# checkout

Switches branches or restores files. Returns structured data with ref, previous ref, whether a new branch was created, and detached HEAD status. Pass

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `checkout`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-go/checkout

## Facts

- Tool: `checkout`
- Server: Go (`Dave-London/Pare`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-go.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/Dave-London/pare
- Risk category: Write (Medium 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": "checkout",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why checkout is rated Medium

Switching branches changes which commit is checked out, and restoring files overwrites local modifications. These are reversible write operations (you can switch back or restore from other commits), not read-only queries. They are not destructive in the strict sense (data isn't permanently deleted from the repo history) and not execute operations that run arbitrary code.

From the tool's own definition: "Switches branches or restores files. This modifies the working directory state: branch changes alter the checked-out code, and file restoration overwrites local changes."

## Use case

AI agents use checkout to create or update resources in Go, usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Go environment.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

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

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "checkout": {
      "limits": [
        {
          "counter": "checkout_rate",
          "window": "minute",
          "max": 30,
          "scope": "grant"
        }
      ]
    }
  }
}
```

## Other tools on Go (201)

- `branch` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-go/branch.md
- `clean` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-go/clean.md
- `package-clean` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-go/package-clean.md
- `remove` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-go/remove.md
- `reset` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-go/reset.md
- `secret-delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-go/secret-delete.md
- `tag` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-go/tag.md
- `variable-delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-go/variable-delete.md
- `workspace` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-go/workspace.md
- `add` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-go/add.md
- `add-package` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-go/add-package.md
- `ansible-galaxy` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-go/ansible-galaxy.md
- `ansible-playbook` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-go/ansible-playbook.md
- `api` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-go/api.md
- `apply` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-go/apply.md
- `bazel` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-go/bazel.md
- `bisect` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-go/bisect.md
- `black` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-go/black.md
- `build` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-go/build.md
- `bundle-exec` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-go/bundle-exec.md
- `bundle-install` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-go/bundle-install.md
- `check` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-go/check.md
- `cherry-pick` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-go/cherry-pick.md
- `clippy` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-go/clippy.md
- `cmake` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-go/cmake.md
- `compose-build` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-go/compose-build.md
- `compose-down` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-go/compose-down.md
- `compose-up` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-go/compose-up.md
- `conda` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-go/conda.md
- `coverage` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-go/coverage.md
- …and 171 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-go.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=io-github-dave-london-go · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/io-github-dave-london-go