# launch_desktop_app

Launch a desktop command or Flatpak app in the active Steam Deck desktop session.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `launch_desktop_app`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/mcp-control-plane/launch-desktop-app

## Facts

- Tool: `launch_desktop_app`
- Server: Mcp Control Plane (`albertik322-sudo/mcp-control-plane`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/mcp-control-plane.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/albertik322-sudo/mcp-control-plane
- 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": "launch_desktop_app",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why launch_desktop_app is rated High

This tool executes arbitrary commands or applications on a Steam Deck desktop session. An AI agent could use this to run malware, exfiltrate data, modify system settings, or compromise the device. The blast radius is critical because desktop command execution on a gaming/automation device can affect system integrity, data, and connected services.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool description states it 'Launch[es] a desktop command or Flatpak app in the active Steam Deck desktop session.' The verb 'launch' combined with ability to execute arbitrary 'desktop command' or app represents code/command execution whose effects depend on…"

## Use case

AI agents invoke launch_desktop_app to trigger actions in Mcp Control Plane. 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 Mcp Control Plane:

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

## Other tools on Mcp Control Plane (285)

- `request_durable_task_cancel` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/mcp-control-plane/request-durable-task-cancel.md
- `steam_rom_manager_cli` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/mcp-control-plane/steam-rom-manager-cli.md
- `steam_rom_manager_nuke` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/mcp-control-plane/steam-rom-manager-nuke.md
- `steam_rom_manager_remove` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/mcp-control-plane/steam-rom-manager-remove.md
- `activate_window` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mcp-control-plane/activate-window.md
- `admin_run` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mcp-control-plane/admin-run.md
- `api_sentence` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mcp-control-plane/api-sentence.md
- `apply_unified_patch_remote` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mcp-control-plane/apply-unified-patch-remote.md
- `apt_maintenance` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mcp-control-plane/apt-maintenance.md
- `call_service` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mcp-control-plane/call-service.md
- `click` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mcp-control-plane/click.md
- `click_at` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mcp-control-plane/click-at.md
- `click_in_window` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mcp-control-plane/click-in-window.md
- `comfy_generate_from_asset` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mcp-control-plane/comfy-generate-from-asset.md
- `comfy_interrupt` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mcp-control-plane/comfy-interrupt.md
- `comfy_restart` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mcp-control-plane/comfy-restart.md
- `deck_exec` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mcp-control-plane/deck-exec.md
- `deck_probe` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mcp-control-plane/deck-probe.md
- `dns_test` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mcp-control-plane/dns-test.md
- `docker_compose` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mcp-control-plane/docker-compose.md
- `docker_container_action` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mcp-control-plane/docker-container-action.md
- `docker_exec` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mcp-control-plane/docker-exec.md
- `double_click` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mcp-control-plane/double-click.md
- `drag_to` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mcp-control-plane/drag-to.md
- `focus_window_win32` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mcp-control-plane/focus-window-win32.md
- `hold_key` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mcp-control-plane/hold-key.md
- `hotkey` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mcp-control-plane/hotkey.md
- `install_flatpak_emulators` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mcp-control-plane/install-flatpak-emulators.md
- `key_down` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mcp-control-plane/key-down.md
- `key_up` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/mcp-control-plane/key-up.md
- …and 255 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/mcp-control-plane.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=mcp-control-plane · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/mcp-control-plane