cherry-tool-guide

# Cherry Tool Guide Cherry Studio injects first-party tools into your session over four MCP servers (`mcp__cherry-tools__*`, `mcp__agent-memory__*`, `mcp__skills__*`, `mcp__mcp-manager__*`) and gives shell-capable general agents bundled runtimes for local execution. The MCP tools act on the running app — the user's knowledge bases, IM channels, schedules, managed CLIs, skill library, and MCP server registry — through boundaries only Cherry owns. Shell and file tools cannot reach those app boundaries correctly; use the bundled runtimes only for the local execution cases routed below. **This file is a router.** It carries only the global rules and the intent → tool → reference table. Each reference holds that domain's prerequisites, sequencing, conditional availability, output interpretation, recovery, and examples. Read the one reference the task needs (and any it cross-links to) before calling — don't work from this page alone. Tool names here are fully qualified (`mcp__server__tool`); the exact names exposed in your session are authoritative if they ever differ. This guide never restates argument shapes — **the live tool schema in your session is the authoritative source** for parameter names, enums, and required fields. Read it before every call. ## Global rules - **Check availability first.** Several tools are conditional (each reference says which). If a tool is not in your live tool list, its capability is unavailable *in this session* — say so honestly and stop; never pretend a call succeeded or fabricate a result. - **Don't reach around Cherry's mutation boundaries.** Knowledge bases, IM channels, schedules, managed CLIs, skills, and registered MCP servers are mutated only through these tools. Do not shell out to `npm install`, `git clone`, `crontab`, or hand-edit knowledge or MCP settings files to accomplish these — the tool does bookkeeping (registration, scoping, approval, sync) that a raw shell command skips. Shell is fine for *inspection* (e.g. `command -v` to probe PATH) — just not to perform the owned mutation. - **Honor approval.** `mcp__cherry-tools__kb_manage`, `mcp__cherry-tools__cli_install`, `mcp__cherry-tools__session_create`, `mcp__cherry-tools__session_send`, `mcp__skills__install_skill`, and `mcp__mcp-manager__install_mcp_server` are gated by the session's approval mode. Call them only once the user's intent is clear; if approval is declined, stop and report — do not retry the same effect through another route. - **Intent still gates auto-approved effects.** Memory writes, schedule changes, notifications, and agent/channel configuration may execute without an approval card. Do not call them merely because they are available; first make sure the user requested the effect or it is necessary to complete an already-approved task. ## Routing table | User intent | Route to | Reference | | --- | --- | --- | | Look up current/online facts, news, docs | `mcp__cherry-tools__web_search` → `mcp__cherry-tools__web_fetch` | [web.md](references/web.md) | | Browser interaction (click, forms, screenshots) | Automation REPL when Browser is enabled; load `cherry-browser` | [web.md](references/web.md) | | Native desktop applications (open, type, click, screenshots) | Automation REPL when Computer Use is enabled; load `cherry-computer` | [automation.md](references/automation.md) | | Answer from the user's own documents | `mcp__cherry-tools__kb_list` → `mcp__cherry-tools__kb_search` → `mcp__cherry-tools__kb_read` | [knowledge.md](references/knowledge.md) | | Add / delete / re-index knowledge | `mcp__cherry-tools__kb_manage` (resolve IDs first; needs approval) | [knowledge.md](references/knowledge.md) | | Read or convert a local document | `mcp__cherry-tools__to_markdown` → read the returned temporary Markdown path as needed | [documents.md](references/documents.md) | | Recall a past fact, correction, or preference | `mcp__agent-memory__memory` (`search`) before re-asking | [memory.md](references/memory.md) | | Save durable knowledge vs. a one-off event | `mcp__agent-memory__memory` (`update` vs. `append`) | [memory.md](references/memory.md) | | Schedule a recurring / future task | `mcp__cherry-tools__cron` (Cherry scheduling only) | [autonomy.md](references/autonomy.md) | | Proactively message the user or send a file | `mcp__cherry-tools__notify` (needs configured recipients) | [autonomy.md](references/autonomy.md) | | Inspect / connect / repair IM channels, rename agent | `mcp__cherry-tools__config` | [autonomy.md](references/autonomy.md) | | Find, create, message, or inspect work across Agent Sessions | `mcp__cherry-tools__session_list` / `session_search` / `session_create` / `session_send` / `session_deliveries` | [sessions.md](references/sessions.md) | | Generate an image | `mcp__cherry-tools__generate_image` (needs a painting model) | [outputs.md](references/outputs.md) | | Declare final deliverable file(s) | `mcp__cherry-tools__report_artifacts` | [outputs.md](references/outputs.md) | | Run JS/TS or Python, invoke a one-off package, search local code/files | bundled `bun`, `uv` / `uvx`, or `rg` according to task lifetime | [cli.md](references/cli.md) | | Find / install a command-line tool | `command -v` check → `mcp__cherry-tools__cli_list` → `mcp__cherry-tools__cli_search` → `mcp__cherry-tools__cli_install` (approval) | [cli.md](references/cli.md) | | Find / install a new capability skill | `mcp__skills__search_skills` → `mcp__skills__install_skill` (approval) | [skills.md](references/skills.md) | | Register a new MCP server the user supplied | `mcp__mcp-manager__install_mcp_server` (approval; never invent the config) | [mcp.md](references/mcp.md) | ## When a tool isn't there Two different situations, don't confuse them: - **The tool is absent from your live list** → the capability is unavailable this session (e.g. no knowledge base in scope, or CLI management disabled for a shell-less agent). Explain what's missing and what the user can do; don't work around it with shell/file tools. The reference for that domain says exactly when it can be absent. - **The tool is listed but reports a missing dependency** → e.g. `mcp__cherry-tools__generate_image` with no painting model. It stays listed and returns a note; relay the note and point the user at configuration — don't retry blindly or fake success. On any **tool error result** (bad ID, unsupported channel/file, invalid recipe), read the message and correct the call; don't silently retry the same arguments. On **declined approval**, stop and report — never re-attempt the mutation through a different route. ## Out of scope Not covered here: SDK-native `Read`/`Edit`/`Bash` and orchestration tools; *calling* the tools of a third-party (user-configured) MCP server — only registering one is in scope, see [mcp.md](references/mcp.md); the AI-SDK chat `read_file` attachment reader (a chat-path tool, not exposed on this MCP surface); and the role-specific `mcp__assistant__*` navigation/diagnosis tools, which belong to the Cherry Assistant and its own guide.