Tools Reference
All 40 SignalPilot MCP tools across 9 categories. The catalog below groups every tool by category (click a category for full parameter and example documentation). The Tools by workflow stage section then maps the same tools onto the four stages of a governed dbt/SQL run — Scan/Map, Explore/Research, Write, and Verify.
Tools by workflow stage
The dbt-workflow skill's steps collapse into four stages. Some scan/map and value-check operations run as bundled plugin CLI scripts (scan_project.py, validate_project.py, map-columns, verify-values) rather than MCP tools; the tables below list the MCP tools used at each stage by exact name. A tool can appear in more than one stage.
Scan / Map
Establish the shape of the database and project before writing anything: connections, table inventory, FK map, and data-driven date boundaries.
| Tool | Role in this stage |
|---|---|
get_knowledge | Load baseline org/project knowledge before the scan |
list_database_connections | Confirm the target connection exists by name |
connection_health | Confirm the connection is reachable before querying |
list_tables | Enumerate available tables in the connection |
schema_overview | High-level shape: table count, rows, FK density, hub tables |
schema_statistics | Aggregate table sizes and FK connectivity |
get_relationships | FK/ERD map of the project |
get_date_boundaries | Data-driven date floor/ceiling (replaces current_date hazards) |
Plugin CLI in this stage: scan_project.py, validate_project.py.
Explore / Research
Confirm grain, discover categorical vocabularies, derive join paths, and preview JOIN behavior before committing to SQL.
| Tool | Role in this stage |
|---|---|
query_database | COUNT(*) / COUNT(DISTINCT key) for grain; SELECT DISTINCT on status/flag columns |
explore_table | Deep-dive an upstream table's columns, FK refs, and samples |
explore_columns | Inspect specific columns' types, stats, and samples |
explore_column | Distinct values for a single categorical column (drives CASE WHEN vocabulary) |
describe_table | Column types and nullability for an upstream |
schema_link | Find tables relevant to the task question (NL → schema) |
find_join_path | Derive multi-table join paths |
analyze_grain | Confirm candidate-key uniqueness / fan-out on upstreams |
compare_join_types | Preview INNER/LEFT/RIGHT/FULL row counts to choose the JOIN |
query_history | Reuse prior successful query patterns |
search_knowledge | Pull task-relevant prior research |
Write
Scaffold the model, validate and cost-check SQL against the live schema, and parse build errors while iterating.
| Tool | Role in this stage |
|---|---|
generate_sql_skeleton | Scaffold a model's SQL shape from its YML column list |
validate_sql | Syntax/semantic check against live schema before materializing |
explain_query | Plan check before running |
estimate_query_cost | Dry-run cost guardrail on expensive queries |
check_budget | Remaining session query budget |
query_database | Spot-check intermediate logic while building |
debug_cte_query | Localize errors inside a WITH query during build |
dbt_error_parser | Turn dbt run/parse stderr into a structured fix |
Plugin CLI in this stage: map-columns, then dbt run --select <models>.
Verify
Post-build checks against YML contract and source data: column match, row counts, aggregate values, grain, and JOIN diagnosis.
| Tool | Role in this stage |
|---|---|
check_model_schema | Actual vs YML columns (missing/extra/case) |
validate_model_output | Post-build row count vs source/expected (fan-out, empty model) |
audit_model_sources | Full cardinality + NULL/constant column + grain audit |
verify_model_values | Model aggregates vs independent COUNT(*)/COUNT(DISTINCT) on sources |
analyze_grain | Re-confirm output grain/uniqueness |
compare_join_types | Diagnose a row-count FAIL traced to JOIN choice |
query_database | Verifier subagents' read-only cross-checks |
dbt_error_parser | Parse errors from rebuilds triggered by FAILs |
propose_knowledge | Record learnings after the run |
Plugin CLI in this stage: verify-values. Subagents: verifier, value-verifier.
Reporting / Notebooks (outside the four stages)
Used when the task asks for a notebook deliverable or a published report. connector_capabilities is a feature-flag probe usable at any stage.
| Tool | Role |
|---|---|
list_workspace_projects | List notebook workspace projects |
run_notebook | Execute an analysis notebook in a sandboxed cloud pod |
list_notion_integrations | List configured Notion integrations |
notion_search | Search Notion source pages |
notion_fetch_page | Fetch full content of a Notion page |
notion_create_page | Publish a report page under the configured destination |
connector_capabilities | Connector tier / feature-flag probe (any stage) |
Full catalog by category
Query Intelligence (7 tools)
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
query_database | Execute governed, read-only SQL with auto-LIMIT, DDL blocking, dangerous function blocking, audit, PII redaction |
validate_sql | Syntax + semantic validation via EXPLAIN (no execution, no budget charge) |
explain_query | Execution plan with row estimates and cost warnings |
estimate_query_cost | Dry-run cost estimate before executing (BigQuery: exact bytes) |
debug_cte_query | Break CTE query into steps, validate each independently |
check_budget | Remaining query budget for a session |
query_history | Recent successful queries for a connection (session memory) |
Schema & Exploration (10 tools)
See Schema & Exploration tools.
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
list_tables | Compact one-line-per-table overview: columns, PKs, FKs, row counts |
describe_table | Full column details: types, nullability, PKs, annotations, PII flags |
explore_table | Deep-dive: column details + FK refs + sample values + referenced tables |
explore_column | Distinct values with counts, NULL stats, optional LIKE filter |
explore_columns | Multi-column stats: distinct counts, uniqueness, min/max/avg, samples |
schema_overview | Database-wide summary: table count, total rows, FK density, hub tables |
schema_ddl | Full schema as CREATE TABLE DDL with FK constraints |
schema_statistics | High-level stats: table sizes, FK connectivity (sorted by row count) |
schema_diff | Compare current schema against last cached version (DDL changes) |
get_date_boundaries | MIN/MAX dates across all DATE/TIMESTAMP columns |
Relationships (3 tools)
See Schema & Exploration tools.
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
get_relationships | Full ERD: all FK relationships as arrows or adjacency list |
find_join_path | FK-based join path discovery between two tables (1–6 hops) |
schema_link | Find tables relevant to a natural-language question (NL → schema) |
dbt & Verification (8 tools)
See dbt tools.
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
dbt_error_parser | Parse raw dbt error output into structured diagnosis + fix suggestion |
generate_sql_skeleton | Generate a SQL template from YML column spec + ref tables |
check_model_schema | Compare materialized columns vs YML-declared columns |
validate_model_output | Row count validation + fan-out detection + empty model detection |
verify_model_values | Cross-validate model aggregate values against raw source data |
audit_model_sources | Upstream audit: source row counts, fan-out/over-filter ratios, NULL scan |
analyze_grain | Cardinality analysis: per-key distinct counts, fan-out factors |
compare_join_types | Compare row counts across INNER/LEFT/RIGHT/FULL OUTER JOIN |
Workspaces (2 tools)
See Operational tools.
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
list_workspace_projects | List the dbt/notebook projects in the user's workspace |
run_notebook | Run a .py notebook in a sandboxed cloud pod, return output + view URL |
Knowledge Base (3 tools)
See Operational tools.
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
get_knowledge | Load baseline docs + task-relevant knowledge entries |
search_knowledge | Agent-directed search across the knowledge base |
propose_knowledge | Propose a new knowledge entry after a run |
Notion Integration (4 tools)
See Operational tools.
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
list_notion_integrations | List configured Notion integrations with search scope and report destination |
notion_search | Search Notion pages visible to an integration's access token |
notion_fetch_page | Fetch full content of a Notion page by ID |
notion_create_page | Create a page under the configured report destination |
Connections (3 tools)
See Operational tools.
| Tool | Description |
|---|---|
list_database_connections | List all configured database connections |
connection_health | Latency percentiles (p50/p95/p99), error rates, status per connection |
connector_capabilities | Connector tier classification (Tier 1/2/3) and available features |
Removed tools
The following tools were removed because the gateway runs in Docker and cannot access local filesystems. Their functionality is available via standalone scripts in the plugin:
execute_code/sandbox_status— sandbox disabled in clouddbt_project_map/dbt_project_validate— usescan_project.pyandvalidate_project.pyin the pluginfix_date_spine_hazards/fix_nondeterminism_hazards— use thedbt-date-spinesskillcreate_project— use the web UI or API