activitywatch_add_category

Add a new category to ActivityWatch. The category will be appended to the existing list.

SERVERActivityWatch MCP Server SOURCE8bitgentleman/activitywatch-mcp-server

Medium RISK CLASS

Category Write

Parameters 00 required

Recommended Rate-limitedsee the rule below

Registry record Grade D, identity unverified Pull the record →

This record as markdown: /tools/8bitgentleman-activitywatch-mcp-server/activitywatch-add-category.md

WHAT IT DOES

What activitywatch_add_category does on ActivityWatch MCP Server

AI agents use activitywatch_add_category to create or update resources in ActivityWatch MCP Server, usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your ActivityWatch MCP Server environment.

RISK

Why activitywatch_add_category is rated Medium

This tool creates new categorical data in the ActivityWatch system. While the modification is reversible (categories can be deleted or updated), it does alter the configuration state of the application. It does not permanently destroy data (Destructive), involve financial transactions (Financial), or execute arbitrary code (Execute), and it goes beyond simple data retrieval (Read).

From the tool's definition The tool description states it will 'Add a new category' and 'append to the existing list', which are create/modify operations with reversible side effects. The name 'add_category' and description make clear this creates new data in the ActivityWatch system.

Attacks that exploit this kind of access

RECOMMENDED RULE

The rule that runs activitywatch_add_category safely

PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and ActivityWatch MCP Server, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For activitywatch_add_category, this is the rule to start with:

activitywatch_add_category Rate-limited

activitywatch_add_category stays usable, but capped: an agent stuck in a loop can't make hundreds of changes a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.

View as policy code

policy.json

{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "activitywatch_add_category": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "activitywatch_add_category_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}

LIMIT THIS TOOL → Instant setup, no code required.

The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect ActivityWatch MCP Server, apply this rule, and every activitywatch_add_category call is checked against it from then on.

FAQ

Questions about activitywatch_add_category

What does the activitywatch_add_category tool do? +

Add a new category to ActivityWatch. The category will be appended to the existing list. It is categorised as a Write tool in the ActivityWatch MCP Server MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.

How do I enforce a policy on activitywatch_add_category? +

Register the ActivityWatch MCP Server MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for activitywatch_add_category: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches ActivityWatch MCP Server. Nothing to install.

What risk level is activitywatch_add_category? +

activitywatch_add_category is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.

Can I rate-limit activitywatch_add_category? +

Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the activitywatch_add_category rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.

How do I block activitywatch_add_category completely? +

Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for activitywatch_add_category. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.

What MCP server provides activitywatch_add_category? +

activitywatch_add_category is provided by the ActivityWatch MCP Server MCP server (8bitgentleman/activitywatch-mcp-server). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.

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