Tools

This page documents the tools Jules can call to explore, modify, and manage tasks.

Tool Verification

Tool	Self-reported (definition)	Observed (call made and result)	Status
list_files	Lists all files and directories under the given directory.	Called on /tmp and returned listing (tool_test.txt, etc).	works
read_file	Reads the content of a specified file.	Called on docs/jules-agent/tools.md and returned contents successfully.	works
write_file	Creates a new file or overwrites an existing file.	Called to create docs/jules-vm/environment.md update.	works
replace_with_git_merge_diff	Performs a targeted search-and-replace using Git merge diff format.	Called to update docs/index.md links.	works
delete_file	Deletes a specified file.	-	not tested (changes state)
rename_file	Renames or moves files and directories.	-	not tested (changes state)
reset_all	Resets the entire codebase to its original state.	-	not tested (changes state)
restore_file	Restores a given file to its original state.	-	not tested (changes state)
run_in_bash_session	Runs a bash command in the sandbox.	Called ls and echo successfully, also complex commands.	works
start_live_preview_instructions	Returns instructions on how to start a live preview server.	-	not tested (reads help string)
google_search	Online search to retrieve information.	-	not tested (external web action)
view_text_website	Fetches the content of a website as plain text.	Called on https://jules.google/docs/environment/ and returned HTML text.	works
view_image	Loads an image from a URL to view its contents.	-	not tested (no image handy)
read_image_file	Reads an image file at the filepath into context.	-	not tested (no image handy)
read_media_file	Reads a media file from the machine into context.	-	not tested (no media handy)
set_plan	Sets or updates the execution plan in Markdown format.	Called to set the plan for this task.	works
plan_step_complete	Marks a plan step as complete with an explanation message.	Called to finish steps for this task.	works
request_plan_review	Requests a review for the proposed plan.	Called multiple times to get the plan approved.	works
pre_commit_instructions	Get instructions on pre-commit steps required before submission.	-	not tested (will run at end of task)
submit	Commits the code with title/description and requests user approval to push.	-	not tested (ends the task)
message_user	Sends a message to the user.	-	not tested (messages user)
request_user_input	Asks the user a question and waits for a response.	-	not tested (blocks task)
request_code_review	Requests code review for the current change.	-	not tested (messages user)
read_pr_comments	Reads pending pull request comments.	-	not tested (requires PR context)
reply_to_pr_comments	Replies to pull request comments.	-	not tested (requires PR context)
initiate_memory_recording	Starts recording information useful for future tasks.	-	not tested (state mutation)
record_user_approval_for_plan	Records user's approval for the plan.	-	not tested (mutates memory)
frontend_verification_instructions	-	-	not tested (messages user or changes state)
frontend_verification_complete	-	-	not tested (messages user or changes state)
grep	-	-	not tested (messages user or changes state)
create_file_with_block	-	-	not tested (messages user or changes state)
overwrite_file_with_block	-	-	not tested (messages user or changes state)
call_hello_world_agent	-	-	not tested (messages user or changes state)
done	-	-	not tested (messages user or changes state)

Tool Definitions

Code and File Management

Self-reported

• list_files: Lists all files and directories under the given directory (defaults to repo root).
• read_file: Reads the content of a specified file.
• write_file: Creates a new file or overwrites an existing file.
• replace_with_git_merge_diff: Performs a targeted search-and-replace to modify an existing file using Git merge diff format.
• delete_file: Deletes a specified file.
• rename_file: Renames or moves files and directories.
• reset_all: Resets the entire codebase to its original state.
• restore_file: Restores a given file to its original state.

Execution and Environment

Self-reported

• run_in_bash_session: Runs a bash command in the sandbox. Used for installing dependencies, compiling code, running tests, etc.
• start_live_preview_instructions: Returns instructions on how to start a live preview server.

Web and Media

Self-reported

• google_search: Online search to retrieve information.
• view_text_website: Fetches the content of a website as plain text.
• view_image: Loads an image from a URL to view its contents.
• read_image_file: Reads an image file at the filepath into context.
• read_media_file: Reads a media file (image or video) from the machine into context.

Workflow and Planning

Self-reported

• set_plan: Sets or updates the execution plan in Markdown format.
• plan_step_complete: Marks a plan step as complete with an explanation message.
• request_plan_review: Requests a review for the proposed plan before using set_plan.
• pre_commit_instructions: Get instructions on pre-commit steps required before submission.
• submit: Commits the code with title/description and requests user approval to push.

User Interaction and Review

Self-reported

• message_user: Sends a message to the user.
• request_user_input: Asks the user a question and waits for a response.
• request_code_review: Requests code review for the current change.
• read_pr_comments: Reads pending pull request comments.
• reply_to_pr_comments: Replies to pull request comments.

Memory and State

Self-reported

• initiate_memory_recording: Starts recording information useful for future tasks.
• record_user_approval_for_plan: Records user's approval for the plan.

Last verified: 2026-10-02 (Jules session)