Cross-repo package dependency analysis: find which registered projects depend on a package, or what packages a project publishes. Scans package.json/composer.json/pyproject.toml across all repos in the registry. Use for cross-project dependency mapping. For impact of upgrading a specific package ...
AI agents call get_package_deps to retrieve information from Trace without modifying anything — typically the context-gathering step in research, monitoring, and reporting workflows, before the agent takes action elsewhere.
This tool retrieves and queries dependency information from source code repositories without creating, modifying, deleting, executing code, or causing any side effects. It is purely a data retrieval and analysis mechanism for understanding package dependencies in a cross-repo context.
From the tool's definition Tool description explicitly states 'Read-only' and 'Scans package.json/composer.json/pyproject.toml across all repos' to 'find which registered projects depend on a package' and 'what packages a project publishes'. Returns JSON data without modification.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access get_package_deps gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Trace, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for get_package_deps:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"get_package_deps": {}
}
} get_package_deps is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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Cross-repo package dependency analysis: find which registered projects depend on a package, or what packages a project publishes. Scans package.json/composer.json/pyproject.toml across all repos in the registry. Use for cross-project dependency mapping. For impact of upgrading a specific package use plan_batch_change instead. Read-only. Returns JSON: { dependents, dependencies, package }. It is categorised as a Read tool in the Trace MCP Server, which means it retrieves data without modifying state.
Register the Trace MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for get_package_deps: 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 Trace. Nothing to install.
get_package_deps 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 get_package_deps 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 get_package_deps. 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.
get_package_deps is provided by the Trace MCP server (nikolai-vysotskyi/trace-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Deterministic rules across all 178 Trace tools. Per-identity grants. Full audit log. Live in minutes. Nothing to install.
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178 Trace tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 42,500+ MCP servers.