# start_server

Start a development server

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `start_server`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/start-server

## Facts

- Tool: `start_server`
- Server: Code MCP Server (`agentics-ai/code-mcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/agentics-ai/code-mcp
- Risk category: Execute (High risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 0
- Recommended policy verdict: Rate-limited

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "start_server",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why start_server is rated High

The tool executes a development server, which runs code/processes in the environment. While the operation itself may be reversible (stopping the server), the act of starting it triggers execution of potentially arbitrary code depending on project configuration. An AI agent misusing this could start malicious servers, expose ports, consume resources, or execute unintended processes.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool name 'start_server' and description 'Start a development server' indicate execution of external processes/services."

## Use case

AI agents invoke start_server to trigger actions in Code MCP Server. What it does depends on the arguments the agent supplies, and its effects often reach beyond the immediate call: builds kicked off, notifications sent, workflows started.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Rate-limited**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches Code MCP Server:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "start_server": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "start_server_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 10,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

## Other tools on Code MCP Server (72)

- `delete_file` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/delete-file.md
- `docker_cleanup` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/docker-cleanup.md
- `docker_containers` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/docker-containers.md
- `remove_allowed_command` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/remove-allowed-command.md
- `rollback_session` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/rollback-session.md
- `docker_build` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/docker-build.md
- `docker_compose` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/docker-compose.md
- `docker_images` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/docker-images.md
- `docker_networks` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/docker-networks.md
- `docker_run` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/docker-run.md
- `docker_system` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/docker-system.md
- `docker_volumes` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/docker-volumes.md
- `git_push` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/git-push.md
- `install_dependencies` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/install-dependencies.md
- `npm_command` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/npm-command.md
- `pip_install` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/pip-install.md
- `run_command` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/run-command.md
- `run_custom_tool` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/run-custom-tool.md
- `run_javascript` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/run-javascript.md
- `run_python` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/run-python.md
- `run_tests` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/run-tests.md
- `secure_run_command` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/secure-run-command.md
- `secure_run_command_sequence` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/secure-run-command-sequence.md
- `start_coding_session` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/start-coding-session.md
- `stop_server` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/stop-server.md
- `end_coding_session` — Other — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/end-coding-session.md
- `analyze_code` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/analyze-code.md
- `analyze_file_differences` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/analyze-file-differences.md
- `compare_commits` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/compare-commits.md
- `compare_files` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp/compare-files.md
- …and 42 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/agentics-ai-code-mcp.md

## For agents

This record is a snapshot. Live verdicts and the full registry:

- Check every server in your MCP config at once: `npx -y policylayer stack`
- Vet a server before you add it: install the mcp-precheck skill — `npx skills add https://policylayer.com` (skill text: https://policylayer.com/skill.md)
- Query the registry over MCP: endpoint `https://api.policylayer.com/mcp` — tools `check_mcp_server`, `check_mcp_stack`, `check_tool`, `search_registry`, `get_change_events`

---

Source: the PolicyLayer MCP registry — one continuously verified record per MCP server. Full record: https://policylayer.com/registry?q=agentics-ai-code-mcp · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/agentics-ai-code-mcp