the active tool catalog and schemas for scripting or closer inspection. config effective shows selected and hidden candidates with their resolution details. If a tool you expected is absent, check the access profile and its prerequisites there. Plan Mode can further narrow the tools offered for a planning turn.