Tool Filtering

Tool Filtering

AI IDEs like Cursor have tool limits. With 204 tools available, you must use tool filtering to stay within your IDE's limits.

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How It Works

The --tool-filter argument accepts shortcuts, groups, or tool names. Mix and match freely.

# Use a preset
--tool-filter starter

# Combine groups
--tool-filter core,jsonb,transactions

# Extend a preset
--tool-filter starter,+text

# Remove specific tools
--tool-filter starter,-pg_drop_table

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Shortcuts (Predefined Bundles)

All shortcuts include Code Mode (pg_execute_code) by default.

Shortcut	Tools	Use Case	Includes
starter	58	🌟 Recommended	Core, transactions, JSONB, schema
essential	46	Minimal footprint	Core, transactions, JSONB
dev-power	53	Power Developer	Core, transactions, schema, stats, partitioning
ai-data	59	AI Data Analyst	Core, JSONB, text, transactions
ai-vector	48	AI/ML with pgvector	Core, vector, transactions, partitioning
dba-monitor	58	DBA Monitoring	Core, monitoring, performance, transactions
dba-manage	57	DBA Management	Core, admin, backup, partitioning, schema
dba-stats	56	DBA Stats/Security	Core, admin, monitoring, transactions, stats
geo	42	Geospatial Workloads	Core, PostGIS, transactions
base-core	58	Base Building Block	Core, JSONB, transactions, schema
base-ops	51	Operations Block	Admin, monitoring, backup, partitioning, stats, citext
ext-ai	25	Extension: AI/Security	pgvector, pgcrypto
ext-geo	24	Extension: Spatial	PostGIS, ltree
ext-schedule	19	Extension: Scheduling	pg_cron, pg_partman
ext-perf	28	Extension: Perf/Analysis	pg_stat_kcache, performance

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Tool Groups (20 Available)

All groups include Code Mode by default.

Group	Tools	Description
core	21	Read/write queries, tables, indexes, convenience/drop tools
transactions	8	BEGIN, COMMIT, ROLLBACK, savepoints
jsonb	20	JSONB manipulation and queries
text	14	Full-text search, fuzzy matching
performance	21	EXPLAIN, query analysis, optimization
admin	11	VACUUM, ANALYZE, REINDEX
monitoring	12	Database sizes, connections, status
backup	10	pg_dump, COPY, restore
schema	13	Schemas, views, sequences, functions, triggers
partitioning	7	Native partition management
stats	9	Statistical analysis
vector	16	pgvector (AI/ML similarity search)
postgis	16	PostGIS (geospatial)
cron	9	pg_cron (job scheduling)
partman	11	pg_partman (auto-partitioning)
kcache	8	pg_stat_kcache (OS-level stats)
citext	7	citext (case-insensitive text)
ltree	9	ltree (hierarchical data)
pgcrypto	10	pgcrypto (encryption, UUIDs)
codemode	1	Code Mode (sandboxed code execution)

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Syntax Reference

Prefix	Target	Example	Effect
(none)	Shortcut	starter	Whitelist Mode: Enable ONLY this shortcut
(none)	Group	core	Whitelist Mode: Enable ONLY this group
+	Group	+vector	Add tools from this group to current set
-	Group	-admin	Remove tools in this group from current set
+	Tool	+pg_explain	Add one specific tool
-	Tool	-pg_drop_table	Remove one specific tool

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Common Configurations

General Purpose (58 tools)

{
  "args": ["--tool-filter", "starter"]
}

AI/ML with Vector Search (48 tools)

{
  "args": ["--tool-filter", "ai-vector"]
}

Geospatial Workloads (42 tools)

{
  "args": ["--tool-filter", "geo"]
}

Starter + Full-Text Search (69 tools)

{
  "args": ["--tool-filter", "starter,+text"]
}

Non-Admin Users (No Code Mode)

If you don't have admin access or prefer individual tool calls:

{
  "args": ["--tool-filter", "starter,-codemode"]
}

Extension-Only (pg_cron + pgcrypto)

{
  "args": ["--tool-filter", "cron,pgcrypto"]
}

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Excluding Code Mode

Code Mode requires the admin OAuth scope. To exclude it from any configuration:

--tool-filter starter,-codemode
--tool-filter cron,pgcrypto,-codemode

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Legacy Syntax

If you start with a negative filter (e.g., -base,-extensions), the system assumes you want all tools enabled first, then subtracts. This is still supported but not recommended.

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Related

• Code-Mode - Full Code Mode documentation
• Quick-Start - Installation and first steps