Verbs & API

Atlas exposes one MCP tool — atlas — with a single string input. The input is parsed into a verb + query.

Syntax

<verb> <query>
<verb> <filter1> <filter2>     # spaces = AND filter
<verb> <moduleA>,<moduleB>     # commas = combine multiple modules
<verb> <query> -- <passthrough> # -- separates atlas args from tool args

The 10 verbs

init

Detect the project stack and install suggested modules.

init
init --yes        # accept all suggestions without prompting

retrieve

Return pre-built context for one or more modules.

retrieve python
retrieve ruff
retrieve python ruff pytest     # multiple filters (AND)
retrieve python,ruff,pytest     # combine into one response
retrieve ruff select            # filter to sections matching "select"

add

Install a module from the warehouse.

add ruff
add django postgresql

remove

Uninstall a module.

remove flake8

sync

Re-scan config files and update stored values.

sync

update

Pull latest module bundles from the warehouse.

update
update ruff        # update a specific module only

status

Show project state: installed modules, active task, recent history, git status.

status

just

Run a project task with error augmentation.

just test
just lint
just test -- -k scanner     # passthrough args to the tool

note

Add or remove a tribal knowledge note on a module.

note ruff "always run ruff before committing"
note remove ruff 1

notes

List all notes for a module.

notes ruff
notes pytest

Special: prompt retrieval

If the verb is not one of the 10 above, Atlas treats the whole input as a prompt name:

design
review
debug
king-mode
design -- src/auth/login.py     # with file context