# 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-npm/checkout

## Facts

- Tool: `checkout`
- Server: Npm (`Dave-London/Pare`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-dave-london-npm.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/Dave-London/pare
- 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": "checkout",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why checkout is rated High

This tool switches git branches or restores working tree files, which triggers external git operations that change repository state. While not permanently destructive, switching branches or restoring files can overwrite uncommitted changes and alter the working environment in ways that are hard to reverse (e.g., discarding local modifications).

From the tool's own definition: "Switches branches or restores files... detached HEAD status... whether a new branch was created"

## Use case

AI agents invoke checkout to trigger actions in Npm. 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 Npm:

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

## Other tools on Npm (201)

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