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MeshAgent ships built-in tool capabilities that you can add to an agent from the CLI. Some flags map to different underlying tool implementations depending on the model. MeshAgent keeps the CLI surface stable so the same flag can work across OpenAI- and Anthropic-backed agents when the capability exists on both. This matters most for flags such as --web-search, --web-fetch, and --shell. You choose the capability once, and MeshAgent selects the provider-specific tool path that matches the model you are running.

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Add built-in capabilities from the CLI

meshagent process join \
  --room my-room \
  --agent-name researcher \
  --channel chat \
  --model gpt-5.4 \
  --web-search \
  --mcp \
  --storage \
  --use-memory agents/researcher/memories
This command starts an agent that can use web search, MCP tools, storage, and room-backed memory tools. Most built-in capabilities now use one canonical CLI flag, such as --web-search, --storage, --shell, or --document-authoring. --require-toolkit is the exception for attaching an external toolkit by name. The tables below show the current CLI flags for each built-in capability. Run meshagent process join --help to see the current tool flags and related configuration options.

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Built-in capabilities

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Web and retrieval

CapabilityToolkit or toolFlagsWhat it does
Web searchWebSearchTool--web-searchSearch the web
Web fetchWebFetchTool--web-fetchFetch and read web pages directly

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Storage and memory

CapabilityToolkit or toolFlagsWhat it does
StorageStorageToolkit--storage, --read-only-storageWork with room or mounted storage
MemoryMemoriesToolkit--use-memory <name-or-path>Add, search, inspect, and delete room-backed memories
Database accessDatabaseToolkit, make_database_toolkit--database-namespace, --table-read <table>, --table-write <table>Add table-specific database tools
UUID toolsUUIDToolkit--uuidProvide UUID generation helpers
Time toolsDatetimeToolkit--timeProvide time and datetime tools

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MCP and external tools

CapabilityToolkit or toolFlagsWhat it does
MCP toolsroom-provided MCP toolkits--mcpUse MCP tools available in the room on turns where MCP is enabled
For setup paths such as Powerboards installs, MCP URL auto-discovery, and OpenAI connector manifests, see MCP Servers. In the current meshagent process runtime, MCP is exposed through --mcp rather than as a required named toolkit.

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Shell and execution

CapabilityToolkit or toolFlagsWhat it does
Function shellShellTool or ContainerShellTool--shellGive the agent direct shell tool calling
Managed container shellContainerToolkit--advanced-shellGive the agent container start, list, stop, and run tools
Script toolsget_script_tools(...)--script-tool, --discover-script-toolsAdd script-based tools or discover script tools from the room
--advanced-shell is the right choice when the agent needs to manage a working container across several steps instead of treating each shell command as an isolated call. If the shell environment needs access to runtime metadata from the current room or service, add --shell-tool-config-mount <mount>. When the current runtime exposes MESHAGENT_SPEC_PATH or MESHAGENT_MEMBERS_PATH, MeshAgent mounts those runtime files into the shell container as spec.json and members.json under the target directory and points the env vars at the mounted paths.

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Provider-native tools

CapabilityToolkit or toolFlagsWhat it does
Image generationImageGenerationTool--image-generation <model>Use OpenAI-native image generation
Apply patchApplyPatchTool--apply-patchUse OpenAI-native patch editing
Computer useComputerToolkit--computer-use, --starting-url, --allow-goto-urlUse browser and computer-interaction tools

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Document and content tools

CapabilityToolkit or toolFlagsWhat it does
Document authoringDocumentAuthoringToolkit--document-authoringCreate and modify MeshDocuments
Document type authoringDocumentTypeAuthoringToolkit--document-authoringAdd type-specific document tools for the built-in widget document type
MarkItDownMarkItDownToolkitno direct meshagent process flagConvert PDFs and Office documents into LLM-friendly formats

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Discovery

CapabilityToolkit or toolFlagsWhat it does
Discovery toolsDiscoveryToolkit--discoveryDiscover agents and tools available in the room
If a built-in capability does not have a direct meshagent process flag, add it from the SDK or package it into your own service or custom toolkit.