MCP Tools

MCP tools are a core feature of SystemPrompt that enable the AI to perform specific actions and access external systems. Each tool exposes functionality that can be invoked by the AI (with your permission) to complete tasks that would otherwise be impossible.

What Are MCP Tools?

MCP tools are functions that:

• Are exposed by MCP servers to perform specific actions
• Have well-defined inputs and outputs
• Require explicit user permission before execution
• Can interact with external services and APIs
• Enable complex, multi-step workflows

When you ask SystemPrompt to perform a task, it analyzes your request and determines which tools might be helpful. The AI then requests permission to use these tools, and only proceeds after receiving your approval.

Available Tool Categories

SystemPrompt provides tools across several categories:

Communication Tools

• Email Management: Send emails, organize inbox, draft responses
• Message Composition: Create well-structured messages for various platforms
• Comment Generation: Draft comments for social media and forums
• Response Templates: Generate contextually appropriate responses

Content Management Tools

• File Operations: Create, read, update, and organize files
• Document Manipulation: Extract information, format documents, convert formats
• Media Processing: Basic image operations and metadata extraction
• Content Summarization: Create concise summaries of various content types

Information Retrieval Tools

• Web Search: Find relevant information online
• Platform-Specific Search: Search within Reddit, Notion, etc.
• Knowledge Base Access: Query structured information sources
• Data Extraction: Pull specific data points from various sources

Productivity Tools

• Task Management: Create and organize tasks
• Scheduling: Set reminders and manage calendars
• Data Organization: Structure information into useful formats
• Workflow Automation: Chain multiple tools together for complex processes

How Tools Work

The lifecycle of a tool execution in SystemPrompt follows these steps:

1. Request Analysis: SystemPrompt analyzes your request to determine which tools might help
2. Permission Request: You're shown which tool(s) SystemPrompt wants to use and why
3. Parameter Collection: SystemPrompt gathers any required information for the tool
4. Tool Execution: After approval, the tool performs its action via the MCP server
5. Result Processing: SystemPrompt incorporates the tool's output into its response
6. Result Presentation: You receive the final output, including any tool results

Tool Permissions

SystemPrompt implements a human-in-the-loop security model for all tool executions:

Permission Levels

• Read Operations: Access information without modifying anything
• Write Operations: Create or modify content with explicit approval
• Sensitive Operations: Actions that involve personal data or external services

Permission Interface

When SystemPrompt needs to use a tool, you'll see a permission request like this:

The permission request includes:

• The name of the tool
• What action will be performed
• What parameters will be used
• An option to approve or deny

Best Practices for Using Tools

To get the most out of SystemPrompt's tools:

1. Be Specific: Clearly describe what you want to accomplish
2. Provide Context: Include relevant details that tools might need
3. Start Simple: Begin with basic requests before trying complex workflows
4. Check Permissions: Review tool permissions carefully before approving
5. Give Feedback: Let SystemPrompt know if tools aren't doing what you expect

Examples of Tool Usage

Here are some examples of how to effectively use SystemPrompt's tools:

Reddit Research Example

"Find the most upvoted posts about AI voice assistants on Reddit from the past month, 
and create a summary document with the key points and trends."

This request might use:

• Reddit search tool to find relevant posts
• Content analysis tool to identify key points
• Summarization tool to create the document
• File system tool to save the summary

Email Management Example

"Check my Gmail for any unread emails from my boss, summarize them,
and draft reply templates for each one."

This request might use:

• Gmail integration tool to search emails
• Content analysis tool to understand email content
• Response generation tool to create draft replies

File Organization Example

"Find all PDF files in my Downloads folder, create a new folder called 'Documents',
and move them there, organized by creation date."

This request might use:

• File system tool to search for PDFs
• File system tool to create directory
• File system tool to move and organize files