# get_file_info

Retrieve detailed metadata about a file or directory including: - size - creation time - last modified time - permissions - type - lineCount (for text files) - lastLine (zero-indexed number of last line, for text files) - appendPosition (line number for appending, for text files) - sheets (for Excel files - array of {name, rowCount, colCount}) Only works within allowed directories. ${PATH_GUIDANCE} ${CMD_PREFIX_DESCRIPTION}

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `get_file_info`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/desktop-commander/get-file-info

## Facts

- Tool: `get_file_info`
- Server: Desktop Commander (`wonderwhy-er/DesktopCommanderMCP`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/desktop-commander.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/wonderwhy-er/DesktopCommanderMCP
- Risk category: Read (Low risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 0
- Recommended policy verdict: Allowed

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

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

## Why get_file_info is rated Low

This tool performs read-only operations that query file system metadata. It returns information about files and directories (size, timestamps, permissions, type, and content statistics) without creating, modifying, deleting, or executing anything. It has no side effects and poses minimal security risk beyond potential information disclosure about file system structure.

From the tool's own definition: "Retrieve detailed metadata about a file or directory including: size, creation time, last modified time, permissions, type, lineCount, lastLine, appendPosition, sheets."

## Use case

AI agents call get_file_info to retrieve information from Desktop Commander without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

Verdict: **Allowed**. Enforced by the PolicyLayer MCP gateway (https://policylayer.com/mcp-gateway) before a call reaches Desktop Commander:

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "get_file_info": {}
  }
}
```

## Other tools on Desktop Commander (10)

- `force_terminate` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/desktop-commander/force-terminate.md
- `get_config` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/desktop-commander/get-config.md
- `get_recent_tool_calls` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/desktop-commander/get-recent-tool-calls.md
- `get_usage_stats` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/desktop-commander/get-usage-stats.md
- `kill_process` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/desktop-commander/kill-process.md
- `list_processes` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/desktop-commander/list-processes.md
- `list_searches` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/desktop-commander/list-searches.md
- `create_directory` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/desktop-commander/create-directory.md
- `move_file` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/desktop-commander/move-file.md
- `set_config_value` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/desktop-commander/set-config-value.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=desktop-commander · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/desktop-commander