# adb_start_app

Launch an app by package name (resolves and starts the default launcher activity)

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `adb_start_app`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-fullread-deepadb/adb-start-app

## Facts

- Tool: `adb_start_app`
- Server: Deepadb (`deepadb`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-fullread-deepadb.md
- Install: `npx -y deepadb`
- Homepage: https://github.com/fullread/DeepADB
- 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": "adb_start_app",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why adb_start_app is rated High

Starting an app is an Execute action because it triggers the launch of an external process/activity whose effects depend on which app is specified and its permissions/behaviors. While not destructive or financial in itself, it can cause significant side effects (data access, network connections, resource consumption, user interaction hijacking) depending on the target app.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool launches an app by package name, resolving and starting the default launcher activity. This is explicit code/application execution triggered by the tool invocation."

## Use case

AI agents invoke adb_start_app to trigger actions in Deepadb. 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 Deepadb:

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

## Other tools on Deepadb (204)

- `adb_clear_data` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-fullread-deepadb/adb-clear-data.md
- `adb_file_move` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-fullread-deepadb/adb-file-move.md
- `adb_forward_remove` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-fullread-deepadb/adb-forward-remove.md
- `adb_logcat_clear` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-fullread-deepadb/adb-logcat-clear.md
- `adb_qemu_images` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-fullread-deepadb/adb-qemu-images.md
- `adb_result_drop` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-fullread-deepadb/adb-result-drop.md
- `adb_reverse_remove` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-fullread-deepadb/adb-reverse-remove.md
- `adb_rm` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-fullread-deepadb/adb-rm.md
- `adb_tunnel_close` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-fullread-deepadb/adb-tunnel-close.md
- `adb_uninstall` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-fullread-deepadb/adb-uninstall.md
- `adb_a11y_audit` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-fullread-deepadb/adb-a11y-audit.md
- `adb_airplane_cycle` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-fullread-deepadb/adb-airplane-cycle.md
- `adb_airplane_mode` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-fullread-deepadb/adb-airplane-mode.md
- `adb_at_batch` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-fullread-deepadb/adb-at-batch.md
- `adb_at_probe` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-fullread-deepadb/adb-at-probe.md
- `adb_at_send` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-fullread-deepadb/adb-at-send.md
- `adb_batch_actions` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-fullread-deepadb/adb-batch-actions.md
- `adb_build_and_install` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-fullread-deepadb/adb-build-and-install.md
- `adb_ci_run_tests` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-fullread-deepadb/adb-ci-run-tests.md
- `adb_ci_wait_boot` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-fullread-deepadb/adb-ci-wait-boot.md
- `adb_connect` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-fullread-deepadb/adb-connect.md
- `adb_disconnect` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-fullread-deepadb/adb-disconnect.md
- `adb_dumpsys` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-fullread-deepadb/adb-dumpsys.md
- `adb_emulator_start` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-fullread-deepadb/adb-emulator-start.md
- `adb_emulator_stop` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-fullread-deepadb/adb-emulator-stop.md
- `adb_farm_run` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-fullread-deepadb/adb-farm-run.md
- `adb_file_chmod` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-fullread-deepadb/adb-file-chmod.md
- `adb_file_chown` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-fullread-deepadb/adb-file-chown.md
- `adb_force_stop` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-fullread-deepadb/adb-force-stop.md
- `adb_forward` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-fullread-deepadb/adb-forward.md
- …and 174 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-fullread-deepadb.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-fullread-deepadb · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/io-github-fullread-deepadb
