# get_related_symbols

Find symbols related via co-location (same file), shared importers, and name similarity. Use when exploring a symbol to discover sibling code. For call-graph relationships use get_call_graph instead; for all usages use find_usages. Read-only. Returns JSON: { related: [{ symbol_id, name, kind, file, relation_type, score }] }.

Agent View of the PolicyLayer registry record for `get_related_symbols`. HTML page: https://policylayer.com/tools/nikolai-vysotskyi-trace-mcp/get-related-symbols

## Facts

- Tool: `get_related_symbols`
- Server: Trace (`nikolai-vysotskyi/trace-mcp`) — https://policylayer.com/tools/nikolai-vysotskyi-trace-mcp.md
- Homepage: https://github.com/nikolai-vysotskyi/trace-mcp
- 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": "get_related_symbols",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why get_related_symbols is rated Low

This tool retrieves and queries code structure information (related symbols, their locations, and relationships) to aid code navigation and understanding. It has no side effects, creates no state changes, and performs no operations. The explicit 'Read-only' designation and the return of informational JSON confirm this is a read operation with minimal blast radius if misused by an agent.

From the tool's own definition: "Tool description explicitly states 'Read-only' and 'Find symbols related via co-location... Use when exploring a symbol to discover sibling code.' The function returns JSON data about related symbols without modifying, executing, or deleting anything."

## Use case

AI agents call get_related_symbols to retrieve information from Trace 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 Trace:

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

## Other tools on Trace (190)

- `delete_corpus` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/nikolai-vysotskyi-trace-mcp/delete-corpus.md
- `remove_dead_code` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/nikolai-vysotskyi-trace-mcp/remove-dead-code.md
- `repair_index` — Destructive — https://policylayer.com/tools/nikolai-vysotskyi-trace-mcp/repair-index.md
- `call_project_tool` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/nikolai-vysotskyi-trace-mcp/call-project-tool.md
- `reindex` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/nikolai-vysotskyi-trace-mcp/reindex.md
- `visualize_graph` — Execute — https://policylayer.com/tools/nikolai-vysotskyi-trace-mcp/visualize-graph.md
- `analyze_perf` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/nikolai-vysotskyi-trace-mcp/analyze-perf.md
- `assess_change_risk` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/nikolai-vysotskyi-trace-mcp/assess-change-risk.md
- `audit_config` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/nikolai-vysotskyi-trace-mcp/audit-config.md
- `benchmark_project` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/nikolai-vysotskyi-trace-mcp/benchmark-project.md
- `check_architecture` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/nikolai-vysotskyi-trace-mcp/check-architecture.md
- `check_claudemd_drift` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/nikolai-vysotskyi-trace-mcp/check-claudemd-drift.md
- `check_duplication` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/nikolai-vysotskyi-trace-mcp/check-duplication.md
- `check_edit_safe` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/nikolai-vysotskyi-trace-mcp/check-edit-safe.md
- `check_embedding_drift` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/nikolai-vysotskyi-trace-mcp/check-embedding-drift.md
- `check_quality_gates` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/nikolai-vysotskyi-trace-mcp/check-quality-gates.md
- `check_rename` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/nikolai-vysotskyi-trace-mcp/check-rename.md
- `compare_branches` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/nikolai-vysotskyi-trace-mcp/compare-branches.md
- `detect_antipatterns` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/nikolai-vysotskyi-trace-mcp/detect-antipatterns.md
- `detect_ast_clones` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/nikolai-vysotskyi-trace-mcp/detect-ast-clones.md
- `detect_communities` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/nikolai-vysotskyi-trace-mcp/detect-communities.md
- `detect_drift` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/nikolai-vysotskyi-trace-mcp/detect-drift.md
- `detect_topic_tunnels` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/nikolai-vysotskyi-trace-mcp/detect-topic-tunnels.md
- `diff_graph_snapshots` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/nikolai-vysotskyi-trace-mcp/diff-graph-snapshots.md
- `discover_claude_sessions` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/nikolai-vysotskyi-trace-mcp/discover-claude-sessions.md
- `discover_hermes_sessions` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/nikolai-vysotskyi-trace-mcp/discover-hermes-sessions.md
- `embed_repo` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/nikolai-vysotskyi-trace-mcp/embed-repo.md
- `explain_architecture` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/nikolai-vysotskyi-trace-mcp/explain-architecture.md
- `explain_symbol` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/nikolai-vysotskyi-trace-mcp/explain-symbol.md
- `export_decisions` — Read — https://policylayer.com/tools/nikolai-vysotskyi-trace-mcp/export-decisions.md
- …and 160 more: https://policylayer.com/tools/nikolai-vysotskyi-trace-mcp.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=nikolai-vysotskyi-trace-mcp · API: https://policylayer.com/registry/api · Policy library: https://policylayer.com/policies/nikolai-vysotskyi-trace-mcp