# check_skill_freshness

Check if registered skills are stale by comparing current source file hashes

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `check_skill_freshness`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-homenshum-nodebench/check-skill-freshness

## Facts

- Tool: `check_skill_freshness`
- Server: Nodebench (`nodebench-mcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-homenshum-nodebench.md
- Install: `npx -y nodebench-mcp`
- Homepage: https://github.com/HomenShum/nodebench-ai
- Risk category: Read (Low risk)
- Registry record: grade F, identity unverified
- Server rate-limited: no
- Parameters: 0
- Recommended policy verdict: Allowed

## Example call (MCP tools/call, JSON-RPC 2.0)

```json
{
  "jsonrpc": "2.0",
  "id": 1,
  "method": "tools/call",
  "params": {
    "name": "check_skill_freshness",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why check_skill_freshness is rated Low

This tool performs a read-only comparison operation. It checks the state of skill registrations by comparing hashes, which is intrinsically a data retrieval and analysis task with no side effects. There is no code execution, data modification, deletion, or financial impact. The blast radius of misuse is minimal—at worst, an agent receives stale/false information about skill status.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool description states it 'Check[s] if registered skills are stale by comparing current source file hashes' — this is a comparison/query operation that retrieves hash information and performs analysis without modifying, deleting, or executing external code."

## Use case

AI agents call check_skill_freshness to retrieve information from Nodebench without modifying anything. It is typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.

## Recommended policy (PolicyLayer)

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

```json
{
  "version": "1",
  "default": "deny",
  "tools": {
    "check_skill_freshness": {}
  }
}
```

## Other tools on Nodebench (823)

- `abandon_cycle` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-homenshum-nodebench/abandon-cycle.md
- `archiveDocument` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-homenshum-nodebench/archivedocument.md
- `cleanup_stale_runs` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-homenshum-nodebench/cleanup-stale-runs.md
- `deeptrace_revoke_passport` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-homenshum-nodebench/deeptrace-revoke-passport.md
- `delete_learning` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-homenshum-nodebench/delete-learning.md
- `delete_sandbox_policy` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-homenshum-nodebench/delete-sandbox-policy.md
- `deleteAgentMemory` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-homenshum-nodebench/deleteagentmemory.md
- `removeDocumentFromFolder` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-homenshum-nodebench/removedocumentfromfolder.md
- `share_revoke_packet_link` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-homenshum-nodebench/share-revoke-packet-link.md
- `unload_toolset` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-homenshum-nodebench/unload-toolset.md
- `benchmark_models` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-homenshum-nodebench/benchmark-models.md
- `bootstrap_parallel_agents` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-homenshum-nodebench/bootstrap-parallel-agents.md
- `build_banking_packet` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-homenshum-nodebench/build-banking-packet.md
- `build_company_profile_starter` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-homenshum-nodebench/build-company-profile-starter.md
- `build_founder_operating_model` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-homenshum-nodebench/build-founder-operating-model.md
- `build_research_digest` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-homenshum-nodebench/build-research-digest.md
- `build_shared_context_subscription` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-homenshum-nodebench/build-shared-context-subscription.md
- `build_shared_context_subscription_manifest` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-homenshum-nodebench/build-shared-context-subscription-manifest.md
- `build_submission_export` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-homenshum-nodebench/build-submission-export.md
- `build_temporal_graph` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-homenshum-nodebench/build-temporal-graph.md
- `burst_capture` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-homenshum-nodebench/burst-capture.md
- `call_driver_tool` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-homenshum-nodebench/call-driver-tool.md
- `call_llm` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-homenshum-nodebench/call-llm.md
- `call_openclaw_skill` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-homenshum-nodebench/call-openclaw-skill.md
- `call_webmcp_tool` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-homenshum-nodebench/call-webmcp-tool.md
- `capture_surface_stats` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-homenshum-nodebench/capture-surface-stats.md
- `capture_ui_screenshot` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-homenshum-nodebench/capture-ui-screenshot.md
- `compile_decision_packet` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-homenshum-nodebench/compile-decision-packet.md
- `compile_scenarios` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-homenshum-nodebench/compile-scenarios.md
- `compile_tension_model` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-homenshum-nodebench/compile-tension-model.md
- …and 793 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-homenshum-nodebench.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-homenshum-nodebench · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/io-github-homenshum-nodebench