Per-module tech debt score (A–F grade) combining: complexity, coupling instability, test coverage gaps, and git churn. Includes actionable recommendations. Use for architecture review and prioritizing cleanup. Read-only. Returns JSON: { modules: [{ module, grade, score, factors, recommendations }...
AI agents call get_tech_debt 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 computed metrics (tech debt scores, complexity, coupling, test coverage) about source code modules. It performs analysis and returns structured data without modifying code, executing commands, or triggering side effects. The 'read-only' designation confirms no state changes occur.
From the tool's definition Tool description explicitly states 'Read-only' and 'Returns JSON' with analytics data (tech debt scores, grades, factors, recommendations). No write, execute, delete, or financial operations.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access get_tech_debt 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_tech_debt:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"get_tech_debt": {}
}
}get_tech_debt is read-only, so it stays allowed — but everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
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Per-module tech debt score (A–F grade) combining: complexity, coupling instability, test coverage gaps, and git churn. Includes actionable recommendations. Use for architecture review and prioritizing cleanup. Read-only. Returns JSON: { modules: [{ module, grade, score, factors, recommendations }] }. 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_tech_debt: 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_tech_debt 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_tech_debt 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_tech_debt. 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_tech_debt 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.