pm_capability
{"content":"{{\u003c badge content=\"Vanguard\" color=\"blue\" class=\"tier-badge\" \u003e}}\n\nThe `pm_capability` tool manages capabilities — the markdown instruction blocks that define agent behavior. Capabilities are the building blocks of workflows: an agent's system prompt composes its identity with one or more capabilities to control what it does and how.\n\n## Actions\n\n`create`, `get`, `list`, `update`, `delete`, `ensure`, `prompt`, `help`\n\n---\n\n## create\n\nCreate a new capability.\n\n### Parameters\n\n| Field | Type | Required | Notes |\n|-------|------|----------|-------|\n| `key` | string | Yes | Unique capability key (e.g., `\"review.quality-gate\"`) |\n| `role` | string | Yes | `core`, `workflow`, `constraints`, `context`, `validation`, or `integration` |\n| `id` | string | No | Explicit ID override |\n| `name` | string | No | Human-readable name |\n| `category` | string | No | Grouping category |\n| `promptId` | string | No | Linked prompt ID |\n| `pack` | string | No | Pack this capability belongs to |\n\n### Example\n\n```text\npm_capability {\n action: \"create\",\n key: \"review.quality-gate\",\n role: \"core\",\n name: \"Quality Gate Enforcement\",\n category: \"review\",\n promptId: \"01HPROMPT...\"\n}\n```\n\n---\n\n## get\n\nFetch a capability by ID or key.\n\n### Parameters\n\n| Field | Type | Required |\n|-------|------|----------|\n| `id` | string | One of |\n| `key` | string | One of |\n\n---\n\n## list\n\nList capabilities with optional filters.\n\n### Parameters\n\n| Field | Type | Required | Notes |\n|-------|------|----------|-------|\n| `search` | string | No | Search text |\n| `category` | string | No | Filter by category |\n| `promptIds` | string[] | No | Filter by linked prompt |\n| `limit` | number | No | 1–1000 |\n\n---\n\n## update\n\nUpdate a capability. Pass `null` to clear optional fields like `category`, `promptId`, or `pack`.\n\n### Parameters\n\n| Field | Type | Required |\n|-------|------|----------|\n| `id` | string | Yes |\n| `key` | string | No |\n| `name` | string | No |\n| `category` | string \\| null | No |\n| `promptId` | string \\| null | No |\n| `role` | string | No |\n| `pack` | string \\| null | No |\n\n---\n\n## delete\n\nDelete a capability.\n\n### Parameters\n\n| Field | Type | Required |\n|-------|------|----------|\n| `id` | string | Yes |\n\n---\n\n## ensure\n\nCreate or update a capability by key (upsert). Useful for registration flows where you want to re-run the same call safely.\n\n### Parameters\n\n| Field | Type | Required |\n|-------|------|----------|\n| `key` | string | Yes |\n| `name` | string | No |\n| `category` | string | No |\n| `promptId` | string | No |\n| `role` | string | No |\n| `pack` | string | No |\n\n### Example\n\n```text\npm_capability {\n action: \"ensure\",\n key: \"review.quality-gate\",\n name: \"Quality Gate Enforcement\",\n role: \"core\",\n promptId: \"01HPROMPT...\"\n}\n```\n\n---\n\n## prompt\n\nFetch the linked prompt content for a capability. This is the **hot-load** action — agents call this on demand when they need to load a capability into context.\n\n### Parameters\n\n| Field | Type | Required |\n|-------|------|----------|\n| `key` | string | Yes |\n\n### Returns\n\n```json\n{ \"role\": \"core\", \"capability\": \"...prompt text...\" }\n```\n\nReturns `capability: null` if no prompt is linked.\n\n### Example\n\n```text\npm_capability {\n action: \"prompt\",\n key: \"review.quality-gate\"\n}\n```\n\nThis is how agents load capabilities on demand without inflating their base system prompt. Hot-load the capability, use it, move on.\n\n---\n\n## help\n\n```text\npm_capability { action: \"help\" }\n```\n\n## Related\n\n- [pm_agent](../agents/) — agents are bound to capabilities\n- [pm_prompt](../prompts/) — capabilities link to prompts for their content\n- [Valdr Packs](/valdr/docs/valdr-packs/) — how capabilities are authored and shipped","description":"Create and manage capabilities — reusable instruction blocks that define how agents behave.","title":"pm_capability"}
Vanguard
The pm_capability tool manages capabilities — the markdown instruction blocks that define agent behavior. Capabilities are the building blocks of workflows: an agent’s system prompt composes its identity with one or more capabilities to control what it does and how.
Actions
create, get, list, update, delete, ensure, prompt, help
create
Create a new capability.
Parameters
| Field | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
key | string | Yes | Unique capability key (e.g., "review.quality-gate") |
role | string | Yes | core, workflow, constraints, context, validation, or integration |
id | string | No | Explicit ID override |
name | string | No | Human-readable name |
category | string | No | Grouping category |
promptId | string | No | Linked prompt ID |
pack | string | No | Pack this capability belongs to |
Example
pm_capability {
action: "create",
key: "review.quality-gate",
role: "core",
name: "Quality Gate Enforcement",
category: "review",
promptId: "01HPROMPT..."
}get
Fetch a capability by ID or key.
Parameters
| Field | Type | Required |
|---|---|---|
id | string | One of |
key | string | One of |
list
List capabilities with optional filters.
Parameters
| Field | Type | Required | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
search | string | No | Search text |
category | string | No | Filter by category |
promptIds | string[] | No | Filter by linked prompt |
limit | number | No | 1–1000 |
update
Update a capability. Pass null to clear optional fields like category, promptId, or pack.
Parameters
| Field | Type | Required |
|---|---|---|
id | string | Yes |
key | string | No |
name | string | No |
category | string | null | No |
promptId | string | null | No |
role | string | No |
pack | string | null | No |
delete
Delete a capability.
Parameters
| Field | Type | Required |
|---|---|---|
id | string | Yes |
ensure
Create or update a capability by key (upsert). Useful for registration flows where you want to re-run the same call safely.
Parameters
| Field | Type | Required |
|---|---|---|
key | string | Yes |
name | string | No |
category | string | No |
promptId | string | No |
role | string | No |
pack | string | No |
Example
pm_capability {
action: "ensure",
key: "review.quality-gate",
name: "Quality Gate Enforcement",
role: "core",
promptId: "01HPROMPT..."
}prompt
Fetch the linked prompt content for a capability. This is the hot-load action — agents call this on demand when they need to load a capability into context.
Parameters
| Field | Type | Required |
|---|---|---|
key | string | Yes |
Returns
{ "role": "core", "capability": "...prompt text..." }Returns capability: null if no prompt is linked.
Example
pm_capability {
action: "prompt",
key: "review.quality-gate"
}This is how agents load capabilities on demand without inflating their base system prompt. Hot-load the capability, use it, move on.
help
pm_capability { action: "help" }Related
- pm_agent — agents are bound to capabilities
- pm_prompt — capabilities link to prompts for their content
- Valdr Packs — how capabilities are authored and shipped