# query_things

Read thing data. action: all (list all), get (by UID), status (status info).

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `query_things`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/deswong-openhab-mcp/query-things

## Facts

- Tool: `query_things`
- Server: Openhab (`deswong/openhab-mcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/deswong-openhab-mcp.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/deswong/Openhab-MCP
- 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": "query_things",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why query_things is rated Low

This tool retrieves or queries thing configuration and status data without creating, modifying, or deleting any resources. It has no irreversible effects and does not execute arbitrary code or trigger external operations. The blast radius of misuse is minimal — an agent could gather information about home automation devices but cannot control or alter them.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool description states 'Read thing data' with actions 'all (list all), get (by UID), status (status info)' — all are read-only query operations with no modification or side effects."

## Use case

AI agents call query_things to retrieve information from Openhab 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 Openhab:

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

## Other tools on Openhab (24)

- `manage_item` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/deswong-openhab-mcp/manage-item.md
- `manage_rule` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/deswong-openhab-mcp/manage-rule.md
- `manage_thing` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/deswong-openhab-mcp/manage-thing.md
- `manage_ui` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/deswong-openhab-mcp/manage-ui.md
- `automation` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/deswong-openhab-mcp/automation.md
- `control_media` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/deswong-openhab-mcp/control-media.md
- `execute_batch` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/deswong-openhab-mcp/execute-batch.md
- `manage_system` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/deswong-openhab-mcp/manage-system.md
- `remediate` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/deswong-openhab-mcp/remediate.md
- `schedule_command` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/deswong-openhab-mcp/schedule-command.md
- `send_command` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/deswong-openhab-mcp/send-command.md
- `analyze_home` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/deswong-openhab-mcp/analyze-home.md
- `diagnose_item` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/deswong-openhab-mcp/diagnose-item.md
- `generate_home_blueprint` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/deswong-openhab-mcp/generate-home-blueprint.md
- `get_system_summary` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/deswong-openhab-mcp/get-system-summary.md
- `initial_discovery` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/deswong-openhab-mcp/initial-discovery.md
- `manage_logs` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/deswong-openhab-mcp/manage-logs.md
- `mcp_status` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/deswong-openhab-mcp/mcp-status.md
- `query_items` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/deswong-openhab-mcp/query-items.md
- `query_rules` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/deswong-openhab-mcp/query-rules.md
- `resolve_item` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/deswong-openhab-mcp/resolve-item.md
- `manage_link` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/deswong-openhab-mcp/manage-link.md
- `manage_persistence` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/deswong-openhab-mcp/manage-persistence.md
- `manage_scene` — Write — https://policylayer.com/tools/deswong-openhab-mcp/manage-scene.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=deswong-openhab-mcp · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/deswong-openhab-mcp