# get_session_snapshot

Compact session snapshot (~200 tokens) for context recovery after compaction. Returns focus files (by read count), edited files, key searches, and dead ends. Also used by the PreCompact hook to preserve session orientation automatically. Read-only. For full journal use get_session_journal; for cross-session context use get_wake_up with scope:

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

## Facts

- Tool: `get_session_snapshot`
- 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_session_snapshot",
    "arguments": {}
  }
}
```

## Why get_session_snapshot is rated Low

Retrieves session metadata and context information without side effects or state modification.

From the tool's own definition: "Compact session snapshot, read-only, returns focus files, edited files, key searches."

## Use case

AI agents call get_session_snapshot 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_session_snapshot": {}
  }
}
```

## 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