# launch_app

Launch an application by name. Lightweight — just activates the app without reading its accessibility tree.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `launch_app`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/launch-app

## Facts

- Tool: `launch_app`
- Server: AirMCP (`airmcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp.md
- Install: `npx -y airmcp`
- Homepage: https://github.com/heznpc/AirMCP
- 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": "launch_app",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why launch_app is rated High

Launch_app executes arbitrary application code on the user's system. While lightweight (no data access), the impact depends entirely on the argument—an AI agent given this tool could launch keyloggers, malware, or systemically dangerous applications. This is Execute rather than Write because it triggers external processes whose effects are not reversible and not limited to data mutation.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool launches an application by name — a direct action that triggers execution of external processes with side effects determined by which app is specified. Description confirms it 'activates the app', a runtime operation."

## Use case

AI agents invoke launch_app to trigger actions in AirMCP. 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 AirMCP:

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

## Other tools on AirMCP (278)

- `close_tab` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/close-tab.md
- `delete_contact` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/delete-contact.md
- `delete_event` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/delete-event.md
- `delete_note` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/delete-note.md
- `delete_photos` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/delete-photos.md
- `delete_playlist` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/delete-playlist.md
- `delete_reminder` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/delete-reminder.md
- `delete_reminder_list` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/delete-reminder-list.md
- `delete_shortcut` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/delete-shortcut.md
- `memory_forget` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/memory-forget.md
- `move_note` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/move-note.md
- `quit_app` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/quit-app.md
- `remove_from_playlist` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/remove-from-playlist.md
- `semantic_clear` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/semantic-clear.md
- `semantic_index` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/semantic-index.md
- `spotlight_clear` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/spotlight-clear.md
- `system_power` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/system-power.md
- `trash_file` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/trash-file.md
- `activate_tab` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/activate-tab.md
- `ai_agent` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/ai-agent.md
- `ai_chat` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/ai-chat.md
- `ai_plan_metrics` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/ai-plan-metrics.md
- `connect_bluetooth` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/connect-bluetooth.md
- `disconnect_bluetooth` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/disconnect-bluetooth.md
- `drop_pin` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/drop-pin.md
- `duplicate_shortcut` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/duplicate-shortcut.md
- `edit_shortcut` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/edit-shortcut.md
- `event_subscribe` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/event-subscribe.md
- `generate_image` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/generate-image.md
- `generate_structured` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp/generate-structured.md
- …and 248 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/heznpc-airmcp.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`

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