# read_resource

Read additional files from an installed skill (resources/, scripts/, templates/, etc.). Use after skills:find with depth=3 to see available files.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `read_resource`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/read-resource

## Facts

- Tool: `read_resource`
- Server: Ncp (`@portel/ncp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp.md
- Install: `npx -y @portel/ncp`
- Homepage: https://github.com/portel-dev/ncp
- 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": "read_resource",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why read_resource is rated Low

This tool retrieves and queries file contents from skill directories. It performs no modifications, deletions, or external operations—purely informational access. The low severity reflects minimal blast radius if misused: an AI agent could read sensitive internal files, but cannot modify or delete them. The high confidence reflects clear evidence in both the tool name and explicit description.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool name is 'read_resource' and description explicitly states 'Read additional files from an installed skill'."

## Use case

AI agents call read_resource to retrieve information from Ncp 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 Ncp:

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

## Other tools on Ncp (274)

- `backup` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/backup.md
- `bulk_delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/bulk-delete.md
- `delete` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/delete.md
- `delete_event` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/delete-event.md
- `delete_key` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/delete-key.md
- `delete_memory` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/delete-memory.md
- `purge_cache` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/purge-cache.md
- `remove` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/remove.md
- `remove_container` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/remove-container.md
- `write_query` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/write-query.md
- `apply` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/apply.md
- `apply_manifest` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/apply-manifest.md
- `build_image` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/build-image.md
- `build_job` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/build-job.md
- `bulk_operations` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/bulk-operations.md
- `click_element` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/click-element.md
- `clone` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/clone.md
- `connect` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/connect.md
- `consume` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/consume.md
- `create_completion` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/create-completion.md
- `create_context` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/create-context.md
- `create_image` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/create-image.md
- `create_prediction` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/create-prediction.md
- `create_video` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/create-video.md
- `deploy` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/deploy.md
- `deploy_project` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/deploy-project.md
- `deploy_server` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/deploy-server.md
- `deploy_site` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/deploy-site.md
- `exec` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/exec.md
- `exec_async` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp/exec-async.md
- …and 244 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/io-github-portel-dev-ncp.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-portel-dev-ncp · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/io-github-portel-dev-ncp