# start_runtime

Use this to start a Genkit runtime process (This is typically the entry point to the users app). Once started, the runtime will be picked up by the \

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `start_runtime`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/firebase-genkit/start-runtime

## Facts

- Tool: `start_runtime`
- Server: Genkit MCP (`genkit-ai/genkit`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/firebase-genkit.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/genkit-ai/genkit
- 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_runtime",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why start_runtime is rated High

Starting a runtime process is an Execute action—it triggers the execution of arbitrary application code whose effects depend entirely on what that runtime does. While not immediately destructive, the blast radius is high because a misconfigured or compromised runtime could execute harmful operations.

From the tool's own definition: "'start a Genkit runtime process' and 'entry point to the users app' indicate launching/executing code that triggers external operations with effects dependent on what the runtime does."

## Use case

AI agents invoke start_runtime to trigger actions in Genkit MCP. 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 Genkit MCP:

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

## Other tools on Genkit MCP (71)

- `removeTask` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/firebase-genkit/removetask.md
- `characterGenerator` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/firebase-genkit/charactergenerator.md
- `delegate_to_coder` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/firebase-genkit/delegate-to-coder.md
- `delegate_to_researcher` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/firebase-genkit/delegate-to-researcher.md
- `run_flow` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/firebase-genkit/run-flow.md
- `run_shell` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/firebase-genkit/run-shell.md
- `screenshot` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/firebase-genkit/screenshot.md
- `slowWork` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/firebase-genkit/slowwork.md
- `transferToAgent` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/firebase-genkit/transfertoagent.md
- `use_skill` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/firebase-genkit/use-skill.md
- `processPayment` — Financial — https://policylayer.com/tools/firebase-genkit/processpayment.md
- `request_transfer` — Financial — https://policylayer.com/tools/firebase-genkit/request-transfer.md
- `reservationTool` — Financial — https://policylayer.com/tools/firebase-genkit/reservationtool.md
- `transferMoney` — Financial — https://policylayer.com/tools/firebase-genkit/transfermoney.md
- `add` — Other — https://policylayer.com/tools/firebase-genkit/add.md
- `askQuestion` — Other — https://policylayer.com/tools/firebase-genkit/askquestion.md
- `datePicker` — Other — https://policylayer.com/tools/firebase-genkit/datepicker.md
- `error_tool` — Other — https://policylayer.com/tools/firebase-genkit/error-tool.md
- `exitTool` — Other — https://policylayer.com/tools/firebase-genkit/exittool.md
- `gablorken` — Other — https://policylayer.com/tools/firebase-genkit/gablorken.md
- `test_http` — Other — https://policylayer.com/tools/firebase-genkit/test-http.md
- `account_record` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/firebase-genkit/account-record.md
- `ask_user` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/firebase-genkit/ask-user.md
- `celsiusToFahrenheit` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/firebase-genkit/celsiustofahrenheit.md
- `confirmBooking` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/firebase-genkit/confirmbooking.md
- `current_weather` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/firebase-genkit/current-weather.md
- `dailySpecial` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/firebase-genkit/dailyspecial.md
- `dynamicGablorkenTool` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/firebase-genkit/dynamicgablorkentool.md
- `echo_meta_tool` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/firebase-genkit/echo-meta-tool.md
- `fetchCatalog` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/firebase-genkit/fetchcatalog.md
- …and 41 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/firebase-genkit.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=firebase-genkit · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/firebase-genkit