Tool reference

Conventions shared by all 44 tools of PacedMind's MCP server (references, dates, statuses, clearing values, errors) and an index of every tool.

The pages in this section describe every tool of the pacedmind MCP server with its parameters and what it returns. Agents see the same descriptions and parameter schemas in their MCP client; this reference is for the people who use and configure them.

Conventions

Referring to things

Thing	Refer to it by	Example
Task	Its key, in any letter case	`WRK-12`, `wrk-12`
Project	Its id, or its name; a unique part of the name also works	`q4`, `Q4 planning`
Area	Its id, name or key	`work`, `Work`, `WRK`
The Inbox	`inbox`, `none` or `no area`, where an area is expected	`area: "inbox"`
Calendar activity	Its event id, from `list_events` or `get_agenda`	`event: 7`
Session	Its id, from `list_sessions`	`session: "3f2a9c1b"`
Computer	Its name, whatever its capitals, the start of its name when no other starts the same way, or its id, from `list_computers`	`computer: "Studio Mac"`
Preference	Its id, from `get_preferences`	`remove: [4]`

A name that matches several projects or areas returns an error listing them. A computer that doesn't match one returns an error that lists the user's computers.

Dates

Date parameters accept:

YYYY-MM-DD, such as 2026-09-26;
YYYY-MM-DDTHH:mm, such as 2026-09-26T14:00, where a time is allowed;
phrases such as today, tomorrow 9:00, next friday, friday 10:00 or in 2 weeks. Phrases always point forward.

Results repeat the date that was used, with its weekday, such as 2026-09-26 (Sat), so the agent can check it.

Values

Field	Values
Status	`backlog`, `todo`, `in_progress`, `in_review`, `done`, `canceled`
Priority	`urgent`, `high`, `medium`, `low`, `none`
Agent	`claude` (Claude Code) or `codex` (Codex)
Who does a task	`claude`, `codex`, or `human` for a task only the user can do
Color	A palette name (`Blue`, `Teal`, `Green`, `Olive`, `Sand`, `Clay`, `Rose`, `Violet`, `Mauve`, `Gray`) or a hex color such as `#7AA3AD`

Where a field can be cleared, null clears it: a date, a project, an area, an agent. Leaving a parameter out leaves the field as it is.

Results and errors

Every tool returns plain text: one line per task, project or event, and a sentence for each change. A problem the agent can fix comes back as an error with the reason and, usually, the valid options, such as No task WRK-99. Task keys look like WRK-12; list_tasks finds them.

Kinds of tools

Each tool is marked for the client as one of:

read-only: never changes anything;
changes data: creates or updates;
deletes: removes something;
starts an agent: start_session, which starts an agent on one of the user's computers or in its cloud, and request_changes, which reopens an agent's session in a new terminal on the user's computer.

Sessions that PacedMind starts get 20 of the tools, marked Allowed without asking on the tool pages. Claude Code runs them without asking; Codex follows its own approval settings. A session's token doesn't list the other tools, and they refuse it: Sessions that PacedMind started can't use delete_task. Ask the user to do it in PacedMind. See What agents may do without asking.

All tools

Tool	Purpose
`get_overview`	Today's date, the user's preferences, areas and projects with their ids, what's due, the calendar and sessions. Usually the first call.
`get_settings`	Work hours, work days, how sessions start, and the MCP address.
`update_settings`	Change the work hours, break and work days.
`get_preferences`	How the user likes to work, by topic.
`update_preferences`	Add, change or remove preferences the user said or confirmed.
`list_areas`	Areas with id, key, color, icon and counts.
`create_area`	Add an area.
`update_area`	Rename an area, or change its color or icon.
`delete_area`	Delete an area and its projects; its tasks go to the Inbox.
`list_projects`	Projects with progress, dates and agent settings.
`get_project`	A project's tasks in roadmap order and the next ready task.
`create_project`	Add a project.
`update_project`	Change a project, including moving it to another area.
`delete_project`	Delete a project; its tasks stay in the area.
`reorder_tasks`	Set the roadmap order of a project's tasks.
`list_tasks`	Find tasks with filters.
`get_task`	Everything about one task.
`create_task`	Add a task.
`create_tasks`	Add up to 50 tasks at once.
`update_task`	Change anything about a task, including its sub-tasks, its folder and where its sessions run.
`bulk_update_tasks`	Apply one change to up to 100 tasks.
`connect_tasks`	Make a task wait for another in its project.
`disconnect_tasks`	Remove a dependency.
`delete_task`	Delete a task.
`list_events`	Calendar activities in a date range, with ids.
`create_event`	Add an activity, one-off or weekly.
`update_event`	Rename, move or resize an activity.
`delete_event`	Remove an activity.
`get_agenda`	The day-by-day plan with focus blocks.
`reschedule_day`	Move one day's plans to another day.
`list_computers`	The user's computers, what their agents have, and what each does with a session you ask for.
`set_folder`	Ask a computer to use a folder for a project, an area or a task.
`list_task_note_displays`	Connected displays, remembered choice and recent note delivery results.
`show_task_note`	Show one task in its own floating window and arrange notes on the chosen display.
`list_sessions`	Agent sessions, newest first.
`start_session`	Ask to start an agent on a task, on this computer or another: in a terminal, its desktop app or its cloud.
`close_session`	Mark a stuck session closed.
`request_changes`	Send an agent's work back to it with the changes the user wants.
`get_next_task`	The next ready task in a project.
`start_task`	For agents: start work on a task.
`attach_image`	For agents: add a screenshot or another image to the task.
`report_progress`	For agents: keep the user posted with a plan, a problem or a question.
`ask_user`	For agents: ask the user a question and wait for the answer.
`finish_task`	For agents: hand a task back for review, with a report.