docs: add tool prompt override documentation

core/config/json/loadRcConfigs.ts

@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ export async function getWorkspaceRcConfigs(
               entry[0].endsWith(".continuerc.json"),
           )
           .map((entry) => joinPathsToUri(dir, entry[0]));
-        return await Promise.all(rcFiles.map(ide.readFile));
+        return await Promise.all(rcFiles.map((uri) => ide.readFile(uri)));
       }),
     );
     return rcFiles

core/config/load.ts

@@ -109,6 +109,7 @@
   },
   slashCommands: (a: any, b: any) => a.name === b.name,
   customCommands: (a: any, b: any) => a.name === b.name,
+  tools: (a: any, b: any) => a.name === b.name,
 };
 
 function loadSerializedConfig(
@@ -464,7 +465,7 @@
     }
     if (name === "llm") {
       const llm = models.find((model) => model.title === params?.modelTitle);
       if (!llm) {
         errors.push({
           fatal: false,
           message: `Unknown reranking model ${params?.modelTitle}`,
@@ -504,6 +505,7 @@
     ...config,
     contextProviders,
     tools: getBaseToolDefinitions(),
+    toolOverrides: config.tools, // Pass through tool overrides from config
     mcpServerStatuses: [],
     slashCommands: [],
     modelsByRole: {
@@ -558,7 +560,7 @@
       id: `continue-mcp-server-${index + 1}`,
       name: `MCP Server`,
       requestOptions: mergeConfigYamlRequestOptions(
         server.transport.type !== "stdio"
           ? server.transport.requestOptions
           : undefined,
         config.requestOptions,

core/config/profile/doLoadConfig.ts

@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ import { TeamAnalytics } from "../../control-plane/TeamAnalytics.js";
 import ContinueProxy from "../../llm/llms/stubs/ContinueProxy";
 import { initSlashCommand } from "../../promptFiles/initPrompt";
 import { getConfigDependentToolDefinitions } from "../../tools";
+import { applyToolOverrides } from "../../tools/applyToolOverrides";
 import { encodeMCPToolUri } from "../../tools/callTool";
 import { getMCPToolName } from "../../tools/mcpToolName";
 import { GlobalContext } from "../../util/GlobalContext";
@@ -39,6 +40,7 @@ import { Telemetry } from "../../util/posthog";
 import { SentryLogger } from "../../util/sentry/SentryLogger";
 import { TTS } from "../../util/tts";
 import { getWorkspaceContinueRuleDotFiles } from "../getWorkspaceContinueRuleDotFiles";
+import { getWorkspaceRcConfigs } from "../json/loadRcConfigs";
 import { loadContinueConfigFromJson } from "../load";
 import { CodebaseRulesCache } from "../markdown/loadCodebaseRules";
 import { loadMarkdownRules } from "../markdown/loadMarkdownRules";
@@ -309,6 +311,32 @@ export default async function doLoadConfig(options: {
     }),
   );
 
+  // Load workspace .continuerc.json files for tool overrides
+  // (JSON path loads these earlier during config merge, YAML path doesn't)
+  if (!newConfig.toolOverrides?.length) {
+    const workspaceRcConfigs = await getWorkspaceRcConfigs(ide);
+    for (const rcConfig of workspaceRcConfigs) {
+      if (rcConfig.tools?.length) {
+        newConfig.toolOverrides = [
+          ...(newConfig.toolOverrides ?? []),
+          ...rcConfig.tools,
+        ];
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  // Apply tool overrides from config (e.g., .continuerc.json)
+  if (newConfig.toolOverrides?.length) {
+    const toolOverridesResult = applyToolOverrides(
+      newConfig.tools,
+      newConfig.toolOverrides,
+    );
+    newConfig.tools = toolOverridesResult.tools;
+    errors.push(...toolOverridesResult.errors);
+    // Clear toolOverrides after applying (not needed at runtime)
+    delete newConfig.toolOverrides;
+  }
+
   // Detect duplicate tool names
   const counts: Record<string, number> = {};
   newConfig.tools.forEach((tool) => {

core/config/types.ts

@@ -1133,7 +1133,31 @@ declare global {
     url?: string;
     clientKey?: string;
   }
-
+
+  /**
+   * Configuration for overriding built-in tool prompts.
+   * Allows customization of tool descriptions and behavior at the repo level.
+   */
+  export interface ToolOverride {
+    /** Tool name to override (matches function.name, e.g., "read_file", "run_terminal_command") */
+    name: string;
+    /** Override the tool's description shown to the LLM */
+    description?: string;
+    /** Override the display title shown in UI */
+    displayTitle?: string;
+    /** Override the action phrases */
+    wouldLikeTo?: string;
+    isCurrently?: string;
+    hasAlready?: string;
+    /** Override system message description for non-native tool calling */
+    systemMessageDescription?: {
+      prefix?: string;
+      exampleArgs?: Array<[string, string | number]>;
+    };
+    /** Set to true to disable this tool */
+    disabled?: boolean;
+  }
+
   // config.json
   export interface SerializedContinueConfig {
     env?: string[];
@@ -1156,8 +1180,10 @@ declare global {
     experimental?: ExperimentalConfig;
     analytics?: AnalyticsConfig;
     docs?: SiteIndexingConfig[];
+    /** Tool overrides for customizing built-in tool prompts at the repo level */
+    tools?: ToolOverride[];
   }
-  
+
   export type ConfigMergeType = "merge" | "overwrite";
 
   export type ContinueRcJson = Partial<SerializedContinueConfig> & {
@@ -1208,8 +1234,10 @@ declare global {
     experimental?: ExperimentalConfig;
     /** Analytics configuration */
     analytics?: AnalyticsConfig;
+    /** Tool overrides for customizing built-in tool prompts */
+    tools?: ToolOverride[];
   }
-  
+
   // in the actual Continue source code
   export interface ContinueConfig {
     allowAnonymousTelemetry?: boolean;
@@ -1231,8 +1259,10 @@ declare global {
     analytics?: AnalyticsConfig;
     docs?: SiteIndexingConfig[];
     tools: Tool[];
+    /** Tool overrides from config, applied after all tools are loaded */
+    toolOverrides?: ToolOverride[];
   }
-  
+
   export interface BrowserSerializedContinueConfig {
     allowAnonymousTelemetry?: boolean;
     models: ModelDescription[];

core/index.d.ts

@@ -1139,6 +1139,30 @@ export interface Tool {
   ) => ToolPolicy;
 }
 
+/**
+ * Configuration for overriding built-in tool prompts.
+ * Allows customization of tool descriptions and behavior at the repo level.
+ */
+export interface ToolOverride {
+  /** Tool name to override (matches function.name, e.g., "read_file", "run_terminal_command") */
+  name: string;
+  /** Override the tool's description shown to the LLM */
+  description?: string;
+  /** Override the display title shown in UI */
+  displayTitle?: string;
+  /** Override the action phrases */
+  wouldLikeTo?: string;
+  isCurrently?: string;
+  hasAlready?: string;
+  /** Override system message description for non-native tool calling */
+  systemMessageDescription?: {
+    prefix?: string;
+    exampleArgs?: Array<[string, string | number]>;
+  };
+  /** Set to true to disable this tool */
+  disabled?: boolean;
+}
+
 interface ToolChoice {
   type: "function";
   function: {
@@ -1721,6 +1745,8 @@ export interface SerializedContinueConfig {
   analytics?: AnalyticsConfig;
   docs?: SiteIndexingConfig[];
   data?: DataDestination[];
+  /** Tool overrides for customizing built-in tool prompts at the repo level */
+  tools?: ToolOverride[];
 }
 
 export type ConfigMergeType = "merge" | "overwrite";
@@ -1775,6 +1801,8 @@ export interface Config {
   analytics?: AnalyticsConfig;
   docs?: SiteIndexingConfig[];
   data?: DataDestination[];
+  /** Tool overrides for customizing built-in tool prompts */
+  tools?: ToolOverride[];
 }
 
 // in the actual Continue source code
@@ -1794,6 +1822,8 @@ export interface ContinueConfig {
   analytics?: AnalyticsConfig;
   docs?: SiteIndexingConfig[];
   tools: Tool[];
+  /** Tool overrides from config, applied after all tools are loaded */
+  toolOverrides?: ToolOverride[];
   mcpServerStatuses: MCPServerStatus[];
   rules: RuleWithSource[];
   modelsByRole: Record<ModelRole, ILLM[]>;

core/tools/applyToolOverrides.test.ts

@@ -0,0 +1,184 @@
+import { Tool, ToolOverride } from "..";
+import { applyToolOverrides } from "./applyToolOverrides";
+
+const mockTool = (name: string, description: string): Tool => ({
+  type: "function",
+  displayTitle: name,
+  readonly: true,
+  group: "test",
+  function: { name, description },
+});
+
+describe("applyToolOverrides", () => {
+  it("should return tools unchanged when no overrides provided", () => {
+    const tools = [mockTool("read_file", "Read a file")];
+    const result = applyToolOverrides(tools, undefined);
+    expect(result.tools).toEqual(tools);
+    expect(result.errors).toHaveLength(0);
+  });
+
+  it("should return tools unchanged when empty overrides array provided", () => {
+    const tools = [mockTool("read_file", "Read a file")];
+    const result = applyToolOverrides(tools, []);
+    expect(result.tools).toEqual(tools);
+    expect(result.errors).toHaveLength(0);
+  });
+
+  it("should override description when specified", () => {
+    const tools = [mockTool("read_file", "Original description")];
+    const overrides: ToolOverride[] = [
+      { name: "read_file", description: "New description" },
+    ];
+    const result = applyToolOverrides(tools, overrides);
+    expect(result.tools[0].function.description).toBe("New description");
+    expect(result.errors).toHaveLength(0);
+  });
+
+  it("should override displayTitle when specified", () => {
+    const tools = [mockTool("read_file", "Read a file")];
+    const overrides: ToolOverride[] = [
+      { name: "read_file", displayTitle: "Custom Read File" },
+    ];
+    const result = applyToolOverrides(tools, overrides);
+    expect(result.tools[0].displayTitle).toBe("Custom Read File");
+  });
+
+  it("should override action phrases when specified", () => {
+    const tools = [mockTool("read_file", "Read a file")];
+    tools[0].wouldLikeTo = "read {{{ filepath }}}";
+    tools[0].isCurrently = "reading {{{ filepath }}}";
+    tools[0].hasAlready = "read {{{ filepath }}}";
+
+    const overrides: ToolOverride[] = [
+      {
+        name: "read_file",
+        wouldLikeTo: "open {{{ filepath }}}",
+        isCurrently: "opening {{{ filepath }}}",
+        hasAlready: "opened {{{ filepath }}}",
+      },
+    ];
+    const result = applyToolOverrides(tools, overrides);
+    expect(result.tools[0].wouldLikeTo).toBe("open {{{ filepath }}}");
+    expect(result.tools[0].isCurrently).toBe("opening {{{ filepath }}}");
+    expect(result.tools[0].hasAlready).toBe("opened {{{ filepath }}}");
+  });
+
+  it("should disable tools when disabled: true", () => {
+    const tools = [
+      mockTool("read_file", "Read"),
+      mockTool("write_file", "Write"),
+    ];
+    const overrides: ToolOverride[] = [{ name: "read_file", disabled: true }];
+    const result = applyToolOverrides(tools, overrides);
+    expect(result.tools).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(result.tools[0].function.name).toBe("write_file");
+    expect(result.errors).toHaveLength(0);
+  });
+
+  it("should warn when override references unknown tool", () => {
+    const tools = [mockTool("read_file", "Read")];
+    const overrides: ToolOverride[] = [
+      { name: "unknown_tool", description: "test" },
+    ];
+    const result = applyToolOverrides(tools, overrides);
+    expect(result.tools).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(result.errors).toHaveLength(1);
+    expect(result.errors[0].message).toContain("unknown_tool");
+    expect(result.errors[0].fatal).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it("should preserve unmodified fields", () => {
+    const tools = [mockTool("read_file", "Original")];
+    tools[0].readonly = true;
+    tools[0].group = "Built-In";
+
+    const overrides: ToolOverride[] = [
+      { name: "read_file", description: "New description" },
+    ];
+    const result = applyToolOverrides(tools, overrides);
+    expect(result.tools[0].readonly).toBe(true);
+    expect(result.tools[0].group).toBe("Built-In");
+    expect(result.tools[0].displayTitle).toBe("read_file");
+  });
+
+  it("should override systemMessageDescription", () => {
+    const tools = [mockTool("read_file", "Read")];
+    tools[0].systemMessageDescription = {
+      prefix: "old prefix",
+      exampleArgs: [["filepath", "/old/path"]],
+    };
+
+    const overrides: ToolOverride[] = [
+      {
+        name: "read_file",
+        systemMessageDescription: {
+          prefix: "new prefix",
+          exampleArgs: [["filepath", "/new/path"]],
+        },
+      },
+    ];
+    const result = applyToolOverrides(tools, overrides);
+    expect(result.tools[0].systemMessageDescription?.prefix).toBe("new prefix");
+    expect(result.tools[0].systemMessageDescription?.exampleArgs).toEqual([
+      ["filepath", "/new/path"],
+    ]);
+  });
+
+  it("should partially override systemMessageDescription", () => {
+    const tools = [mockTool("read_file", "Read")];
+    tools[0].systemMessageDescription = {
+      prefix: "old prefix",
+      exampleArgs: [["filepath", "/old/path"]],
+    };
+
+    const overrides: ToolOverride[] = [
+      {
+        name: "read_file",
+        systemMessageDescription: {
+          prefix: "new prefix",
+          // exampleArgs not specified - should preserve original
+        },
+      },
+    ];
+    const result = applyToolOverrides(tools, overrides);
+    expect(result.tools[0].systemMessageDescription?.prefix).toBe("new prefix");
+    expect(result.tools[0].systemMessageDescription?.exampleArgs).toEqual([
+      ["filepath", "/old/path"],
+    ]);
+  });
+
+  it("should apply multiple overrides", () => {
+    const tools = [
+      mockTool("read_file", "Read"),
+      mockTool("write_file", "Write"),
+      mockTool("delete_file", "Delete"),
+    ];
+
+    const overrides: ToolOverride[] = [
+      { name: "read_file", description: "Custom read" },
+      { name: "write_file", disabled: true },
+      { name: "delete_file", displayTitle: "Remove File" },
+    ];
+
+    const result = applyToolOverrides(tools, overrides);
+    expect(result.tools).toHaveLength(2);
+    expect(result.tools[0].function.description).toBe("Custom read");
+    expect(result.tools[1].displayTitle).toBe("Remove File");
+    expect(result.errors).toHaveLength(0);
+  });
+
+  it("should not mutate original tools array", () => {
+    const tools = [mockTool("read_file", "Original")];
+    const originalDescription = tools[0].function.description;
+
+    const overrides: ToolOverride[] = [
+      { name: "read_file", description: "New description" },
+    ];
+    const result = applyToolOverrides(tools, overrides);
+
+    // Original should be unchanged
+    expect(tools[0].function.description).toBe(originalDescription);
+    // Result should have new description
+    expect(result.tools[0].function.description).toBe("New description");
+  });
+});