pip-show
Runs pip show and returns structured package metadata (name, version, summary, dependencies). Supports multiple packages in a single call.
This record as markdown: /tools/io-github-dave-london-pare-python/pip-show.md
What pip-show does on Python
AI agents call pip-show to retrieve information from Python without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
| Parameter | Type | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
path | string | — | Working directory |
files | boolean | — | List installed files for the package (-f, --files) |
compact | boolean | — | Prefer compact output |
package | string | — | Single package name to show (for backward compatibility) |
packages | array | — | Package names to show (supports multiple packages) |
Parameters from the server's own tool schema.
Why pip-show is rated Low
pip show is a standard package inspection command that retrieves metadata about installed Python packages. It performs no modifications, deletions, or code execution—only information retrieval. Even with multiple packages queried simultaneously, the operation remains purely informational with no capacity for harm. This is a straightforward Read category tool.
From the tool's definition Tool 'runs pip show and returns structured package metadata' - pip show is a read-only operation that queries installed package information without modifying, deleting, or executing code.
Risk signalsAccepts file system path (path)
Attacks that exploit this kind of access
The rule that runs pip-show safely
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway: it sits between your AI agents and Python, and checks every tool call against a rule you set before the call runs. Nothing changes on the server itself. For pip-show, this is the rule to start with:
pip-show is read-only, so it stays allowed. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
The button opens the PolicyLayer dashboard: create your workspace, connect Python, apply this rule, and every pip-show call is checked against it from then on.
Questions about pip-show
Runs pip show and returns structured package metadata (name, version, summary, dependencies). Supports multiple packages in a single call. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Python MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
pip-show accepts 5 parameters: path, files, compact, package, packages. The full parameter table on this page comes from the server's own tool schema.
Register the Python MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for pip-show: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches Python. Nothing to install.
pip-show is a Read tool with low risk. Read-only tools are generally safe to allow by default.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the pip-show rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for pip-show. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.
pip-show is provided by the Python MCP server (Dave-London/Pare). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
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